FPGA vs eFPGA | Difference between FPGA and eFPGA
This page compares FPGA vs eFPGA and mentions difference between FPGA and eFPGA. The full form of FPGA is Field Programmable Gate Array and eFPGA stands for Embedded FPGA.
FPGA | Field Programmable Gate Array
Figure-1: FPGA chip
The FPGA Architecture consists of following:
Configurable Logic Block(CLB) - It contains digital logic,inputs outputs. It implements user logic.
Interconnects- which provides routing between the logic blocks to implements the user logic
Switch Matrix - provides switching between interconnects depending on the logic.
Input/Output pads - used for outside world to communicate in Applications
Figure-2: FPGA Architecture
Logic Block consists of
LUT: It implements the combinational logic functions
Register (D flip flip): it stores the output of LUT
MUX: it is used for selection logic
Xilinx and Altera are popular manufacturers of FPGA ICs. Refer FPGA Architecture for more information.
eFPGA | Embedded Field Programmable Gate Array
Figure-3: eFPGA on SoC or ASIC
• It is available in the form of IP core which can be integrated on ASIC or SoC to achieve programmable logic.
The other components of traditional FPGA chips e.g. GPIOs, SERDES and PHYs are not integrated on SoC or ASIC.
• Using eFPGA, one can define quantity of LUTs, embedded memory, registers and DSP blocks.
• It is easy to control aspect ratio and number of I/O ports.
• This helps to make tradeoff between power consumption and performance.
• Figure-3 depicts reconfigurable RTL which is FPGA core. Other components of SoC such as DSP, CPU, SRAM,
hardwired RTL are also shown.
• The eFPGA IP can be licensed and placed inside an ASIC or SoC. It is available from number of vendors.
Benefits of using eFPGA architecture over FPGA are as follows.
➨eFPGA can be customized post production with minimal expenses unlike FPGA.
➨eFPGA does not require changing RTL design post production and does not require re-manufacturing of chips.
This provides greater flexibility in using eFPGA over FPGA.
Difference between FPGA and eFPGA
Following table mentions difference between FPGA and eFPGA architectures.
| Specifications | Traditional FPGA | eFPGA |
|---|---|---|
| I/O interconnect | It is through packages such as PCIe, SERDES etc. | It is within SoC or ASIC designs. |
| GPIOs | Up to approx. 400 | Up to approx. 10K |
| Clocks | It can be generated using dedicated PLLs on chip. | It can be generated within SoC/ASIC. |
| Memory | fixed amount | Customised |
| Hard blocks | Fixed vendor hard blocks | Customer defined hard blocks or menta hard blocks |
| Foundry | Fixed | At customer choice |
| Temperature range | Need to select appropriate FPGAs from catalogue as per temperature requirements. | At customer choice. |
| Size (Logic Cells) | Different vendors manufacture different sizes. | It is available from 12 to 200K sizes. |
FPGA LINKS
FPGA Architecture
ASIC vs FPGA
Microcontroller vs FPGA
CPU vs DSP vs FPGA
Advantages and disadvantages of FPGA
What is FPGA
Beamforming smart antennas using FPGA
FPGA Implementation of MIMO
What is Difference between
difference between FDM and OFDM
Difference between SC-FDMA and OFDM
Difference between SISO and MIMO
Difference between TDD and FDD
Difference between 802.11 standards viz.11-a,11-b,11-g and 11-n
OFDM vs OFDMA
CDMA vs GSM
Bluetooth vs zigbee
Fixed wimax vs mobile