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Contact & Quotation

  • Inquire: Call 0086-755-23203480, or reach out via the form below/your sales contact to discuss our design, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities.
  • Quote: Email your PCB files to Sales@pcbsync.com (Preferred for large files) or submit online. We will contact you promptly. Please ensure your email is correct.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 3 files.

Notes:
For PCB fabrication, we require PCB design file in Gerber RS-274X format (most preferred), *.PCB/DDB (Protel, inform your program version) format or *.BRD (Eagle) format. For PCB assembly, we require PCB design file in above mentioned format, drilling file and BOM. Click to download BOM template To avoid file missing, please include all files into one folder and compress it into .zip or .rar format.

Altera FPGA (Intel): Product Lines, Features & Applications Guide

If you’ve been in the embedded systems or hardware design space for any significant time, you’ve probably encountered Altera FPGA devices at some point. I’ve spent years working with these chips on countless PCB projects, and I can tell you firsthand that understanding the Altera FPGA ecosystem is essential for any serious hardware engineer today.

The landscape changed dramatically when Intel acquired Altera back in 2015 for $16.7 billion. Then, in a somewhat unexpected turn, Altera re-emerged as an independent company in January 2025, with Silver Lake acquiring a 51% controlling stake in September 2025. This means the Altera brand is back and stronger than ever, backed by substantial investment and a renewed focus on FPGA innovation.

Whether you’re selecting components for a new telecommunications system, prototyping an AI acceleration platform, or designing industrial control equipment, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Altera FPGA technology.

What Makes Altera FPGA Technology Stand Out

An Altera FPGA is a field-programmable gate array manufactured by Altera Corporation. Unlike fixed-function ASICs, Altera FPGA devices can be reconfigured after manufacturing, giving engineers the flexibility to modify hardware functionality without redesigning the physical chip.

The company was founded in 1983 by semiconductor veterans Robert Hartmann, Paul Newhagen, James Sansbury, and Michael Magranet. The name “Altera” was actually a play on “alterable,” which perfectly describes what these chips do. Altera introduced its first FPGA in 1992 and became the first company to implement an 8-input LUT architecture, which was a significant advancement at the time.

What sets Altera FPGA devices apart is their combination of:

Programmable Logic Fabric: The core of any Altera FPGA consists of Adaptive Logic Modules (ALMs) that can be configured to implement virtually any digital logic function. Each ALM contains look-up tables (LUTs), flip-flops, and dedicated arithmetic circuitry.

Embedded Memory: Altera FPGA chips include substantial on-chip SRAM blocks that can be configured as RAM, ROM, FIFOs, or shift registers. This embedded memory eliminates the need for external memory in many applications.

High-Speed Transceivers: Modern Altera FPGA families include integrated transceivers supporting data rates from 1 Gbps up to 112 Gbps in the latest Agilex devices.

DSP Blocks: Variable-precision DSP blocks handle signal processing tasks efficiently, supporting both fixed-point and floating-point operations.

Altera FPGA Product Line Overview

Altera organizes its FPGA portfolio into distinct families based on performance level and target applications. Understanding these families helps you select the right device for your specific needs.

High-Performance Altera FPGA Families

FamilyProcess NodeLogic DensityTransceiver SpeedPrimary Applications
Agilex 910nm3.2M-3.9M LEsUp to 112G PAM4RF/Radar, Military-Aerospace
Agilex 710nm600K-4.1M LEsUp to 116 GbpsData Centers, AI, 5G
Stratix 1014nmUp to 10.2M LEsUp to 57.8 GbpsHigh-Performance Computing

The Agilex 9 family represents the absolute top tier of Altera FPGA technology. These devices integrate high-speed AD/DA converters with maximum sampling rates of 64 Gbps, making them ideal for radar systems and software-defined radio applications. Due to their advanced capabilities, these chips are subject to export controls and aren’t available in all markets.

Agilex 7 is the workhorse of the high-performance lineup. With three sub-series (M, I, and F), these devices target everything from AI inference to high-bandwidth networking. The M-series supports HBM memory, achieving over 93% bandwidth utilization according to customer implementations—far exceeding the typical 10-30% seen in GPU-based systems.

Stratix 10 devices, built on Intel’s 14nm tri-gate process technology, deliver up to 10 TFLOPS of floating-point performance. They’re commonly found in optical transport networks, cloud computing infrastructure, and 5G base stations.

