The Parallella Board

The Parallella platform is an open source, energy efficient, high performance, credit-card-sized computer based on the Epiphany multicore chips developed by Adapteva. This affordable platform is designed for developing and implementing high performance, parallel processing applications developed to take advantage of the on-board Epiphany chip. The Epiphany 16-core chips consist of a scalable array of simple RISC processors programmable in C/C++ connected together with a fast on-chip network within a single shared memory architecture.

  • Overview
  • Microserver
  • Desktop
  • Embedded
  • Accessories
  • Resources

Overview

The Parallella computer platform is an open source, energy efficient, high performance, credit-card-sized computer based on the Epiphany multicore chips from Adapteva. This affordable platform is designed for developing and implementing high performance, parallel processing. Applications developed to take advantage of the on-board Epiphany parallel processor can achieve unprecedented performance at the lowest power in the industry.

The Epiphany 16-core chips consist of a scalable array of simple RISC processors programmable in C/C++ or a parallel programming framework like OpenCL. The mesh of independent cores is connected together with a fast on-chip network within a single shared memory architecture.

Highlights

  • Credit-card-size computer
  • Low cost, low power multicore platform
  • HDMI, Ethernet, USB and 48 GPIO pins
  • Dual-core ARM and 16-core RISC processors on board
  • ANSI C/C++ and OpenCL programmable

Benefits

  • Accessible solution with Open Source hardware and software
  • Simple and low-cost integration due to implementation flexibility and resource availability
  • Powerful platform with:
    • Dual-Core ARM Processor
    • Programmable FPGA
    • Epiphany 16-core parallel processor

Features

  • Zynq-Z7010 or Z7020 Dual-core ARM A9 CPU
  • 16-core Epiphany Multicore Accelerator
  • 1GB RAM
  • MicroSD Card
  • Micro USB 2.0
  • 4 general-purpose expansion connectors
  • 10/100/1000 Ethernet
  • HDMI port
  • Linux Operating System
  • 54 mm x 87 mm form-factor

Target Applications

Consumer:

  • Smartphones and tablet app acceleration
  • High-end audio
  • Computational photography
  • Speech Recognition
  • Face detection/recognition

    • Computing Infrastructure:

  • Super Computers
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Software Defined Networking
  • Data-center Appliances
  • High-Frequency Trading

    • Communication:

  • Communication test-bed
  • Software defined radio
  • Adaptive Pre-distortion

    • Medical:

  • Ultrasound
  • CT

    • Mil/Aero:

  • Radar/Sonar
  • Extremely-Large Sensor Imaging
  • Hyperspectral Imaging
  • Communication Jamming
  • Military Radios
  • Munitions/Guidance

    • Industrial/Instrumentation:

  • Machine Vision
  • Autonomous Robots/Navigation
  • Automotive Safety
  • High-Speed Data Acquisition/Generation

    • Other:

  • Compression
  • Security Cameras
  • Video Transcoding

    • List of users
    Parallella Models Parallella-16 Microserver Parallella-16 Desktop Computer Parallella-16 Embedded Platform
      Parallella-16 Microserver Parallella-16 Desktop Computer Parallella-16 Embedded Platform
    Use CaseUse Case Ethernet connected headless server A personal computer Leading edge embedded systems
    Host Processor Zynq Z7010 Zynq Z7010 Zynq Z7020
    Coprocessor Epiphany III Epiphany III Epiphany III
    Memory 1 GB DDR3 1 GB DDR3 1 GB DDR3
    Ethernet 10/100/1000 10/100/1000 10/100/1000
    Storage Micro SD Micro SD Micro SD
    USB No Yes Yes
    HDMI No Yes Yes
    Expansion IO No 2 eLinks + 24 GPIO 2 eLinks + 48 GPIO
    FPGA Yes
    28K Programmable Logic Cells
    80 Programmable DSP Slices    		 Yes
    28K Programmable Logic Cells
    80 Programmable DSP Slices    		 Yes
    80K Programmable Logic Cells
    220 Programmable DSP Slices
    Weight 1.3 oz (36 grams) 1.4 oz (38 grams) 1.4 oz (38 grams)
    Size 3.5 x 2.1x 0.625" (90x5x18 mm) 3.5 x 2.1x 0.625" (90x5x18 mm) 3.5 x 2.1x 0.625" (90x5x18 mm)
    SKU P1600-DK-xx P1601-DK-xx P1602-DK-xx
    HTS Code 8471.41.0150 8471.41.0150 8471.41.0150

    Parallella-16 Micro Server

    The Parallella-16 Micro Server Board is a cost effective bare-metal board for technical experts interested in parallel computing who want to use the board as an accelerator or standalone device in a client/server configuration, the Micro Server unlocks the powerful capabilities of the Parallella-16 board and the Epiphany parallel processor via the gigabit Ethernet network connection.

