New ContributorWhich FPGA IP can be used FREE in production with the Quartus LITE dev. sw?
We are a small business startup evaluating the the viability of using Altera lower cost FPGAs for small scale production, probably focusing on MAX 10 FPGA, Cyclone IV E, and/or Cyclone V A9. We are using VHDL. One issue is the possible use of (some, if any) IP in production without buying a license. Any IP available for free use in production? (We already know that some IP can be evaluated for free, but need paid licences in production.)
We have already established that VHDL 2008 will not be available in the Quartus Lite version, so no cores depending on that is usable for us now.
Thanks.
I tested a bit in Quartus Prime Light (20.1.1) for a MAX10 (10M50DA type), and these are some findings.
- It seems it's the more elaborate IPs that needs paid licenses (as has been said), so PLLs, use of ADC in MAX10, etc. are free
- You can disable use og Evaluation licenses:
Assignments > Settings > Compilation Process Settings > More Settings > Intel FPGA IP Evaluation Mode: Disable
- In the Compilation Report you can check (examples when disabled):
- Assembler > Encrypted IP Cores Summary (Gives for example: Nios II Embedded...: Unlicensed; Signal Tap: Licensed)
- Assembler > Messages (gives for example)
- 115003 Can't generate programming files ... not valid license for following IP core(s)
115005 Unlicensed IP: "Nios II Embedded Processor Encrypted output..."
115004 Unlicensed encrypted design file: "c:/....../altera_nios_gen2_rtl_module.sv"- When Evaluation mode is Enabled, you get the programming file <name>_time_limited.sof (as Frank said earlier).
- You can also check in the Compilation Report
- Analysis & Synthesis > IP Cores Summary, the Licence Type column
For example: Signal Tap: Licensed; no licence needed (it seems): N/A, Nios II Embedded...: OpenCore (not free)(Nios II is btw outdated, Nios V should be used for new designs, but it needs a paid license as well.)
So, I'm a bit more optimistic, seems that much of the simpler IP in Platform Designer in Quartus can be used.