Mid-Range Altera FPGA Options

FamilyProcess NodeLogic DensityKey FeaturesTarget Applications
Agilex 510nmUp to 500K LEsAI Tensor BlocksEdge AI, Industrial IoT
Arria 1020nmUp to 1.15M LEs17.4 Gbps TransceiversBroadcast, Military
Arria V28nmUp to 462K LEsARM Cortex-A9 SoCCommunications, Medical

The Agilex 5 family is particularly noteworthy because it’s the only FPGA with AI capabilities built directly into the fabric through AI Tensor Blocks. This makes it an excellent choice for edge AI applications where you need low latency and power efficiency. The E-series and D-series variants target different use cases—E-series for efficient edge compute, D-series for broader general-purpose applications.

Arria 10 remains popular for applications requiring a balance of high-speed transceivers (up to 17.4 Gbps) and substantial logic resources. The 20nm process technology provides good performance while maintaining reasonable power consumption.

Cost-Optimized Altera FPGA Devices

FamilyProcess NodeLogic DensitySpecial FeaturesTypical Use Cases
Agilex 310nm25K-135K LEsDual Cortex-A55, HyperFlexEdge Computing, IoT
Cyclone 10 GX20nmUp to 220K LEs10 Gbps TransceiversAutomotive, Industrial
Cyclone 10 LP60nmUp to 120K LEsLow Power DesignConsumer Electronics
Cyclone V28nmUp to 301K LEsARM Cortex-A9 SoCEmbedded Systems
MAX 1055nmUp to 50K LEsNon-Volatile, ADCBoard Management

For projects where budget matters more than peak performance, the Cyclone series has been the go-to choice for years. Cyclone V and Cyclone 10 devices offer an excellent balance of logic resources, embedded memory, and I/O capabilities at competitive price points.

The Agilex 3 family, set for production shipments in mid-2025, brings the HyperFlex architecture to the cost-optimized segment with a 1.9x performance improvement over previous generations. It includes a dual Cortex-A55 ARM processor subsystem, making it a true SoC solution for intelligent edge applications.

MAX 10 deserves special mention because it’s the only Altera FPGA family with integrated non-volatile flash memory. This eliminates the need for external configuration memory, simplifying board design and reducing component count.

Altera FPGA Architecture Deep Dive

Understanding the internal architecture of Altera FPGA devices helps you optimize your designs and make better component selections. Let me break down the key architectural elements.

Adaptive Logic Modules (ALMs)

The ALM is the fundamental building block of modern Altera FPGA devices. Unlike older Logic Elements (LEs) that contained a single 4-input LUT, ALMs feature adaptive LUTs that can be configured as:

  • Two independent 4-input LUTs
  • One 5-input and one 3-input LUT
  • One 6-input LUT with two outputs
  • Various other combinations up to 8 inputs

Each ALM also includes two flip-flops (four in Stratix V and later) and two full adders for arithmetic operations. In the Agilex 7 series, Logic Array Blocks (LABs) contain 10 ALMs each, with interconnects capable of driving 60 ALMs in adjacent LABs.

Memory Architecture

Altera FPGA devices use a trimatrix memory architecture that provides multiple memory block sizes to match different application requirements:

Memory TypeBlock SizeBest For
MLAB640 bitsSmall FIFOs, shift registers
M9K/M10K9-10 KbitsGeneral-purpose RAM, register files
M20K20 KbitsLarge buffers, coefficient storage
M144K144 KbitsLarge data buffers, frame stores

The memory system supports various width-depth configurations and includes built-in ECC support for applications requiring data integrity.

Embedded Processor Options

For system-on-chip applications, Altera offers several embedded processor options:

Hard Processor Systems (HPS): Modern Altera SoC FPGAs integrate ARM processors with the FPGA fabric:

Device FamilyProcessor CoresArchitecture
Agilex 7 SoCQuad-core ARM Cortex-A53ARMv8-A
Agilex 5 SoCQuad-core ARM Cortex-A76/A55ARMv8.2-A
Agilex 3 SoCDual-core ARM Cortex-A55ARMv8.2-A
Arria 10 SoCDual-core ARM Cortex-A9ARMv7-A
Cyclone V SoCDual-core ARM Cortex-A9ARMv7-A

Soft Processors: For applications requiring customizable processor cores:

  • Nios V: The current generation soft processor based on RISC-V architecture
  • Nios II: Legacy proprietary processor (still supported for existing designs)

The Nios V processor is particularly interesting for new designs because RISC-V is an open standard, which provides more flexibility and ecosystem support.

