Altera DE2-115 FPGA Board: Features, Price, Projects & Getting Started

If you’ve been looking for a feature-rich FPGA development board for education or prototyping, chances are the DE2-115 has come up in your research. I’ve worked with this board extensively over the years, and it remains one of the most capable educational platforms despite being based on the older Cyclone IV architecture. The sheer number of onboard peripherals makes the Altera DE2-115 a versatile workhorse for everything from digital logic courses to advanced embedded system prototyping.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the Terasic DE2-115 board—from detailed specifications and pricing to practical project ideas and step-by-step setup instructions. Whether you’re a student purchasing your first FPGA board or an engineer evaluating platforms for a university lab, you’ll find the information you need here.

What is the Altera DE2-115 FPGA Board?

The DE2-115 FPGA development board is manufactured by Terasic and designed specifically for educational institutions and development purposes. It features the Altera (now Intel) Cyclone IV EP4CE115 FPGA—the largest device in the Cyclone IV E series with 114,480 logic elements.

The board evolved from Terasic’s earlier DE2 series, building on the success of the DE2-70 while adding modern interfaces like Gigabit Ethernet. The naming convention “115” refers to the approximate logic element count (114,480 LEs), helping distinguish it from smaller variants.

What makes the Altera DE2-115 FPGA particularly attractive for education is its “kitchen sink” approach to peripherals. Rather than providing a minimal FPGA with expansion headers, Terasic packed the board with practically every interface you might need for coursework—from simple LEDs and switches to VGA output, audio codecs, and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Key Advantages of the DE2-115 Platform

From my experience using this board in both teaching and prototyping environments, several characteristics stand out:

The FPGA Altera DE2-115 provides enough logic resources for substantial designs. With 114,480 LEs and 3.9 Mbits of embedded RAM, you can implement complete soft-core processor systems with room to spare for custom peripherals.

The diversity of onboard I/O eliminates the need for purchasing separate daughter cards for most educational projects. Students can work with VGA graphics, audio processing, Ethernet communication, and SD card storage without any additional hardware investment.

Extensive documentation and example designs from both Terasic and Intel’s University Program significantly reduce the learning curve. The board has been used in universities worldwide for over a decade, creating a substantial community knowledge base.

DE2-115 FPGA Technical Specifications

Understanding the full capabilities of the DE2-115 Terasic board requires examining its specifications in detail. The following tables break down the major subsystems.

FPGA Device Specifications

Specification	Value
FPGA Device	Cyclone IV EP4CE115F29C7
Logic Elements (LEs)	114,480
Embedded Memory	3,888 Kbits
Embedded Multipliers	266 (18×18)
PLLs	4 General-purpose
User I/O Pins	528
Configuration Device	EPCS64 (64Mbit serial)

Memory Subsystem

The DE2-115 provides a generous complement of memory options for various application requirements:

Memory Type	Capacity	Organization	Interface
SDRAM	128 MB	32M × 32-bit	32-bit bus
SRAM	2 MB	1M × 16-bit	16-bit bus
Flash	8 MB	4M × 16-bit	8-bit mode
EEPROM	32 Kbit	I2C	Serial

The 128MB SDRAM is particularly valuable for Nios II soft-core processor designs where you need substantial program and data storage. The SRAM provides faster access for performance-critical applications, while Flash enables non-volatile storage for boot code and configuration data.

Display and User Interface

Component	Description
DE2-115 LCD	16×2 character LCD module (HD44780 compatible)
7-Segment Displays	Eight digits
LEDs (Red)	18 individual LEDs
LEDs (Green)	9 individual LEDs
Slide Switches	18 switches
Push Buttons	4 momentary buttons
VGA Output	8-bit DAC, standard VGA connector
TV Decoder	NTSC/PAL/SECAM input

The DE2-115 LCD module uses the industry-standard HD44780 controller, making it straightforward to display status information, debug messages, or simple user interfaces. Combined with the 7-segment displays, you have plenty of options for visual feedback without needing external monitors.

