On Wed, 13 May 2009 11:23:00 +0100
Mike Harrison <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm looking at a possible application and trying to figure the
> relative costs of FPGA/CPLD versus MCU.
> I can do it with a microcontroller, but the only MCUs with the
> hardware I need (TFT LCD controller) tend to come with lots of other
> stuff (ethernet, large flash, USB etc.) which I don't need.
>
> As it can be hard to get 'real' prices of FPGAs without talking to
> all the distis etc. I wonder if anyone can suggest parts to look at .
>
> Rough reqiurement is :
>
> Cheapest in 100x qtys for total solution inc. config and power supply
> ( from 3.3v supply), below about GBP5(US$7.5)
> Not BGA
> Readly available : ex-stock or sensible leadtimes (2 weeks)
> A couple of RAM blocks, around 1K byte each
> about 60 IOs, all 3.3v
> 30MHz clock
> Logic equivalent to around 100 CPLD macrocells
> Free or low cost (<$500) design software
>
> The Xilinx S3A/AN-50 is the cheapest I've found so far, but is a a
> bit over-specced. CPLDs seem to get expensive above 72 cells and
> don't tend to have RAM
>
>

When I did some pricing pusharounds on the 3As, I came to the
conclusion that it was cheaper to get the 3A and an external SPI
flash than to get the 3AN. It also allows you more choices in the FPGA
packaging.

--
Rob Gaddi, Highland Technology
Email address is currently out of order