Read more Top FPGA Brands:

Quartus Prime Development Environment

Every Altera FPGA design starts with Quartus Prime, the comprehensive development software that handles everything from RTL entry to device programming.

Quartus Prime Editions Comparison

FeatureLite EditionStandard EditionPro Edition
PriceFreeSubscriptionSubscription
Device SupportCyclone, MAX 10, Selected ArriaMost DevicesAgilex, Stratix 10
Timing ClosureBasicAdvancedHyperFlex Support
Design SizeLimitedFullFull
High-Level SynthesisNoNoYes
License RequiredNoYesYes
Disk Space~14 GB15-37 GB40-145 GB

For getting started with Altera FPGA development, the Lite Edition is perfect. It supports popular devices like MAX 10 and Cyclone series without requiring a license. When your projects grow more complex or you need to target high-end devices, you’ll need the Standard or Pro editions.

Key Design Tools in Quartus Prime

Platform Designer (Qsys): This system integration tool automatically generates interconnect logic between IP blocks. If you’re building a system with multiple peripherals connected to a soft processor, Platform Designer saves enormous amounts of time.

Timing Analyzer: An ASIC-style timing analysis tool that validates timing performance using industry-standard constraint and reporting methodologies. Understanding TimeQuest reports is essential for achieving timing closure on complex designs.

Power Analyzer: Accurately analyzes power consumption for each power rail after place-and-route. Combined with the Early Power Estimator (for pre-synthesis estimates), you can plan your power delivery network early in the design process.

Signal Tap Logic Analyzer: An embedded logic analyzer that lets you capture and view signals inside your running FPGA design. This is invaluable for debugging real hardware issues that don’t show up in simulation.

Altera FPGA Applications Across Industries

The versatility of Altera FPGA technology means these devices show up in practically every industry. Here’s where I’ve seen them deployed most effectively.

Telecommunications and 5G Infrastructure

Altera FPGA chips are backbone components in modern communications infrastructure. Their reprogrammability is crucial here because standards evolve constantly. A base station deployed today might need to support new protocols five years from now—with an FPGA, you can update the hardware functionality remotely.

Key applications include:

  • Packet processing in routers and switches
  • Radio front-end processing for 5G base stations
  • Optical transport network equipment
  • Network function virtualization acceleration

The high-speed transceivers in Agilex 7 devices support up to 116 Gbps per channel, enabling 800G Ethernet implementations required for modern data center interconnects.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI acceleration is one of the fastest-growing application areas for Altera FPGA technology. Unlike GPUs, FPGAs provide deterministic latency and can be optimized for specific neural network architectures.

The FPGA AI Suite and OpenVINO toolkit allow data scientists to convert trained AI models directly to FPGA implementations. Agilex 5 devices with integrated AI Tensor Blocks are particularly well-suited for edge AI applications where power efficiency matters.

Real-world deployments I’ve seen include:

  • Real-time video analytics for retail and security
  • Voice recognition in edge devices
  • Predictive maintenance in industrial settings
  • Autonomous vehicle sensor fusion

Automotive and ADAS

Modern vehicles contain dozens of embedded systems, and Altera FPGA devices are commonly found in:

  • Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)
  • Infotainment systems
  • Sensor fusion for autonomous driving
  • In-vehicle networking gateways

The parallel processing capabilities of FPGAs enable real-time responses required for safety-critical applications. Cyclone V and Cyclone 10 devices are particularly popular in automotive due to their industrial temperature ratings and competitive pricing.

Industrial Automation and Control

Factory automation systems benefit from FPGA flexibility in several ways:

  • Protocol bridging: Industrial systems often need to connect equipment using different protocols. An Altera FPGA can implement multiple protocol stacks simultaneously.
  • Motor control: High-performance servo drives use FPGAs for precise PWM generation and feedback processing.
  • Machine vision: Real-time image processing for quality inspection and robotic guidance.
  • PLC replacement: Custom control logic that would require expensive PLCs can often be implemented more cost-effectively in an FPGA.

Aerospace and Defense

This sector demands the highest reliability and longest product lifecycles. Altera has committed to extended device availability:

  • Cyclone 10 LP, Cyclone V, Cyclone IV, Cyclone III, MAX 10, MAX V, MAX II: Available through 2040
  • Agilex 7, Stratix 10, Stratix V, Arria 10, Arria V: Available through 2035

Military and aerospace applications include radar signal processing, electronic warfare systems, secure communications, and satellite payload processing.

PCB Design Considerations for Altera FPGA

As someone who’s laid out dozens of FPGA boards, I can tell you that getting the PCB design right is just as important as the FPGA code itself. Here are the critical considerations.