    View Details

     

    Micro Server
    Use Case Ethernet connected headless server
    Host Processor Zynq Z7010
    Coprocessor Epiphany III
    Memory 1 GB DDR3
    Ethernet 10/100/1000
    Storage Micro SD
    USB No
    HDMI No
    Expansion IO No
    FPGA Yes
    28K Programmable Logic Cells
    80 Programmable DSP Slices
    Weight 1.3 oz (36 grams)
    Size 3.5 x 2.1x 0.625" (90x5x18 mm)
    SKU P1600-DK-xx
    HTS Code 8471.41.0150

    Parallella-16 Desktop Computer

    The Parallella-16 Desktop Computer is a fully-enabled programmable computer based on the Parallella-16 board in a complete computer form-factor and includes the Epiphany III parallel processor, the Xilinx Zynq 7Z010 CPU, and has Ethernet, USB, HDMI, Serial peripheral interfaces, as well as multiple GPIO ports.

    View Details

     

    Desktop
    Use Case A personal computer
    Host Processor Zynq Z7010
    Coprocessor Epiphany III
    Memory 1 GB DDR3
    Ethernet 10/100/1000
    Storage Micro SD
    USB Yes
    HDMI Yes
    Expansion IO 2 eLinks + 24 GPIO
    FPGA Yes
    28K Programmable Logic Cells
    80 Programmable DSP Slices
    Weight 1.4 oz (38 grams)
    Size 3.5 x 2.1x 0.625" (90x5x18 mm)
    SKU P1601-DK-xx
    HTS Code 8471.41.0150

    Parallella-16 Embedded Platform

    The Parallella-16 Embedded Platform is a fully-enabled programmable computer based on the advanced Xilinx Zynq 7Z020 CPU with expanded FPGA. The board includes the Parallella-16 board in a complete computer form-factor, with the Epiphany III parallel processor, Ethernet, USB, HDMI, Serial peripheral interfaces, as well as multiple GPIO ports. The Parallella-16 Embedded Platform includes the expanded FPGA and GPIO of the Zynq 7Z020 and is well suited for embedded applications

    View Details

     

    Embedded
    Use Case Leading edge embedded systems
    Host Processor Zynq Z7020
    Coprocessor Epiphany III
    Memory 1 GB DDR3
    Ethernet 10/100/1000
    Storage Micro SD
    USB Yes
    HDMI Yes
    Expansion IO 2 eLinks + 48 GPIO
    FPGA Yes
    80K Programmable Logic Cells
    220 Programmable DSP Slices
    Weight 1.4 oz (38 grams)
    Size 3.5 x 2.1x 0.625" (90x5x18 mm)
    SKU P1602-DK-xx
    HTS Code 8471.41.0150

    Accessories

    Digi-Key also offers the following peripheral devices found useful to extend or develop with the Parallella:

    Power Supply

    products
    Digi-Key Part Number Description View Details
    102-3424-ND AC/DC WALL MOUNT ADAPTER 5V 12W View Details
    T1233-P5P-ND AC/DC WALL MOUNT ADAPTER 5V 15W View Details
    993-1357-ND AC/DC WALL MOUNT ADAPTER 5V 12W View Details

    Micro SD Card

    products
    Digi-Key Part Number Description View Details
    1052-1110-ND FLASH SD CARD 8GB View Details
    AF8GUDI-OEM-ND MICRO SD CARD 8GB INDUSTRIAL View Details

    HDMI-A Male to Micro HDMI-D Male Cable

    products
    Digi-Key Part Number Description View Details
    WM1283-ND CONN CABLE ASSY A-D 32AWG 2M View Details
    WM1284-ND CONN CABLE ASSY A-D 34AWG 1.5M View Details

    USB Cable A Male to Micro B Male

    products
    Digi-Key Part Number Description View Details
    AE10419-ND CABLE USB-A TO MICRO USB-B 1M View Details
    AE10342-ND CABLE USB-A TO MICRO USB-B 2M View Details
    GC14301-ND USB 2.0 A-PLUG TO MCRO-B-PLUG 1M View Details
    GC14302-ND USB 2.0 A-PLUG TO MCRO-B-PLUG 2M View Details

    Breakout Daughtercard

    products
    Digi-Key Part Number Description View Details
    1554-1003-ND PARALLELLA-16 PORCUPINE BOARD View Details