Design tools
How do you install Xilinx ISE 14.7 today?
ISE is the only AMD tool for Spartan-6, Spartan-3, Virtex-4, Virtex-5, Virtex-6, CoolRunner and XC9500 parts. Where to download it, which build to install on a modern PC, and what the free licence covers.
Updated 6 min readBased on AMD downloads and user guides
Short answer
Download ISE 14.7 from AMD's legacy-tools archive. On Windows 10 or 11, install the “ISE 14.7 Windows 10 and Windows 11” build: ISE preinstalled in a Linux virtual machine that supports every ISE device and comes licensed.[2][3] On Linux (or Windows 7), use the 14.7 full installer and generate a WebPACK licence.[1][4]
- Last release
- ISE 14.7, 23 October 2013
- Status
- Sustaining; no more ISE releases planned
- Windows 10 / 11
- AMD's ISE virtual machine (15.52 GB download)
- Linux
- Full installer (6.09 GB)
- Programming only
- Lab Tools (1.06 GB)
- Licence
- WebPACK for smaller devices; VM ships licensed
Which devices ISE 14.7 supports
ISE moved into the sustaining phase of its life cycle in October 2013 and AMD plans no further releases, so 14.7 is the version to install. AMD lists ISE as the tool for Spartan-6, Virtex-6 and CoolRunner devices and their previous generations, and recommends Vivado for new designs on the 7 series.[1]
The free WebPACK licence covers the CPLDs and the smaller FPGAs; larger devices need a paid edition. From AMD's architecture table for ISE 14.7:[4]
| Family | WebPACK (free licence) | Other ISE editions |
|---|---|---|
| Spartan-6 | WebPACK: XC6SLX4 to XC6SLX75T | Other editions: All |
| Spartan-3 | WebPACK: XC3S50 to XC3S1500(L) | Other editions: All |
| Spartan-3E, -3A, -3AN | WebPACK: All | Other editions: All |
| Spartan-3A DSP | WebPACK: XC3SD1800A | Other editions: All |
| Virtex-6 | WebPACK: XC6VLX75T | Other editions: All |
| Virtex-5 | WebPACK: XC5VLX30, XC5VLX50, XC5VLX20T to XC5VLX50T, XC5VFX30T | Other editions: All |
| Virtex-4 | WebPACK: XC4VLX15, XC4VLX25, XC4VSX25, XC4VFX12 | Other editions: All |
| CoolRunner-II | WebPACK: All | Other editions: All |
| CoolRunner XPLA3 | WebPACK: All | Other editions: All |
| XC9500 (incl. XL, XV) | WebPACK: All | Other editions: All |
Automotive devices are covered by WebPACK; defense-grade devices are covered where the equivalent commercial size is.[4]
Which download you need
| Your computer | AMD download | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or 11 | 14.7 Windows 10 and Windows 11 (virtual machine)[2] | 15.52 GB |
| Linux | Full Installer for Linux[1] | 6.09 GB |
| Windows 7, XP or Server 2008 | Full Installer for Windows 7/XP/Server[1] | 6.18 GB |
| Programming and debug only | Lab Tools, Windows 7/XP/Server and Linux[1] | 1.06 GB |
Download from AMD rather than a mirror. AMD's download pages publish a checksum, digest and signature for each file so you can confirm it is genuine and complete.[1]
Windows 10 and 11: the ISE virtual machine
The original 14.7 installer lists Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 as its supported Windows versions.[4] For current Windows, AMD released a separate build in February 2020: ISE 14.7 already installed inside an Oracle Linux virtual machine that runs on Oracle VirtualBox. It supports all ISE 14.7 devices.[2][3]
What your PC needs, according to AMD:[3]
- Windows 11, or Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise.
- A processor with hardware virtualisation (Intel VT-x or AMD-V), switched on in the BIOS.
- No other hypervisor running: only one can be enabled at a time, so Microsoft Hyper-V has to be disabled or removed first.
- At least 2 CPU cores, 8 GB of RAM and 85 GB of free disk space.
- A display of at least 1280 × 1024; some windows do not fit at lower resolutions.
