Alveo U55C
Alveo U55C accelerator card with UltraScale+ FPGA, 16GB HBM2, 200G networking for computational storage.
Product Overview
Description
The Alveo U55C is a high-performance data center accelerator card featuring a Xilinx UltraScale+ FPGA with 16GB HBM2 memory delivering 460 GB/s memory bandwidth. The card includes dual QSFP28 cages supporting 200G total network connectivity.
The half-height, half-length form factor fits in standard servers while delivering massive compute density. The card supports PCIe Gen4 x8 host interface for high-bandwidth data transfer between host and accelerator.
Optimized for computational storage, database analytics, and AI inference, the U55C delivers 10-50x performance improvements for data-intensive workloads. The high-bandwidth HBM2 enables efficient processing of large datasets without host memory bottlenecks.
Product Series
Alveo
Primary Application
Computational Storage
Key Features
- High efficiency and reliability
- Optimized for industrial applications
- Comprehensive technical support
- Available from stock
Specifications
| FPGA | XCU55N UltraScale+ |
|---|---|
| HBM2 Memory | 16 GB (460 GB/s) |
| Network | Dual QSFP28 (200G total) |
| PCIe Interface | Gen4 x8 |
| Form Factor | Half-height, half-length |
| Power | 150W (max) |
| Cooling | Passive (requires server airflow) |
Applications
Computational Storage
Electronic system design
Database Analytics
Electronic system design
AI Inference
Electronic system design
Data Compression
Electronic system design
FAE Expert Insights
"The Alveo U55C is a game-changer for data center acceleration. The 16GB HBM2 with 460 GB/s bandwidth is the key feature - it eliminates the memory bottleneck that limits traditional accelerator cards. I've deployed these in computational storage applications where the FPGA handles erasure coding and compression inline, reducing CPU load by 80%. The 200G networking enables direct network-to-FPGA data paths without host CPU involvement. The half-height form factor is ideal for dense server deployments. Power consumption at 150W is reasonable for the performance delivered. The XRT runtime makes deployment straightforward with standard Linux drivers. This card excels at any workload that processes large datasets - databases, genomics, and log analytics all show dramatic performance improvements. For data center architects looking to offload CPU-intensive tasks, the U55C should be at the top of the evaluation list."
HBM2 memory enables breakthrough performance for data-intensive workloads
— Kevin Park, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What servers are compatible with Alveo U55C?
Alveo U55C server requirements: 1) PCIe slot - Gen4 x8 or x16 physical slot, 2) Power - 150W available via PCIe slot, 3) Cooling - 400 LFM airflow minimum, 4) Form factor - half-height slot or full-height with adapter, 5) OS - RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu Linux support. Most modern 1U and 2U servers are compatible. Check Xilinx server compatibility list for validated configurations.
Verify server compatibility before purchase. Ensure adequate cooling airflow.
How do I get started with Alveo development?
Alveo getting started steps: 1) Install XRT - download from Xilinx website, 2) Install Vitis - development tools for kernel creation, 3) Run examples - test card with built-in examples, 4) Develop kernels - create custom acceleration functions, 5) Deploy application - integrate with host software. Start with Vitis Libraries for common workloads. Xilinx provides cloud instances for evaluation without hardware purchase.
Start with cloud evaluation. Install XRT and run examples on target server.
What performance can I expect for database analytics?
Database analytics performance: 1) Query acceleration - 10-50x faster than CPU for complex queries, 2) Compression - 5-10x faster decompression, 3) Filtering - 100x faster predicate pushdown, 4) Joins - 10-20x faster hash joins, 5) Aggregation - 20-50x faster group-by operations. Actual speedup depends on query complexity and data characteristics. Best results for analytical workloads with full table scans.
Evaluate with your specific queries. Best for analytical workloads with scan-heavy patterns.
Can multiple Alveo cards be used together?
Multi-card deployment: 1) Scaling - multiple cards in single server for higher throughput, 2) Distribution - workload distribution across cards, 3) Peer-to-peer - direct card-to-card communication via PCIe, 4) Network - cards can communicate over network for clustering, 5) Management - XRT supports multi-card systems. Common to deploy 2-4 cards per server for maximum density.
Use multiple cards for higher throughput. Plan workload distribution strategy.
How do I update the Alveo card firmware?
Alveo firmware update process: 1) XRT tools - use xbmgmt utility, 2) Shell update - update card shell (FPGA image), 3) SC update - update satellite controller firmware, 4) Verification - confirm update with xbutil, 5) Rollback - previous version available if needed. Updates performed via standard Linux tools without physical access. Xilinx releases updates for bug fixes and new features.
Keep firmware updated for latest features. Test updates in non-production first.