EP4CE15F17I8LN vs EP4CE75F29C7
| Part Number |
|
|
| Category | Embedded - FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) | Embedded - FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Description | IC FPGA 165 I/O 256FBGA | IC FPGA 426 I/O 780FBGA |
| Package | 256-LBGA | 780-BGA |
| Series | Cyclone® IV E | Cyclone® IV E |
| Voltage - Supply | 0.97 V ~ 1.03 V | 1.15 V ~ 1.25 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C ~ 100°C (TJ) | 0°C ~ 85°C (TJ) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount | Surface Mount |
| Package / Case | 256-LBGA | 780-BGA |
| Supplier Device Package | 256-FBGA (17x17) | 780-FBGA (29x29) |
| Number of I/O | 165 | 426 |
| Number of LABs/CLBs | 963 | 4713 |
| Number of Logic Elements/Cells | 15408 | 75408 |
| Total RAM Bits | 516096 | 2810880 |
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1. What is FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array?
FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device that allows users to change and configure the internal connection structure and logic units of the device through software means after manufacturing to complete the digital integrated circuit of the established design function. FPGA consists of programmable logic resources, programmable interconnection resources and programmable input and output resources, and is mainly used to implement sequential logic circuits with state machines as the main feature.
FPGA is a product further developed on the basis of programmable devices such as [PAL (Programmable Array Logic) and GAL (General Array Logic). As a semi-custom circuit in the field of application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), it not only solves the shortcomings of customized circuits, but also overcomes the shortcomings of the limited number of gate circuits of the original programmable devices. FPGA realizes a unique method of digital circuits by providing programmable hardware blocks and interconnections that can be configured to perform various tasks, making hardware development more flexible. -
2. Is FPGA a microcontroller?
FPGA is not a microcontroller. There are significant differences between FPGA and microcontroller in terms of function and use.
FPGA is a programmable integrated circuit, which is programmed through hardware description language and can customize the circuit according to needs. It is very suitable for application scenarios that require flexible configuration and high performance. In contrast, microcontrollers (MCUs) are integrated circuits with preset functions, usually used for single tasks and requiring efficient execution.
FPGAs and MCUs also differ in structure and application scenarios. FPGAs offer great flexibility and are suitable for complex applications that require rapid prototyping and reconfigurability. On the other hand, MCUs combine processor cores, memory, and various peripherals in a single chip, designed for specific tasks, and provide cost-effective solutions. -
3. Can FPGAs replace microcontrollers?
FPGAs cannot completely replace microcontrollers (MCUs). Although FPGAs and MCUs have their own characteristics and advantages in functions and applications, FPGAs cannot completely replace MCUs. There are significant differences between FPGAs and MCUs in terms of programmability, processing power, flexibility, development cycle, and cost.
The main differences between FPGAs and MCUs include:
Programmability: FPGAs are programmable and can be reprogrammed to achieve new functions, while MCUs are fixed and cannot be changed.
Processing power: FPGAs are usually used in high-performance computing, digital signal processing, image processing, and other fields, while MCUs are usually used for simple tasks such as controlling and monitoring equipment and sensors.
Flexibility: FPGA is more flexible than MCU and can be programmed and reprogrammed according to different applications, while MCU can usually only run predefined programs in its internal memory.
Development cycle: FPGA has a longer development cycle than MCU because FPGA needs to be designed, verified and debugged, while MCU usually only needs to write and debug programs.
Cost: FPGA costs more than MCU because FPGA needs to be manufactured and tested, and a lot of design and verification work is required, while MCU has a relatively low cost.
In specific application scenarios, FPGA and MCU each have their own advantages:
Advantages of FPGA: high programmability, parallel processing capability, high performance, suitable for applications that require rapid prototyping and system upgrades, suitable for scenarios with high real-time requirements.
Advantages of MCU: high integration, low cost, low power consumption, suitable for scenarios with strict power consumption requirements.
In summary, although FPGA performs well in some high-performance and flexible application scenarios, MCU still has irreplaceable advantages in simple control and monitoring tasks. -
4. Why use FPGA as a digital controller?
The main reason for using FPGA as a digital controller is its flexibility and programmability. FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a chip whose internal structure can be changed through programming. It has high flexibility and programmability, which makes FPGA widely used in the field of digital controllers.
The flexibility of FPGA is reflected in the fact that its logic units can be configured to implement different logic functions. Users can use hardware description languages (such as VHDL or Verilog) to write programs to map logic functions to lookup tables (LUTs) and logic units inside FPGA. This flexibility allows FPGAs to adapt to different application requirements and can be reprogrammed as needed to adapt to new application scenarios.
In addition, FPGAs also have high-performance parallel computing capabilities and high-speed data processing capabilities, which makes it play an important role in digital signal processing, image processing, network communication and other fields. The parallel processing capabilities of FPGAs enable it to handle multiple tasks at the same time, improving overall processing efficiency.

