FPGA Central

Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
around 300$ us (500 canadian).

Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
increase.

I'me looking for the cheapest FPGA possible that will be easy to program
on the fly and could multiply a 10x10 matrix. Our design does have some
external ram and a PLD so System-On-Chip could be integrated into our
pci board.

Thanks!

Andre Bonin <Yoyoma_2@[at-]hotmail.com> wrote:
: Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
: the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
: EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
: around 300$ us (500 canadian).

: Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
: that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
: increase.

: I'me looking for the cheapest FPGA possible that will be easy to program
: on the fly and could multiply a 10x10 matrix. Our design does have some
: external ram and a PLD so System-On-Chip could be integrated into our
: pci board.

Did you consider going with Spartan 3? At nuhorizons they start at 13$45
with the XCF02 for 5$80.

Spartan 3 has embedded multipliers.

Bye
--
Uwe Bonnes [email protected]

Institut fuer Kernphysik Schlossgartenstrasse 9 64289 Darmstadt
--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------

Uwe Bonnes wrote:

> Andre Bonin <Yoyoma_2@[at-]hotmail.com> wrote:
> : Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
> : the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
> : EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
> : around 300$ us (500 canadian).
>
> : Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
> : that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
> : increase.
>
> : I'me looking for the cheapest FPGA possible that will be easy to program
> : on the fly and could multiply a 10x10 matrix. Our design does have some
> : external ram and a PLD so System-On-Chip could be integrated into our
> : pci board.
>
> Did you consider going with Spartan 3? At nuhorizons they start at 13$45
> with the XCF02 for 5$80.

From what i hear, the xilinx devices are harder to integrate with the
board. That's why w'ere gearing towards altera. Plus the school already
has altera equipment. Unless xilinx wants to give me free spartans
because i'me a starving student, then i'lle thank them in my term
presentation .



>
> Spartan 3 has embedded multipliers.
>
> Bye

Andre Bonin <Yoyoma_2@[at-]hotmail.com> wrote:
: Uwe Bonnes wrote:

: > Andre Bonin <Yoyoma_2@[at-]hotmail.com> wrote:
: > : Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
: > : the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
: > : EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
: > : around 300$ us (500 canadian).
: >
: > : Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
: > : that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
: > : increase.
: >
: > : I'me looking for the cheapest FPGA possible that will be easy to program
: > : on the fly and could multiply a 10x10 matrix. Our design does have some
: > : external ram and a PLD so System-On-Chip could be integrated into our
: > : pci board.
: >
: > Did you consider going with Spartan 3? At nuhorizons they start at 13$45
: > with the XCF02 for 5$80.

: From what i hear, the xilinx devices are harder to integrate with the
: board. That's why w'ere gearing towards altera.

About what problems did you hear? I had no problems so long...

: Plus the school already
: has altera equipment. Unless xilinx wants to give me free spartans
: because i'me a starving student, then i'lle thank them in my term
: presentation .

--
Uwe Bonnes [email protected]

Institut fuer Kernphysik Schlossgartenstrasse 9 64289 Darmstadt
--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------

> Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
> the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
> EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
> around 300$ us (500 canadian).
>
> Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
> that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
> increase.

I bought EP1C3CT144-8 for < 16EUR
and EP1C6Q240 - 8 for < 30EUR in EBV
when you buy 10000, you ca get them at Altera's prices.
Cyclone II will appear in a few months

greg wrote:
>>Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
>>the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
>>EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
>>around 300$ us (500 canadian).
>>
>>Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
>>that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
>>increase.
>
>
> I bought EP1C3CT144-8 for < 16EUR
> and EP1C6Q240 - 8 for < 30EUR in EBV
> when you buy 10000, you ca get them at Altera's prices.
> Cyclone II will appear in a few months
>
>
Do you mind e-mailing me your distributor? Thanks!

"Andre Bonin" <Yoyoma_2@[at-]Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:B_r3d.457396$M95.217950@pd7tw1no...
> greg wrote:
>>>Hello all, i'me doing a school project requiring Cyclone2 chips, but all
>>>the distributors I called (that allow single-order) have only the
>>>EP1C7's (Cyclone1's speed grade 7). And furthermore they sell it for
>>>around 300$ us (500 canadian).
>>>
>>>Am i missing something? Altera says they cost under 3$ each. I concure
>>>that yes volume pricing etc, but from 3$ to 500$ seems a rather large
>>>increase.
>>
>>
>> I bought EP1C3CT144-8 for < 16EUR
>> and EP1C6Q240 - 8 for < 30EUR in EBV
>> when you buy 10000, you ca get them at Altera's prices.
>> Cyclone II will appear in a few months
>>
>>
> Do you mind e-mailing me your distributor? Thanks!

He mentioned it - EBV. 8-)

Leon