Communication Interfaces

Interface	Specification
Gigabit Ethernet	2× Marvell 88E1111 PHY (10/100/1000)
USB	Host (Type A) and Device (Type B)
RS-232	DB9 connector with transceiver
PS/2	Keyboard/Mouse connector
IR Receiver	38kHz infrared
SD Card	SPI and 4-bit SD mode
HSMC	172-pin High-Speed Mezzanine Card
Expansion Header	40-pin GPIO

The dual Gigabit Ethernet ports are particularly valuable for networking projects and Industrial Ethernet applications. The HSMC connector allows expansion with Terasic’s daughter cards for cameras, additional displays, or high-speed ADC/DAC modules.

Clock Sources

Clock	Frequency	Notes
Oscillator 1	50 MHz	Primary system clock
Oscillator 2	50 MHz	Secondary clock
Oscillator 3	50 MHz	Tertiary clock
SMA Input	Variable	External clock input
SMA Output	Variable	Clock output capability

Having three independent 50MHz oscillators plus SMA connectors for external clocking provides flexibility for multi-clock-domain designs and synchronization experiments.

Altera DE2-115 Price and Where to Buy

The Altera DE2-115 price varies significantly depending on whether you qualify for academic pricing:

Pricing Tier	Price (USD)	Eligibility
Commercial	$779	Anyone
Academic	$423	Students, educators, institutions

The DE2-115 price at academic rates represents excellent value considering the breadth of included peripherals. Comparable commercial development kits often cost more while offering fewer features.

Purchasing Options

Direct from Terasic: The manufacturer’s website (terasic.com) offers both commercial and academic pricing. Academic purchases require verification of educational status.

Authorized Distributors:

• Digi-Key
• Mouser Electronics
• Farnell/Newark
• Arrow Electronics

Secondary Market: Used Terasic DE2-115 boards occasionally appear on eBay, though prices vary widely. When buying used, verify that the board includes the power supply (12V adapter) and USB cable, as these are essential for operation.

What’s Included in the Kit

The standard DE2-115 kit includes:

• DE2-115 development board
• 12V DC power adapter
• USB cable (Type A to B)
• System CD with documentation and examples
• Quick start guide

Note that accessories like cameras (TRDB-D5M) or LCD touch panels (TRDB-LTM) are sold separately and expand the board’s multimedia capabilities.

Getting Started with the DE2-115 Board

Setting up your Altera DE2-115 for first use involves installing the development software, configuring drivers, and running verification tests. Here’s the process I recommend for new users.

Software Requirements

Before connecting your board, install the following software:

Intel Quartus Prime (Lite Edition)

• Free download from Intel’s website
• Version 18.1 or earlier recommended for Cyclone IV
• Includes device support and IP cores

ModelSim or Questa (Intel FPGA Edition)

• Simulation tool included with Quartus
• Essential for design verification

Nios II EDS (Optional)

• Required for soft-core processor development
• Includes Eclipse-based IDE and GCC toolchain

Hardware Setup Procedure

1. Unpack and inspect the board for any shipping damage
2. Do NOT connect power yet—install software first
3. Install Quartus Prime and ensure Cyclone IV device support is included
4. Install USB-Blaster drivers from the Quartus installation directory
5. Connect USB cable from PC to the USB-Blaster port on the board
6. Connect 12V power adapter
7. Turn on the board using the red power switch

Installing USB-Blaster Drivers

The USB-Blaster driver installation process varies by operating system:

Windows 10/11:

1. Connect the board via USB
2. Open Device Manager
3. Locate “Unknown Device” or “USB-Blaster”
4. Right-click → Update Driver
5. Browse to: <Quartus Install Path>\drivers\usb-blaster
6. Complete the wizard

Linux: Create a udev rule file /etc/udev/rules.d/51-altera-usb-blaster.rules:

SUBSYSTEM==”usb”, ATTR{idVendor}==”09fb”, ATTR{idProduct}==”6001″, MODE=”0666″

SUBSYSTEM==”usb”, ATTR{idVendor}==”09fb”, ATTR{idProduct}==”6010″, MODE=”0666″

Running the Factory Demo

The DE2-115 ships with a preloaded demonstration bitstream. To verify board functionality:

1. Connect VGA monitor to the VGA port
2. Connect headphones to the line-out jack
3. Ensure SW19 (RUN/PROG) is in the RUN position
4. Power cycle the board

You should see a test pattern on the VGA display and hear audio tones when manipulating the switches. This confirms the major subsystems are operational.