AMD and Digilent programming cables work in the virtual machine out of the box. Other cables can be passed through from VirtualBox's USB menu, and may need their Linux drivers installed inside the virtual machine.[3]
What the virtual machine doesn't do
Linux and Windows 7: the full installer
The 14.7 full installer officially supports Red Hat Enterprise Workstation 5 and 6 and SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 (32- and 64-bit), plus Windows XP Professional, Windows 7 Professional and Windows Server 2008.[4] It is a single 6.09 GB archive for Linux or 6.18 GB for Windows; AMD also offers it as a four-part split download.[1]
Near the end of installation the Xilinx License Configuration Manager opens. Use it to get or locate a licence file before you start a design.[4]
Licensing
The Windows 10 and 11 virtual machine is installed licensed and ready to use.[3]
For the full installer, generate a WebPACK licence on AMD's Product Licensing Site. You can reach it from the License Configuration Manager, which fills in the host ID of the machine you are licensing.[4] Xilinx has described WebPACK as its “free, downloadable” development system since at least 2005.[5] To install the licence file, open the License Configuration Manager (Manage Xilinx Licenses, or xlcm on Linux) and use Copy License. The file goes to C:\.Xilinx on Windows or ~/.Xilinx on Linux, where the tools find it automatically.[4]
With a WebPACK licence, WebTalk, which sends software, IP and device usage statistics to AMD, is always on.[4]
Older families: Spartan-II, Virtex-II and before
ISE 14.7's architecture table starts at Spartan-3 and Virtex-4.[4] Spartan-II, Virtex-II, Virtex-II Pro and earlier families are not in it, so 14.7 cannot target them. They need an earlier ISE release. AMD's download archive still lists ISE versions back to 3.1;[1] check a version's release notes for device support before installing it.
Frequently asked questions
Is ISE 14.7 the last version of ISE?
Yes. ISE Design Suite 14.7 was released on 23 October 2013. AMD says ISE moved into the sustaining phase of its life cycle in October 2013 and that there are no more planned ISE releases.
Does ISE 14.7 run on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Through AMD's ISE virtual machine, yes. AMD's 'ISE 14.7 Windows 10 and Windows 11' download runs ISE inside an Oracle Linux virtual machine on Oracle VirtualBox and supports all ISE 14.7 devices. The original 14.7 installer lists only Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 as supported Windows versions.
Which Xilinx families need ISE rather than Vivado?
AMD lists ISE as the tool for Spartan-6, Virtex-6 and CoolRunner devices and their previous generations, which covers Spartan-3, Virtex-4, Virtex-5 and the XC9500 CPLDs. For new designs on 7 series devices (Artix-7, Kintex-7, Virtex-7, Zynq-7000) AMD recommends Vivado.
Does the free WebPACK licence cover my device?
It covers every CoolRunner, CoolRunner-II, XC9500, Spartan-3E, Spartan-3A and Spartan-3AN device, and the smaller members of the other families: Spartan-6 up to the XC6SLX75T, Spartan-3 up to the XC3S1500, and a handful of Virtex-4, Virtex-5 and Virtex-6 devices. Larger devices need a paid ISE edition.
Can ISE 14.7 target Spartan-II or Virtex-II Pro?
No. Neither family is in the ISE 14.7 architecture table, which starts at Spartan-3 and Virtex-4. Older families need an earlier ISE release; AMD's download archive lists ISE versions back to 3.1.
References
- [1]AMD download page, ISE Legacy Tools and Utilities – 14.7 (ISE Design Suite 14.7, 23 October 2013)
- [2]AMD Windows 10/11 download page, ISE Legacy Tools and Utilities – 14.7 Windows 10 and Windows 11 (20 February 2020)
- [3]AMD UG1227, ISE 14.7 VM for Windows 10 & 11 User Guide: Installation, Licensing and Release Notes (revision 14.8, 16 May 2025)
- [4]Xilinx (AMD) UG631, ISE Design Suite 14: Release Notes, Installation, and Licensing (v14.7, 10 July 2020)
- [5]Xilinx press release, Xilinx ISE WebPACK 7.1i (29 March 2005)
Keeping a legacy design in production?
If the tools are sorted but the parts aren't, send the part number and quantity — Spartan-3, Spartan-6, Virtex-5, CoolRunner-II, XC9500 or older — and we'll come back with stock and pricing.
Check stock & pricing