Forum Discussion
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago --- Quote Start --- Having those many number of io's, i don't know if a CPLD would make the cut. --- Quote End --- For a CPLD, both the newest MAX II family and the older MAX 3000A family have a range of package sizes and a choice of package types including some very small ones. You said you need "around 60 IOs". MAX II has a 68-pin micro FineLine BGA with 54 I/Os and a few 100-pin packages with at least 76 I/Os. MAX 3000A has 66 I/Os in a 100-pin TQFP. If you need FPGA features like a PLL or internal RAM blocks, then Cyclone (old family, but the smallest devices might still make sense to use; 65 I/Os in a 100-pin TQFP), Cyclone II (89 I/Os in a 144-pin TQFP), and Cyclone III (newest technology; 94 I/Os in a 144-pin enhanced QFP) have fairly small package sizes. If you care most about package size, then check the dimensions in the package data sheet for the ones that have enough I/Os. If you care most about package cost, then you'll need to ask your sales person. The package cost can be a large portion of the total device cost. A physically larger package with more I/Os of one package type might be cheaper than a physically smaller package of another package type. --- Quote Start --- ...how come CPLD can be an advantage... --- Quote End --- One example is that some CPLDs support a higher I/O voltage than some FPGAs (5.0V input for MAX 3000A). For the voltage you have it won't matter because you will have to use an external voltage converter for any CPLD or FPGA. Another potential CPLD advantage is lower power dissipation. If you care about that (probably not for a washing machine), then consider MAX IIZ.