AMD introduces Versal Series Gen 2: a family of chips optimized for processing AI workloads in integrated systems.

AMD announced the Versal Series Gen 2 chip family at the Embedded Word in Nuremberg. AMD’s Versal chips are SoCs designed to integrate into all types of systems. They are programmable and have been part of the AMD portfolio since the acquisition of the FPGA specialist Xilinx. The new series initially consists of two sub-brands: Versai AI Edge Gen 2 and Versal Prime Gen 2. The Prime series offers an integrated FPGA for classic workloads, while Versal AI Edge brings FPGA and AI acceleration to embedded systems.

FPGA, accelerator and CPU

Versal AI Edge Gen 2 is said to be significantly more efficient than its predecessor, with three times more TOPS per watt than the first generation of Versal AI SoCs. Versal AI Edge Gen 2 consists of three main components: programmable FPGA circuitry, an AI accelerator, and an ARM-based CPU. They work as a whole and share DDR5 memory.

With this component, AMD aims to remove the complexity for integrating AI into embedded systems. Without Versal, a manufacturer would have to combine an FPGA, a lightweight AI accelerator and a CPU, with all the necessary functions now integrated into one chip.

Outdoor chip

The FPGA accelerator is not intended for data centers, but for embedded systems where efficiency, compact size and low power consumption are important. Think of applications in smart cities or in the automotive sector. The FPGA chiplet can be optimized by the customer for very specific scenarios, for example for pre-processing sensor data. Thanks to the adaptability of this chiplet, this happens very quickly and efficiently. Then the AI ​​accelerator can perform inference based on the FPGA work. Finally, there is the CPU for more traditional workloads involved in the process.

The Versal Prime Gen 2 chips are similar SoCs without a focus on AI. These chips simply combine an FPGA component with an Arm CPU. This approach offers customers the same simplicity, without the AI ​​acceleration that is unnecessary for traditional workloads.

Availability

The new Versal chips will not be available until next year. Currently, AMD is providing documentation so customers can begin development. Samples will hit the market in the first half of 2025, while production models won’t roll off the assembly line until the end of next year.