Your First Custom Design

Here’s a simple Verilog design to verify your toolchain works correctly:

module led_control (

    input  wire [17:0] SW,      // Slide switches

    input  wire [3:0]  KEY,     // Push buttons (active low)

    output wire [17:0] LEDR,    // Red LEDs

    output wire [8:0]  LEDG     // Green LEDs

);

    // Direct switch to LED mapping

    assign LEDR = SW;

    // Button to green LED mapping (active low inverted)

    assign LEDG[3:0] = ~KEY;

    assign LEDG[8:4] = 5’b0;

endmodule

To implement this design:

1. Create a new Quartus project targeting EP4CE115F29C7
2. Add the Verilog file to your project
3. Import pin assignments from the DE2-115.qsf file (available from Terasic)
4. Compile the design
5. Program via the Programmer tool

Working with the DE2-115 LCD Display

The onboard DE2-115 LCD is a 16×2 character display based on the HD44780 controller. It’s connected directly to FPGA pins, requiring you to implement the LCD controller logic in your design.

LCD Pin Connections

Signal	FPGA Pin	Function
LCD_DATA[7:0]	Various	Bidirectional data bus
LCD_EN	PIN_L4	Enable strobe
LCD_RS	PIN_L3	Register select (0=command, 1=data)
LCD_RW	PIN_L5	Read/Write select
LCD_ON	PIN_L6	Backlight control
LCD_BLON	—	Not used on DE2-115

LCD Initialization Sequence

The HD44780 requires a specific initialization sequence:

1. Wait 15ms after power-on
2. Send Function Set command (0x38 for 8-bit, 2-line)
3. Wait 4.1ms
4. Repeat Function Set
5. Wait 100μs
6. Send Function Set again
7. Configure display: Display ON, Cursor settings
8. Clear display
9. Set entry mode

Timing is critical—the LCD requires minimum pulse widths and setup/hold times that must be respected in your HDL implementation.

Example LCD Controller

Several open-source LCD controllers for the DE2-115 are available on GitHub:

• amanmibra/lcd-de2-115 – Basic LCD driver in Verilog
• SayidHosseini/DE2-115_VHDL_PS2-CLCD – PS/2 keyboard to LCD interface

For Nios II-based designs, the Intel FPGA University Program provides a complete LCD peripheral core with software drivers.

Read more about Altera articles:

DE2-115 Project Ideas and Examples

The versatility of the FPGA Altera DE2-115 makes it suitable for projects ranging from introductory digital logic to advanced system-on-chip designs.

Beginner Projects

LED Pattern Generator Create various LED animations using the 18 red and 9 green LEDs. Implement counters, shift registers, and state machines to produce different patterns.

7-Segment Display Counter Build a multi-digit counter displayed on the eight 7-segment displays. Add features like count direction control via switches and reset via buttons.

Simple Calculator Use switches for numeric input, buttons for operations, and 7-segment displays for results. A good introduction to arithmetic circuits.

Intermediate Projects

VGA Graphics Controller Implement a VGA controller supporting 640×480 resolution. The DE2-115 includes 8-bit DACs for RGB output, enabling 256-color displays.

Audio Synthesizer The onboard Wolfson WM8731 codec supports 24-bit audio at up to 96kHz. Build a simple tone generator or waveform synthesizer.

UART Communication Use the RS-232 port to communicate with a PC. Implement a simple command processor that responds to serial commands.

SD Card Interface Read and write files to SD cards. Start with SPI mode for simplicity, then advance to 4-bit SD mode for higher throughput.

Advanced Projects

Nios II Soft Processor System Implement Intel’s Nios II processor with peripherals including:

• SDRAM controller (128MB)
• JTAG UART for debugging
• Timer and interrupt controller
• GPIO for switches and LEDs
• LCD controller

The Intel FPGA University Program provides complete reference designs for the DE2-115 that implement a full computer system.