Power Delivery Network Design

Altera FPGA devices require multiple voltage rails, and getting the power system right is fundamental to reliable operation.

Typical Voltage RailsPurposeConsiderations
VCCINT (0.9V-1.0V)Core LogicHighest current, most sensitive to noise
VCCIO (1.2V-3.3V)I/O BanksMultiple rails for different I/O standards
VCCPLL (1.1V-1.2V)PLLsClean supply, isolated from digital noise
VCCT/VCCR (0.9V-1.1V)TransceiversLow noise, often requires separate regulators
VCCA (1.8V)Analog CircuitsVery clean supply required

Power Sequencing: Most Altera devices require specific power-up and power-down sequences. The VCCINT rail typically must be stable before VCCIO rails are applied. Altera provides application note AN 692 covering sequencing requirements for Agilex and Stratix families.

Decoupling Strategy: Use a three-tier decoupling approach:

  1. High-frequency capacitors (0.01µF to 0.1µF ceramic): Place within 1cm of VCCINT/VCCIO pins
  2. Medium-frequency capacitors (47µF to 100µF tantalum): Place within 3cm of power pins
  3. Bulk capacitors (470µF to 3300µF electrolytic): At least one per voltage rail on the board

The PDN Tool from Altera helps optimize your decoupling network by calculating composite impedance and identifying potential resonance issues.

Signal Integrity for High-Speed Interfaces

High-speed signals require careful attention:

Controlled Impedance: Most Altera FPGA I/O standards require 50Ω single-ended or 100Ω differential impedance. Work with your PCB fabricator to define the correct stackup.

Length Matching: For parallel buses like DDR memory interfaces, keep trace lengths matched to within 5 mils (0.127mm) for the same byte lane, and within 100 mils (2.54mm) between byte lanes.

Differential Pairs: Maintain consistent spacing throughout the route. For 10+ Gbps transceivers, differential pair routing is mandatory, and via stubs become significant—consider back-drilling or blind/buried vias.

Ground Planes: Use solid ground planes directly beneath signal layers. Every signal layer should have an adjacent reference plane.

Thermal Management

Power dissipation in modern Altera FPGA devices can exceed 100W for high-end devices. Consider:

  • Thermal pads: Most packages have an exposed paddle that must be soldered to the PCB with thermal vias to inner ground planes
  • Heatsinks: Required for high-power devices; ensure adequate airflow
  • Thermal simulation: Use Altera’s Power and Thermal Calculator to estimate junction temperatures

Getting Started with Altera FPGA Development

If you’re new to Altera FPGA development, here’s a practical path to get started.

Development Kit Selection

Development KitTarget DevicePrice RangeBest For
MAX 10 FPGA 10M08 Eval KitMAX 10LowBeginners, simple projects
DE10-NanoCyclone V SoCLow-MediumLearning, Linux development
Arria 10 GX Dev KitArria 10 GXMedium-HighProfessional prototyping
Agilex 5 FPGA E-Series Dev KitAgilex 5Medium-HighAI edge applications
Agilex 7 FPGA Dev KitAgilex 7HighData center, high-speed apps

For learning, I recommend starting with the DE10-Nano from Terasic. It includes a Cyclone V SoC with both FPGA fabric and dual-core ARM processors, plus Arduino-compatible headers for connecting peripherals. The community support is excellent.

Learning Resources

Work through these resources in order:

  1. Quartus Prime Getting Started Tutorial: Included with the software
  2. Altera FPGA Training Courses: Free online courses at altera.com
  3. Design Example Library: Ready-to-use designs demonstrating common functions
  4. RocketBoards.org: Community resources for SoC FPGA development

Your First Project

A good first project is a simple LED blinker, then progress to:

  1. Adding a button debouncer
  2. Implementing a UART interface
  3. Building a simple processor system with Nios V
  4. Interfacing external memory (SDRAM or DDR)
  5. Creating a custom peripheral

Useful Resources for Altera FPGA Designers

Here’s my curated list of essential resources:

Official Documentation and Downloads

ResourceURLDescription
Altera Homepagewww.altera.comProduct information, news
FPGA Documentation Indexintel.com/content/www/us/en/support/programmable/support-resources/fpga-documentation-index.htmlComplete technical docs
Quartus Prime Downloadsaltera.com/products/development-tools/quartusSoftware downloads
Development Kitsintel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/fpga/development-kits.htmlOfficial dev boards
Design Storealtera.comDesign examples, IP cores

