In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, electronics engineers and hobbyists face a critical decision in their learning journey: should they focus on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) development or Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design? While both skillsets offer valuable career opportunities, they represent fundamentally different approaches to electronic system development. This article explores the significant advantages of learning FPGA design, particularly when compared to traditional PCB design, and highlights why many professionals are pivoting toward this versatile technology.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

Understanding the Fundamental Differences

What is FPGA Design?

Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are semiconductor devices containing configurable logic blocks connected via programmable interconnects. Unlike traditional microprocessors with fixed architectures, FPGAs allow engineers to "program" the actual hardware configuration itself. This provides unprecedented flexibility to implement custom digital circuits without designing physical hardware from scratch.

What is PCB Design?

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design involves creating the physical layout of electronic components on a board, designing copper traces, and ensuring proper electrical connections between components. PCB designers work with fixed-function components (microcontrollers, memory chips, passive components) to create a hardwired circuit that performs specific functions.

Key Philosophical Differences

The fundamental difference between FPGA and PCB design lies in their approach to hardware implementation:

• PCB design is about physically connecting pre-made components
• FPGA design is about logically configuring digital circuits in software

Comparative Advantages of FPGA Knowledge Over PCB Design

Flexibility and Reconfigurability

One of the most significant advantages of FPGAs is their inherent reconfigurability. While PCBs are permanent once manufactured, FPGAs can be reprogrammed countless times with different designs.

Programming vs. Manufacturing

With FPGAs, engineers can make substantial changes to their hardware design simply by uploading new configuration files. This fundamentally transforms the hardware development process:

This flexibility dramatically accelerates the design, prototype, and debug cycle. While PCB designers must wait for new board revisions to correct errors or implement changes, FPGA designers can iterate rapidly, often making dozens of design changes in a single day.

Parallelism and Performance Advantages

FPGAs enable true hardware parallelism, allowing multiple operations to occur simultaneously rather than sequentially as in traditional software.

Processing Architecture Comparison

This parallelism makes FPGAs exceptionally well-suited for applications requiring:

• High-speed signal processing
• Real-time data processing
• Complex algorithm acceleration
• Custom processor designs

Hardware Description Languages and Transferable Skills

Learning FPGA design typically involves mastering Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) like VHDL or Verilog, which offer valuable transferable skills.

Skills Development Comparison

The skills acquired through FPGA development transfer exceptionally well to:

• ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) design
• System-on-Chip (SoC) development
• Embedded systems programming
• Computer architecture understanding
• Digital signal processing implementation

Practical Applications Where FPGAs Excel Over PCB Designs

Signal Processing and High-Speed Applications

FPGAs are particularly advantageous in applications requiring high-speed data processing, where traditional microcontrollers on PCBs would struggle.

Performance Comparison in Signal Processing Applications

Real-world applications where FPGAs significantly outperform traditional PCB designs include:

• Software-defined radio
• High-resolution radar systems
• Real-time video processing
• High-frequency trading platforms
• Medical imaging equipment

Prototyping and System Validation

FPGAs provide a unique advantage during system development and validation phases.

Development Workflow Comparison

This prototyping advantage enables:

• Earlier detection of design flaws
• Reduced development costs
• Faster time-to-market
• More thorough system validation
• Seamless transition to ASIC production when needed

Interfacing Legacy and Modern Systems

FPGAs excel at bridging technology gaps between older systems and modern interfaces.

Interface Adaptation Capabilities

This adaptation capability makes FPGAs invaluable in:

• Industrial control system modernization
• Aerospace and defense systems maintenance
• Legacy telecommunications equipment interfaces
• Automotive systems integration
• Medical equipment upgrades

Career and Economic Advantages

Market Demand and Salary Comparison

The specialized nature of FPGA development typically commands higher compensation than general PCB design roles.

Compensation and Career Outlook

Project Economics and Total Cost of Ownership

From a business perspective, FPGA-based designs often offer compelling economic advantages.

Cost Structure Comparison

For products with these characteristics, FPGAs often present the better economic choice:

• Low to medium production volumes
• Requirements for field upgradability
• Long expected product lifetimes
• High development uncertainty
• Specialized performance requirements

Learning Curve and Educational Pathway

Knowledge Requirements Comparison

Learning FPGA design demands a different educational approach than PCB design.

Required Knowledge Areas

Modern Learning Resources

Fortunately, the learning curve for FPGA development has significantly decreased with modern tools and resources:

• University programs increasingly incorporate FPGA design
• Online platforms offer specialized FPGA courses
• Affordable development boards start under $100
• Open-source toolchains reduce software costs
• Active community forums provide support
• Hardware description languages are becoming more accessible

Integration with Modern Technology Trends

AI and Machine Learning Acceleration

FPGAs have become central to the implementation of machine learning algorithms in edge devices.

