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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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14 years ago

From Prototype to Market

Hi,

I'm currently developing a system with an FPGA, we've recently finished our prototype which we built on a DE0-board (Cyclone III) with the help of Quartus Web Edition. Anyhow, my question now is: In order to reach market entry, what Altera - Products and IP's do we have to purchase?

If I've understood this right, we need the Quartus full edition in order to save the .sof-file on a static memory? Is this correct?

We have a system with a Nios II/f soft CPU and some other IP's like UART, PIO's etc. Do we have to pay a licence fee for them individually or is the cost of SoPC-components built in, in the Quartus license?

In order to produce the product, what's the most common way, integrate a EPCS on the PCB or to sort of make a partition of a Flash (CFI) ? Is there any good reference designs out there?

Happy easter,

Mr_embedded

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Quartus II Web Edition will allow you to create .sof/.pof programming files for your Cyclone III design. Quartus II Web Edition is limited mostly supporting only the low cost device families like Cyclone, but the Subscription Edition does have a few "nice to have" features which are outlined here:

    http://www.altera.com/literature/po/ss_quartussevswe.pdf

    the Nios II/f core will require a license, but you can simulate it and evaluate on board using OpenCore Plus (along with most of the other Altera IP cores). you will need a license to go into production and create programming files for the configuration flash

    EPCS is much easier than CFI for configuration
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    You reference the setup on DE-Nano. But add a flash to store your code. I always use Nios-E as it is free, no license requirement.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Thanks for the replies.

    The economy-version of Nios is free? Where can I find a pricelist for IP's?

    Regards,

    mr_embedded
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Yes, Nios II E is free.

    Are you going to use Nios II on ASIC or FPGA?