Technical Application Notes

  • AN 315: Guidelines for Designing High-Speed FPGA PCBs
  • AN 574: Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Power Delivery Network Design Methodology
  • AN 692: Power Sequencing Considerations for Agilex, Stratix, Arria, and Cyclone Devices
  • AN 750: Using the PDN Tool to Optimize Your Power Delivery Network Design

Community and Support

  • Intel FPGA Forum: Community discussions and peer support
  • RocketBoards.org: SoC FPGA resources and tutorials
  • GitHub Intel FPGA: Open-source examples and tools
  • mySupport Portal: Official technical support requests

Altera FPGA vs Xilinx (AMD): Making the Right Choice

The perennial question in FPGA selection is Altera vs Xilinx (now AMD). Here’s an objective comparison:

AspectAltera FPGAXilinx (AMD)
High-End FamilyAgilex 7/9Versal/Virtex
Mid-Range FamilyArria, Agilex 5Kintex, Artix
Low-Cost FamilyCyclone, MAXSpartan
Development SoftwareQuartus PrimeVivado
Soft ProcessorNios V (RISC-V)MicroBlaze
AI IntegrationAI Tensor BlocksAI Engines
HLS SupportoneAPI, OpenCLVitis HLS

In my experience, Altera historically had an edge in embedded processor integration and SoC designs, while Xilinx focused more on raw logic performance and DSP capabilities. Today, both vendors offer comprehensive solutions, and the best choice often depends on:

  • Existing team expertise
  • Specific performance requirements
  • Ecosystem and IP availability
  • Supply chain considerations
  • Long-term product availability

Future of Altera FPGA Technology

With Altera now operating as an independent company backed by Silver Lake’s investment, the outlook is promising. Key trends to watch:

AI Integration: Expect deeper AI capabilities built into the FPGA fabric, reducing the need for external accelerators.

Chiplet Architecture: Future devices will likely use chiplet-based designs, allowing customers to configure devices with exactly the resources they need.

Advanced Process Nodes: Agilex devices already use 10nm technology; future generations will move to even more advanced nodes.

Software-Defined Everything: Higher-level programming models will continue to make FPGAs more accessible to software developers.

The global FPGA market is projected to reach over $12 billion by 2027, driven by AI, 5G, and IoT applications. Altera is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Altera FPGA

What is the difference between Altera FPGA and Intel FPGA?

Altera was acquired by Intel in 2015 and became Intel’s Programmable Solutions Group (PSG). In January 2025, Altera re-emerged as an independent company, initially as an Intel subsidiary. As of September 2025, Silver Lake owns 51% of Altera while Intel retains 49%. The products remain the same—devices like Agilex, Stratix, Arria, and Cyclone are now marketed under the Altera brand again. If you see documentation referring to “Intel FPGA,” it’s the same technology as Altera FPGA.

Which Altera FPGA family should I choose for my project?

Your choice depends on several factors. For cost-sensitive high-volume products, consider Cyclone V or MAX 10. For mid-range applications requiring transceivers, Arria 10 or Agilex 5 work well. For highest performance in data centers, AI, or telecommunications, choose Agilex 7 or Stratix 10. For edge AI with power constraints, Agilex 5 with integrated AI Tensor Blocks is ideal. Always verify device availability and lead times early in your design process.

Is Quartus Prime software free to use?

The Quartus Prime Lite Edition is completely free with no license required. It supports MAX 10, Cyclone IV, Cyclone V, and Cyclone 10 LP devices, which covers most learning and many commercial applications. For larger designs or advanced features like timing closure optimization, you’ll need the Standard Edition or Pro Edition, which require paid subscriptions. Agilex 5 E-series devices are supported through a no-cost license in Quartus Prime Pro.

How do Altera FPGA SoC devices compare to standalone FPGAs?

SoC FPGAs like Cyclone V SoC, Arria 10 SoC, and Agilex 5 SoC integrate ARM processors with FPGA fabric on a single chip. This eliminates the need for a separate processor chip, reduces board complexity, and provides high-bandwidth communication between the processor and FPGA. Choose an SoC if you need to run Linux or RTOS alongside custom hardware acceleration. Choose a standalone FPGA if you need maximum FPGA resources or don’t require an embedded processor.

What programming languages can I use for Altera FPGA development?

Traditional FPGA development uses hardware description languages: Verilog and VHDL are fully supported in Quartus Prime. For higher-level development, Altera supports OpenCL through the FPGA SDK for OpenCL, SYCL extensions for C/C++ through the oneAPI toolkit, and High-Level Synthesis (HLS) for converting C/C++ to hardware. The FPGA AI Suite enables AI model deployment using frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch. For embedded software on SoC devices, standard C/C++ with ARM compilers is used.