AI Implementation Comparison

Internet of Things (IoT) Applications

FPGAs offer distinct advantages for next-generation IoT implementations.

With competitive price and timely delivery, interwiser sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

IoT Design Considerations

Hybrid Approaches: The Best of Both Worlds

While this article focuses on FPGA advantages, the most practical approach is often to combine FPGA and PCB design knowledge.

System-on-Chip (SoC) FPGA Platforms

Modern FPGA platforms like Xilinx Zynq and Intel SoC FPGAs combine:

• Traditional processors (ARM cores)
• Programmable logic fabric
• Integrated peripherals

This hybrid approach offers:

• Software programming familiarity
• Hardware acceleration capabilities
• Simplified integration

PCB Knowledge Enhances FPGA Implementation

Even when working primarily with FPGAs, PCB knowledge remains valuable:

• FPGA boards themselves require proper PCB design
• High-speed signaling requires careful PCB layout
• Power delivery is critical for FPGA performance
• Interface design connects FPGAs to the physical world

Challenges and Limitations of FPGA Development

Despite their advantages, FPGAs present certain challenges that should be acknowledged:

Development Complexity

Cost Considerations

FPGAs can be more expensive than microcontroller-based solutions:

• FPGA chips typically cost more than microcontrollers
• Development tools may require expensive licenses
• Development time may be longer for simple applications
• Power consumption can be higher in basic applications

Making the Decision: FPGA vs. PCB Learning Priority

While both skillsets are valuable, these factors should guide your learning priority:

Prioritize FPGA Learning If:

• You're interested in digital systems design
• You work with high-performance computing applications
• You need hardware acceleration capabilities
• You're interested in ASIC design as a career path
• You work with cutting-edge technology implementations
• You value flexibility over simplicity
• You're interested in hardware-software co-design

Prioritize PCB Design If:

• You focus on analog circuit design
• You're primarily building simple, high-volume products
• You're interested in electronics manufacturing
• You work with power electronics
• You need to minimize component costs
• You're interested in physical product design
• You value simplicity over flexibility

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is FPGA programming harder to learn than PCB design?

Answer: FPGA programming generally has a steeper initial learning curve than PCB design because it requires understanding both hardware concepts and programming principles. While PCB design focuses on component selection and physical layout, FPGA design requires thinking about digital logic implementation, timing, and hardware description languages. However, with modern tools and learning resources, the gap has narrowed. Many engineers find that once the fundamental concepts of FPGA design "click," progress can be rapid.

2. Can FPGAs completely replace the need for custom PCBs?

Answer: No, FPGAs and custom PCBs serve complementary purposes. FPGAs excel at implementing digital logic and processing but still require a physical PCB to provide power, connect to external components, and interface with the physical world. Even the most sophisticated FPGA designs require some level of PCB design to create a functional product. The ideal approach is often to use FPGAs for flexible digital processing while designing optimized PCBs to support them.

3. Which pays better: FPGA development or PCB design?

Answer: FPGA development typically commands higher salaries than PCB design, with FPGA developers earning approximately 25-40% more on average. This salary premium reflects the higher barrier to entry, specialized knowledge requirements, and relative scarcity of qualified FPGA developers. However, compensation varies significantly based on experience, industry, location, and specific expertise within each field. Senior PCB designers with specialized knowledge (like high-frequency design) can earn comparable salaries to FPGA developers.

4. What's the best way to start learning FPGA design as a beginner?

Answer: The best approach for beginners is to:

1. Start with a basic understanding of digital logic (Boolean algebra, logic gates, etc.)
2. Purchase an affordable FPGA development board (Digilent, Terasic, or similar)
3. Follow structured tutorials from the board manufacturer
4. Learn a hardware description language (VHDL or Verilog) through online courses
5. Implement progressively more complex projects, beginning with simple LED control and moving toward more sophisticated applications

Many engineers find project-based learning most effective, implementing increasingly complex designs as their skills develop.

5. Are FPGAs becoming obsolete with the rise of specialized AI chips and advanced microcontrollers?

Answer: No, FPGAs are not becoming obsolete—their role is evolving. While specialized AI chips excel at specific tasks and advanced microcontrollers offer impressive capabilities, FPGAs continue to occupy a unique position in the electronics ecosystem due to their unmatched flexibility and adaptability. In fact, FPGAs are increasingly used to prototype AI accelerators before ASIC production and serve as critical components in edge AI systems where requirements change frequently. Their reconfigurability makes them ideal for rapidly evolving fields where hardwired solutions quickly become outdated.

Conclusion

Learning FPGA design offers substantial advantages over focusing exclusively on PCB design, particularly for engineers interested in digital systems, high-performance computing, and cutting-edge technology implementations. The flexibility, performance capabilities, and career opportunities associated with FPGA expertise make it an increasingly valuable skillset in today's technological landscape.

