ASIC vs FPGA
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FPGAs allow for reconfigurable circuitry, easier entry with lower costs, and are well-suited for applications that may require frequent design upgrades. However, FPGAs are less energy efficient, have lower maximum operating frequencies, and do not support analog designs compared to ASICs. While FPGAs are useful for prototyping, ASICs are better suited for high-volume mass production since their circuitry is permanently optimized for a specific application.
ASIC vs FPGA
- 1. 1 ASIC Vs. FPGA No. FPGA ASIC 1 Reconfigurable circuit. FPGAs can be reconfigured with a different design. They even have capability to reconfigure a part of chip while remaining areas of chip are still working! This feature is widely used in accelerated computing in data centres. Permanent circuitry. Once the application specific circuit is taped-out into silicon, it cannot be changed. The circuit will work same for its complete operating life. 2 Design is specified generally using hardware description languages (HDL) such as VHDL or Verilog. Same as for FPGA. Design is specified using HDL such as Verilog, VHDL etc. 3 Easier entry-barrier. One can get started with FPGA development for as low as USD $30. Very high entry-barrier in terms of cost, learning curve, liaising with semiconductor foundry etc. Starting ASIC development from scratch can cost well into millions of dollars. 4 Not suited for very high-volume mass production. Suited for very high-volume mass production. 5 Less energy efficient, requires more power for same function which ASIC can achieve at lower power. Much more power efficient than FPGAs. Power consumption of ASICs can be very minutely controlled and optimized. 6 Limited in operating frequency compared to ASIC of similar process node. The routing and configurable logic eat up timing margin in FPGAs. ASIC fabricated using the same process node can run at much higher frequency than FPGAs since its circuit is optimized for its specific function. 7 Analog designs are not possible with FPGAs. Although FPGAs may contain specific analog hardware such as PLLs, ADC etc, they are not much flexible to create for example RF transceivers. ASICs can have complete analog circuitry, for example WiFi transceiver, on the same die along with microprocessor cores. This is the advantage which FPGAs lack.
- 2. 2 8 FPGAs are highly suited for applications such as Radars, Cell Phone Base Stations etc where the current design might need to be upgraded to use better algorithm or to a better design. In these applications, the high-cost of FPGAs is not the deciding factor. Instead, programmability is the deciding factor. ASICs are definitely not suited for application areas where the design might need to be upgraded frequently or once-in-a-while. 9 Preferred for prototyping and validating a design or concept. Many ASICs are prototyped using FPGAs themselves! Major processor manufacturers themselves use FPGAs to validate their System-on-Chips (SoCs). It is easier to make sure design is working correctly as intended using FPGA prototyping. It is not recommended to prototype a design using ASICs unless it has been absolutely validated. Once the silicon has been taped out, almost nothing can be done to fix a design bug (exceptions apply). 10 FPGA designers generally do not need to care for back-end design. Everything is handled by synthesis and routing tools which make sure the design works as described in the RTL code and meets timing. So, designers can focus into getting the RTL design done. ASIC designers need to care for everything from RTL down to reset tree, clock tree, physical layout and routing, process node, manufacturing constraints (DFM), testing constraints (DFT) etc. Generally, each of the mentioned area is handled by different specialist person.