Altera FPGA IP Cores and Ecosystem

One aspect that often gets overlooked when selecting an FPGA vendor is the IP ecosystem. Altera provides an extensive library of verified IP cores that can dramatically accelerate your development timeline.

Types of Available IP

Free IP Cores: Included with Quartus Prime, the Altera FPGA IP Base Suite covers essential functions:

  • Clocking and reset management
  • On-chip memory controllers
  • Basic interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C)
  • Debug cores (JTAG-to-Avalon bridge)

Licensed IP Cores: Advanced functionality for specific applications:

IP CategoryExamplesTypical Applications
Memory ControllersDDR4/DDR5, LPDDR4, HBMHigh-bandwidth data processing
NetworkingEthernet MAC, PCIe Gen4/5Communications infrastructure
VideoHDMI, DisplayPort, MIPIBroadcast, consumer electronics
SecurityAES, SHA, RSASecure communications
ProtocolsUSB, SATA, SASStorage, connectivity

Partner IP: Third-party vendors provide specialized IP through the Altera Partner Program. This includes protocol stacks, industry-specific solutions, and custom interfaces that would take months to develop from scratch.

Platform Designer Integration

The real power of Altera’s IP ecosystem comes from Platform Designer (formerly Qsys), which allows you to graphically connect IP cores and automatically generates the interconnect fabric. A system that might take weeks to hand-code in RTL can be assembled in hours using Platform Designer.

I’ve found this particularly valuable when building Nios V processor systems. You can drag and drop peripherals like timers, GPIO controllers, and communication interfaces, connect them to the processor bus, and generate a complete system in an afternoon.

Troubleshooting Common Altera FPGA Design Issues

After working with these devices for years, I’ve encountered most of the common pitfalls. Here are issues you’ll likely face and how to resolve them:

Timing Failures: The most common problem in complex designs. Start by reviewing the timing report in TimeQuest Analyzer. Look for paths with negative slack and understand why they’re failing. Common fixes include pipelining critical paths, using MultiCycle constraints where appropriate, and optimizing logic placement.

Power-On Issues: If your FPGA doesn’t configure properly, check power sequencing first. Use an oscilloscope to verify that voltage rails come up in the correct order and within specified timing windows. Also verify that your configuration memory has the correct image and that JTAG/configuration pins are properly connected.

Signal Integrity Problems: High-speed interfaces failing intermittently usually indicate SI issues. Check impedance matching, verify termination schemes, and examine eye diagrams using the Transceiver Toolkit. Sometimes the fix is as simple as adjusting pre-emphasis or equalization settings.

Resource Utilization: If you’re running out of logic resources, consider optimizing your RTL code, using more efficient IP cores, or selecting a larger device. The resource utilization report in Quartus shows exactly where resources are being consumed.

Conclusion

Altera FPGA technology represents over four decades of innovation in programmable logic. From the original PLDs in the 1980s to today’s AI-accelerated Agilex devices, Altera has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with reconfigurable hardware.

For PCB engineers and system designers, understanding the Altera FPGA portfolio—from cost-optimized Cyclone and MAX devices to high-performance Agilex and Stratix families—is essential for making informed component selections. The comprehensive Quartus Prime development environment, extensive IP library, and robust ecosystem make Altera FPGAs an excellent choice for applications ranging from simple industrial control to cutting-edge AI inference.

With Altera now operating independently with strong backing from Silver Lake, the company is poised to continue innovating in FPGA technology. Whether you’re designing your first FPGA-based system or optimizing a complex multi-chip solution, Altera provides the devices, tools, and support to bring your designs to life.

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Contact Sales & After-Sales Service

Contact & Quotation

  • Inquire: Call 0086-755-23203480, or reach out via the form below/your sales contact to discuss our design, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities.

  • Quote: Email your PCB files to Sales@pcbsync.com (Preferred for large files) or submit online. We will contact you promptly. Please ensure your email is correct.

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 3 files.

Notes:
For PCB fabrication, we require PCB design file in Gerber RS-274X format (most preferred), *.PCB/DDB (Protel, inform your program version) format or *.BRD (Eagle) format. For PCB assembly, we require PCB design file in above mentioned format, drilling file and BOM. Click to download BOM template To avoid file missing, please include all files into one folder and compress it into .zip or .rar format.