Digital Camera System Connect the TRDB-D5M camera daughter card and implement:

• Image capture and buffering
• Real-time video display on VGA
• Image processing filters (edge detection, color conversion)
• Frame buffer in SDRAM

Network Applications Utilize the dual Gigabit Ethernet ports for:

• Packet capture and analysis
• Simple web server (with Nios II)
• Industrial Ethernet protocols (EtherCAT, PROFINET)
• Network switch implementation

FIR Digital Filter Implementation The 266 embedded multipliers make the DE2-115 excellent for DSP applications:

• Design filters in MATLAB
• Implement in HDL using direct form, transposed, or systolic architectures
• Process real-time audio from the codec
• Visualize frequency response on VGA

GitHub Project Resources

The de2-115 topic on GitHub contains numerous open-source projects:

Project	Description
MIPS Processor	Complete non-pipelined MIPS CPU in SystemVerilog
uCOS-II RTOS	Real-time operating system on Nios II
Mandelbrot Generator	Parallel fractal computation engine
Matrix Multiplication	SPMD parallel computing demonstration
HDR Imaging	High dynamic range image processing

DE2-115 vs Alternative Development Boards

When evaluating the Terasic DE2-115 against alternatives, consider your specific requirements:

Comparison with Other DE-Series Boards

Feature	DE2-115	DE10-Lite	DE1-SoC
FPGA Family	Cyclone IV	MAX 10	Cyclone V
Logic Elements	114,480	50,000	85,000
Hard Processor	No	No	Dual-core ARM
SDRAM	128 MB	64 MB	1 GB DDR3
Ethernet	2× GbE	No	1× GbE
Price (Academic)	$423	$150	$249

When to Choose the DE2-115

The Altera DE2-115 remains the best choice when you need:

• Maximum Cyclone IV logic capacity
• Dual Gigabit Ethernet
• Extensive legacy example code compatibility
• Comprehensive peripheral set without expansion cards

When to Consider Alternatives

Consider newer boards if you need:

• Hard processor system (ARM) → DE1-SoC, DE10-Nano
• Lower cost for basic projects → DE10-Lite, DE0-Nano
• Latest FPGA families → DE10-Pro (Stratix 10)

Useful Resources and Downloads

Official Documentation

Resource	Description	Location
User Manual	Complete board documentation	Terasic website
Schematic	Full electrical schematic	System CD / Terasic
Pin Assignments	QSF file with all pin mappings	Terasic Resources
Control Panel	Windows utility for board testing	System CD

Intel FPGA University Program

Intel’s University Program provides extensive educational materials specifically for the DE2-115:

• DE2-115 Computer System: Complete Nios II reference design
• Monitor Program: Debug and download utility
• Laboratory Exercises: Structured coursework materials
• IP Cores: VGA, audio, PS/2, and other controllers

Access these at: ftp.intel.com/Pub/fpgaup/

Community Resources

Forums and Support:

• Intel FPGA Forum (community.intel.com)
• Terasic Support (terasic.com)
• Reddit r/FPGA
• EEVblog Forum

Tutorial Sites:

• FPGA4Fun
• Nandland
• FPGA Academy (fpgacademy.org)

Quartus Version Compatibility

Quartus Version	DE2-115 Support	Notes
13.0 SP1	Full	Legacy version, still available
18.1	Full	Recommended stable version
20.1+	Full	Latest with Cyclone IV support

For the best experience with the DE2-115, I recommend Quartus Prime Lite 18.1. It provides modern features while maintaining excellent compatibility with existing example designs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Quartus version should I use with the DE2-115?

For the Altera DE2-115, Quartus Prime Lite Edition version 18.1 offers the best balance of features and stability. It’s free, supports all Cyclone IV devices, and includes ModelSim for simulation. Newer versions (20.1+) also work but may have compatibility issues with older example projects. Avoid versions newer than 20.1 if you need ModelSim, as Intel transitioned to Questa which requires a free license.

Can I use the DE2-115 for commercial product development?

Yes, the Terasic DE2-115 can be used for prototyping commercial products. However, for production, you’ll typically design a custom PCB with only the components your application requires. The DE2-115’s strength is in development and education—it provides all the interfaces you might need during the design phase, but its size and cost make it impractical for embedding in final products.

How do I get academic pricing for the DE2-115?

To obtain the DE2-115 price at academic rates ($423 vs $779), you must verify your educational affiliation through Terasic’s website. Students need to provide a valid .edu email address or documentation proving enrollment. Educators and institutions can establish accounts for bulk purchases. The verification process typically takes 1-2 business days.

Is the DE2-115 suitable for learning FPGA development?

