Why is there an ADSP-BF535 processor on my EZ-KIT Lite?

The ADSP-BF535 DSP is part of the onboard Debug Agent, used for communicating between the EZ-Kit board and the host PC. In older EZ-Kits the Debug Agent consisted of a Xilinx FPGA and a Cypress USB interface, however, in the later, (Lead-Free) RoHS EZ-Kits, the Cypress USB chip was replaced by an ADSP-BF535 processor.

sanjaac wrote:

Ok, but why was this decision taken? The BF535 is a beast (in the best possible meaning), so was it a cost reason, a performance reason, or maybe a marketing the reason, the one that moved ADI to put a BF535 as Debug Agent?

Due to the introduction of the European RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive the Analog Devices CROSSCORE Development Tools product line redesigned all hardware products to comply with the directive. As the Cypress part was not ROHS compliant a change to use the BF535 was taken.

More information on RoHS is available on the Analog Devices web site: www.analog.com/leadfree

Ok, but why was this decision taken? The BF535 is a beast (in the best possible meaning), so was it a cost reason, a performance reason, or maybe a marketing the reason, the one that moved ADI to put a BF535 as Debug Agent?