However, the most powerful approach combines knowledge from both domains. Understanding PCB design principles remains valuable even when working primarily with FPGAs, and many of the most interesting modern systems leverage both technologies to create optimal solutions.

As technology continues to evolve, the ability to implement digital logic directly in reconfigurable hardware will likely become even more valuable, making FPGA design skills an excellent investment for electronics professionals looking to future-proof their careers while expanding their technical capabilities.

FPGA and FPGA Dev Boards – What is it and What are they used for?

FPGA also known as Field Programmable Gate Arrays are semiconductor devices. They are based around CLBs also known as configurable logic blocks which are connected via programmable interconnects. It has a flexible reconfigurable computing function which allows the user to change and reprogram the device to implement a desired logic function or functionality after manufacturing. So what exactly are they? Through today blog, you will learn about:

• What is FPGA?
• Why use FPGA?
• What are FPGA used for?
• Best FPGAs for projects

What is FPGA?

• FPGAs are based around programmable logic blocks and connected through reconfigured interconnects.
• They are designed to be reprogrammed and configured to a user desired application or functionality requirements and can carry out 1 or more logical operations.
• With FPGA, it allows you to design your own chip from scratch! With the FPGA you can implement any digital function limited by the 1 universal chip.
• They are a set of circuits on a chip and its electrical functionality can be changed during the PCB assembly process or by the user with no limit.
• It can be configured to perform complex combination functions similar to a CPU or a simple logic gate (AND or OR function).
• It has no intended function compared to a microcontroller where it already has hardwired logic and just you have to program for it to work.

Why use FPGA?

Even though programming FPGA is more challenging due to its complex calculations compared to other Microcontrollers and requires more power, the FPGA has various advantages that outweighs these cons. They are:

Flexibility

• With the design of FPGA, it has a flexible reconfigurable computing function which allows for the user to change and reprogram the device to implement a different logic function
• This allows for changes to be made to the circuit without any cost compared to other hardware circuits like the ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) which has fixed hardware functionalities.

Security

• Due to FPGA flexibility, it allows for a lower risk for malicious modifications during manufacturing or programming.
• In addition, various FPGA vendors also offer various security solutions to users such as bitstream encryption and authentication for your security needs.

Performance and Efficiency

• FPGAs have off-load and acceleration functions for your CPU which can improve the performance of your system.
• FPGAs are also suitable for running parallel execution which is efficient as they are able to process several input channels of information or control several channels at once. For example, with FPGAs, you can read 2 sensors at the same time data are instantly transmitted.
  • This makes FPGAs become energy efficient as well as energy wouldn’t be wasted waiting for data to be transmitted and data is only processed when there are updates.
• Compared to microcontrollers, dataflow and processing speeds of FPGAs are faster and improved.

Time to market

• With its flexible reconfigurable computing function, they are ideal for prototyping purposes.
• With its parallel processes, development steps can be performed simultaneously. In addition, even in other users hands, the progamming can be changed and upgraded.

What are FPGA used for?

As FPGA are programmable and flexible, they are capable of becoming any digital circuit as long as there are enough logic blocks in the unit to implement that circuit. This allows them to be used in various industries and have various functions. Some of them are:

• Parallel Processes
  • To process several input channels of information or control several channels at once.
• Digital Signal Processing
  • Algorithms such as digital filtering, image processing, etc.
• Medical and Scientific Purposes
  • Medical equipments for diagnostic, monitoring and therapy applications (eg. Diagnostic imagining systems like X-Ray and ultrasound)
• Consumer Electronics
  • Allows for cost-effective solutions like Digital television (eg. Digital Set-top boxes for TV broadcasts), portable entertainment (eg. Cameras, smartphones) etc,
• Security Systems
  • FPGA are used in cloud security, network security, etc.
• Data centre
  
  • FPGA are used for high-bandwidth, low-latency servers, storage applications for cloud purposes.
• Aerospace and Defence
  • Used for image processing, waveform generation in radars, radios for real time signal processing, etc

Best FPGAs for Projects

Unfortunately, nothing is ever the best at something. The same goes for FPGAs! Each microcontroller and single board computers each have their own unique features that makes them stand out from each other. Do not worry as we have highlighted them so you will know which board to buy to suit your project the most!

Best for Beginners

Perf-V Based on Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA RISC-V opensource ($79.00)

• Perf-V is an FPGA demoboard designed for RISC-V opensource community by PerfXLab.
• It integrates various peripheral chips and offers many interfaces with great flexibility and transplant multiple architectures.
• There are plenty of learning materials for you to learn this product and acts as a perfect experiment platform for the design of RISC-V and FPGA products.
• It is a designed for electronic design engineers, hardware DIY enthusiasts, college teachers and students, hobbyists to study, develop programs or make a DEMO.
• Its specifications include:
  • Logic Cells:
  • DSP: 90
  • CLBs:
  • Block RAM (Kb):
  • CMTs: 5

Want a bigger storage and better FPGA Demoboard? We have it too!

