Stratix V Advanced Systems Development Kit SW4 Default Settings

Here are some facts I'd like to share with you guys because we keep getting more and more requests similar to the things you've been discussing. It's actually very funny from my perspective because if you have any problem with iPhone, you'd go to Apple first, not Foxconn.

Fact No. 1 - You won't get any support/warranty/license from Altera (now Intel PSG) because this is a customized version of Stratix V Advanced Systems Development Kit originally made by Terasic for someone else. It's never in their official system.

Fact No. 2 - Don't be surprised if the BTS which comes with the official Stratix V Advanced Systems Development Kit doesn't work on this modified version because the FPGA device is different. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do because the source code of its BTS is not released. Furthermore, the deal we made with that particular someone is there will be no documentation or tool given. This customized board was built as-is and it was built for that particular someone only.

Fact No. 3 - The most significant changes on this customized version are removing parts and replacing the FPGA devices, so you can still refer to the schematic from the official website.

I have no idea how such boards end up with your ebay seller from that particular someone and I'm quite interested in how much you purchased from there. The difference must be huge for you to ignore what I just said, but then you probably didn't know anything about any of these upon purchase or you simply want to get larger FPGA devices.

I honestly don't know why Altera MySupport keeps pushing all the related inquires to us after we told them the entire history, but I guess they just get used to do things this way.

Dav from Terasic

I would say, there is strange behavior of all parties.

Those boards were bought by customer "H". Both Altera and Terasic got paid for it.

"H" decided to sell the boards, and new owners have questions about using the hardware they purchased.

No warranty or software licensing issue have risen, but a request for tech docs for the hardware Terasic manufactured, sold and get paid for.

If you made any changes (significant or not), it can't be done without proper documentation.

Hi Dav,

first many thanks for replying in the forum.

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It's actually very funny from my perspective because if you have any problem with iPhone, you'd go to Apple first, not Foxconn.

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For you this might be funny. For me not. I'm getting pushed around between the guy I bought this board, Altera and now you. As I wrote you, I was first contacting Altera and they said I should contact Terasic about this board.

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I have no idea how such boards end up with your ebay seller from that particular someone and I'm quite interested in how much you purchased from there. The difference must be huge for you to ignore what I just said, but then you probably didn't know anything about any of these upon purchase or you simply want to get larger FPGA devices.

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I'm clearly in the section "didn't know anything about any of these upon purchase". I was expecting to buy a "Stratix V GX FPGA Development Kit", not an Advanced kit and surely not a custom board.

The boards come in a sealed Altera package with the picture of a "Stratix V GX FPGA Development Kit" on.

so, how could i have known?

FYI, this is the offer where I bought it:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/stratix-v-gx-fpga-development-kit/201961152917?hash=item2f05d2a195:g:j84aaoswgv5zprmo

Is there any chance you could at least release the pin assignments, etc?

Best regards,

Markus

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I'm clearly in the section "didn't know anything about any of these upon purchase". I was expecting to buy a "Stratix V GX FPGA Development Kit", not an Advanced kit and surely not a custom board. The boards come in a sealed Altera package with the picture of a "Stratix V GX FPGA Development Kit" on. so, how could i have known?

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Some people in the chain are probably playing dumb. We have two of these, and can't use them because Altera refuses to issue the Quartus licenses for these 'custom' boards.

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Is there any chance you could at least release the pin assignments, etc?

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Compared to the retail board the custom one just has bigger FPGAs, and no external SRAM is fitted (QDR or Mosys). Some support stuff for the retail board is hardwired for the retail board FPGA and hence won't work on the custom board. But there don't seem to be any other differences (including schematic).

Looking at all the hue and cry for support on this board, here's what I think after looking at the photo's of the ones posted and the ones on the Intel(Altera) site.

1. This S5 Advanced kit may have been manufactured by Altera/terasic and since the FPGAs in question are different from the original board contents as to what Intel/Altera website says, this is no longer an Intel/Altera/Terasic manufactured board.

2. This board looks like a re-worked board. They must have gotten some of the original Altera board and replaced the original S5 FPGAs with cheaper S5 versions, removed the memory and components and sell them. This explains why the original board costs $14000 and this one's sold on Ebay for $1250!! Do you think that this will be the original one , that too at so much of a price difference?

I'd say , these boards may have been defective and sold off for a cheaper rate. This seller company on Ebay (who's selling them) have procured them and done re-work on them. This is why you got the boards without warranty, software, etc .

From the image posted on Ebay, it doesn't look "New" to me. Rather like old board that has been re-conditioned.

Bottom-line: If you're gonna buy development kits/board, buy it from an authorized retailer/vendor. This way you know what you're getting is original, tested and works. If you get them from online ecomm sites like Ebay from other unknown sellers, you don't know what you're getting. It will be like opening a Pandora's box.

These are just my thoughts on this issue.

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1. <snipped> 2. <snipped>

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Speculation is irrelevant. Based on the serial numbers, what the board actually is has been confirmed by Terasic (they supplied it, special order, to some big customer (I know which one, but it's hardly relevant here)).

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3. This board looks like a re-worked board.

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It isn't. It is brand new.

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They must have gotten some of the original Altera board and replaced the original S5 FPGAs with cheaper S5 versions, removed the memory and components and sell them.

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The FPGAs on this custom board are 5SGXEABN2F45C2. They are bigger and considerably more expensive ($13500 vs. $9000 each) than the ones on the retail board, which are 5SGXEA7N2F45C2.

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From the image posted on Ebay, it doesn't look "New" to me. Rather like old board that has been re-conditioned.

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This is new old stock.

• The box has scratches, but it is still factory sealed.This is also clearly visible on the photos on ebay.

• The board inside is also factory sealed.

• The board inside is definitely new.

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Bottom-line: If you're gonna buy development kits/board, buy it from an authorized retailer/vendor. This way you know what you're getting is original, tested and works. If you get them from online ecomm sites like Ebay from other unknown sellers, you don't know what you're getting. It will be like opening a Pandora's box.

These are just my thoughts on this issue.

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You might be right, but not everyone on this planet has enough money for that. This kit is advertised as a Stratix V GX Development Kit, not the Advanced. So 1250 USD for an 5 year old item with a MSRP of 7000 USD is not outside of what I would expect valid.

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Both Terasic and Altera are facing reputation risk now. Altera Teachers like "eapenabrm" just make it worse.

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I really wouldn't be that harsh with Altera and Terasic. I can somewhat understand their position and therefore for me reputation risk sounds a little too strong. But I believe especially Altera should think about their communication strategy. Personally I feel quite bad handled by their customer support.

I believe ultimately the guy putting a custom Terasic board into a Altera development kit box without adding a little "custom board" sticker should be blamed for the confusion. Such a sticker would have helped really a lot.

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Both Terasic and Altera are facing reputation risk now.

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I guess these boards are very much promotional material (the retail price seems well below parts value). And officially reselling is prohibited, as if they could stop that (it wouldn't be legal to prohibit resale here in the Netherlands, and I doubt that it is in the USA). So they get difficult with support. I don't think it's a wise move, since they're not really hurting the reseller, but rather those new (or old) customers raring to go do something useful with the board. Not exactly good for future chip sales or customer relations ...