CPU vs DSP vs FPGA | Difference between CPU,DSP,FPGA
This page compares CPU vs DSP vs FPGA and describes difference between CPU,DSP and FPGA.
CPU-Central Processing Unit

The figure-1 depicts 8085 CPU architecture.
Refer CPU Architecture➤.
DSP-Digital Signal Processor

The figure-2 depicts DSP architecture.
Refer DSP Architecture➤.
FPGA-Field Programmable Gate Array

The figure-3 depicts FPGA Architecture.
Refer FPGA Architecture➤.
Following table-1 mentions difference between CPU and FPGA.
Specifications | CPU | FPGA |
---|---|---|
Computation | Fixed arithmetic engines | User configurable logic |
I/O | Fixed and dedicated I/O ports | User configurable I/O ports |
Programmability | Program execution | Registers will determine modes and also defines operating parameters. |
Ease of programming | C simplifies development tasks, not required to be worried about hardware. | HDL requires knowledge of hardware |
Upgrades and maintenance | less difficult | more difficult |
Execution | Sequential | parallel |
Throughput | lower | higher |
Complex algorithm implementation | Easy | Difficult |
Peripherals | Equipped with peripherals with RS232, USB, Ethernet etc. | Significant HW and SW effort is needed to implement these on FPGA chip. |
Appropriate tasks | • decision making • complex analysis • lower data rate computation • block oriented tasks |
• compute intensive algorithms • massively paralle operations • high data rate computation • streaming tasks |
Following table-2 mentions difference between DSP and FPGA.
Specifications | DSP | FPGA |
---|---|---|
Application as per sample rate | Standalone DSP chips provide cost effective solution at few KHz of sample rate. | FPGA is best suitable for sample rates are in few MHz. |
Data rate | For low data rates extra cycles are available and hence DSP is not bandwidth limited. | FPGA is easier and efficient to implement when I/O rates are greater than few Mbytes/sec. |
Data width/precision | No limitation if data width is same as bus width of processor. Moreover there is no room for bit growth in the DSP algorithms. | Suitable for high precision/high data width as it has uniform parallel structure. |
Implementation of decision trees or conditional branches. | DSPs are ideal. | FPGAs are not suitable. These tasks can be done with the use of embedded cores or microBlaze. |
Useful Links
Refer our Page on what a microcontroller does.
Refer our Page on microcontroller programming using C language including example.
Refer our Page on microcontroller development kit manufacturers.
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