Perf-V Based on Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA RISC-V opensource – XC7A100T-1FTG256C ($189.00)

• This board is similar with the previous board in terms of features but it has different specifications with more storage and capabilities for users to study, develop programs, make a demo, etc.
• Its specifications include:
  • Logic Cells:
  • DSP: 240
  • CLBs:
  • Block RAM (Kb):
  • CMTs: 6

Here is a table comparing the both!

Features Perf-V Based on Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA RISC-V opensource Perf-V Based on Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA RISC-V opensource – XC7A100T-1FTG256C Logic Cells DSP 90 240 CLBs Block RAM (Kb) CMTs 5 6 Price $79.00 $189.00

Best for Python Users

PYNQ™ Z2 board – based on Xilinx Zynq C7Z020 SoC ($119.00)

• PYNQ is an open-source project from Xilinx® that makes it easy to design embedded systems with Xilinx Zynq® Systems on Chips (SoCs) using the Python language and libraries.
• Users can now exploit the benefits of programmable logic and microprocessors in Zynq to build more capable and exciting embedded systems.
• Specifications of the ZYNQ Z2 includes:
  • 650MHz dual-core Cortex-A9 processor
  • DDR3 memory controller with 8 DMA channels and 4 High-Performance AXI3 Slave ports
  • High-bandwidth peripheral controllers: 1G Ethernet, USB 2.0, SDIO
  • Low-bandwidth peripheral controller: SPI, UART, CAN, I2C
  • Programmable from JTAG, Quad-SPI flash, and MicroSD card
  • Programmable logic equivalent to Artix-7 FPGA
  • 13,300 logic slices, each with four 6-input LUTs and 8 flip-flops
  • 630 KB of fast block RAM
  • 4 clock management tiles, each with a phase locked loop (PLL) and mixed-mode clock manager (MMCM)
  • 220 DSP slices
  • On-chip analog-to-digital converter (XADC)

Best Arduino Compatible Board

Spartan Edge Accelerator Board – Arduino FPGA Shield with ESP32 ($35.90)

• When we talk about Arduino, very few people associate it with FPGAs. Because the two have little in common, to be frank, they are exactly the opposite. 
  • Arduino – cheap to buy, easy to learn, simple to use, but can’t deal with complex calculations and large projects.
  • FPGA – flexible and powerful, easily handle complex calculations like audio and video processing, but hard to learn and very expensive.
  • By combining both of them, it is a game changer!
• The Spartan Edge Accelerator Board is a Xilinx Spartan FPGA development board in the Arduino UNO shield form factor.
• It can work with Arduino as an FPGA shield and as a stand-alone FPGA development board.
• With the onboard ESP32 chip, the Spartan Edge Accelerator Board also features 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1.
• Moreover, this development board has a wealth of peripherals and interfaces which are extremely playable. Such as an 8-bit ADC, a 6-axis accelerometer, two RGB LEDs, a MINI HDMI interface, a CSI camera interface, two Grove interfaces, etc.
• All in all, it will be a perfect FPGA board for Makers and Hobbyists.

Cheapest FPGA board

Sipeed Tang Nano FPGA Board Powered by GW1N-1 FPGA ($4.90)

• At only $4.90, you can get your own FPGA board!
• The Sipeed Tang Nano FPGA board powered by GW1N-1 FPGA board, will be a nice choice for you to accomplish some subentries. Don’t worry about its small size; it is well equipped with many elements for an FPGA development board.
• It carries a low power core chip GW1N-1-LV,which has LUT4 which contains 4 address for RAM and 864 FF(Flip-Flop). The block SRAM in this tiny FPGA board is 72K, so you have 72kbits to save data.
• Unfortunately, due to the size limitation, this board doesn’t include a DSP module which means you can’t do the complex calculation like accumulation or multipliers cascading based on this board.
• This board contains 34 I/O PINs, USB Type-C interface for the power supply and downloading code, JTAG downloader on the FPGA board, so you can simply use a USB cable connecting to the board to download the code without an extra downloader outside the board.
• One of the best features is that this board has a 40 Pin FPC LCD carrier which means a 40 PIN RGB LCD Screen can be equipped on the board!
  • The 5 inches 800*480 screen is especially compatible with this FPGA board, for your better experience with the board, we suggest you purchase them in a bundle!

Summary

With how versatile the FPGA is due to their programmable nature, they have many applications and uses that appeals to many users including hobbyists and makers. Have not decided on which FPGA development boards to get for your project? You can check out the rest of our FPGA products if those boards does not satisfy your project needs here!

About Author

yida

See author's posts

Are you interested in learning more about FPGA Boards manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!