Absolutely. The DE2-115 FPGA board is specifically designed for education and remains one of the most popular choices for university digital logic and computer architecture courses. The extensive documentation, example designs from Intel’s University Program, and decade-long community support make it an excellent learning platform. The variety of onboard peripherals lets students progress from simple LED exercises to complex system-on-chip designs without purchasing additional hardware.

What’s the difference between the DE2-115 and DE2-70?

Both boards use Cyclone-series FPGAs, but the DE2-115 offers significant upgrades: a larger FPGA (114,480 vs 68,416 LEs), more SDRAM (128MB vs 64MB), dual Gigabit Ethernet (vs single 100Mbps), and an HSMC expansion connector. The DE2-70 used Cyclone II, while the DE2-115 uses the more power-efficient Cyclone IV. For new purchases, the DE2-115 is the clear choice, though the DE2-70 remains capable for many projects.

Troubleshooting Common DE2-115 Issues

Working with the DE2-115 over the years, I’ve encountered several common issues that trip up new users. Here’s how to resolve them.

Board Not Detected by Quartus Programmer

Symptoms: The Programmer shows “No Hardware” or cannot find USB-Blaster.

Solutions:

1. Verify USB-Blaster drivers are correctly installed
2. Check that SW19 is in the correct position (RUN for JTAG programming)
3. Try a different USB port—some USB 3.0 ports have compatibility issues
4. On Linux, ensure udev rules are properly configured
5. Power cycle the board after connecting USB

Compilation Succeeds but Design Doesn’t Work

Common causes:

• Incorrect pin assignments—always import the official DE2-115.qsf file
• Clock constraints missing—add SDC constraints for timing closure
• Active-low signals not inverted—KEY buttons are active-low on this board
• Unused pins floating—configure unused pins in Device Settings

LCD Display Shows Garbage or Nothing

The DE2-115 LCD requires proper initialization timing:

• Ensure sufficient delay after power-on (minimum 15ms)
• Verify LCD_ON signal is driven high for backlight
• Check that enable pulse widths meet HD44780 specifications
• Confirm data setup and hold times are respected

SDRAM Access Failures

SDRAM issues often stem from:

• Incorrect refresh timing
• Clock/data phase alignment problems
• Missing initialization sequence
• Improper burst length configuration

Use Terasic’s verified SDRAM controller IP as a starting point rather than writing your own from scratch.

Power Consumption and Thermal Considerations

Understanding power characteristics helps when designing complex systems on the FPGA Altera DE2-115.

Typical Power Consumption

Design Complexity	Approximate Current (12V)
Minimal (LEDs only)	200-300 mA
Moderate (VGA + Audio)	400-500 mA
Full System (Nios II + SDRAM)	600-800 mA
Maximum Load	~1.2 A

The included 12V/2A power adapter provides adequate headroom for even complex designs. However, if you’re using HSMC daughter cards, verify that combined power requirements remain within limits.

Thermal Management

The Cyclone IV EP4CE115 can generate significant heat under heavy utilization:

• Normal operation: FPGA surface temperature 40-50°C
• High utilization: Up to 70°C without additional cooling
• The board has no heatsink—rely on ambient convection

For sustained high-utilization applications, consider adding a small heatsink to the FPGA package or improving airflow around the board.

Conclusion

The Altera DE2-115 has earned its reputation as a premier educational FPGA platform through years of proven use in universities worldwide. Despite being based on the Cyclone IV architecture—not Intel’s latest—the board’s comprehensive peripheral complement and extensive software support make it remain relevant for learning and prototyping.

For students and educators evaluating FPGA development boards, the Terasic DE2-115 offers unmatched value at academic pricing. The 114,480 logic elements accommodate substantial designs, the 128MB SDRAM supports complex Nios II applications, and the dual Gigabit Ethernet enables networking projects that smaller boards cannot handle.

Whether you’re implementing your first LED blinker or building a complete soft-processor system with camera input and VGA output, the DE2-115 FPGA provides the resources you need. The investment in learning this platform translates directly to skills applicable across all Intel FPGA families—the fundamental concepts of digital design, HDL coding, and timing closure remain constant regardless of the specific device.

If you’re ready to begin your FPGA journey, download Quartus Prime Lite, obtain a DE2-115 board, and start with the simple examples provided in Intel’s University Program materials. Within a few weeks, you’ll progress from basic combinational logic to sequential designs, and eventually to complete embedded systems that showcase what programmable logic can accomplish.

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