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Why FPGAs?

Why Choose Altera FPGAs

Pure-Play FPGA Company

Altera's entire company, including products, software, IP, and ecosystem, is dedicated exclusively to programmable logic. FPGAs are not a product line. They are the business.

From the Edge to the Data Center

The Agilex family spans power-optimized embedded applications, mid-range AI inference, high-bandwidth data center workloads, and Direct RF systems for aerospace and defense.

Long-Lifecycle Product Support

Altera designs its FPGA families for long-lifecycle programs in industrial, defense, telecom, and infrastructure markets, giving program teams the design-in confidence long-lifecycle systems require.

Why FPGAs Matter

The Power of Programmable Logic

Field-programmable gate arrays give engineers flexible, reconfigurable hardware for deterministic control, parallel data paths, and evolving standards. Altera helps innovators move from idea to deployment faster with leadership FPGAs, developer-focused software, and a pure-play commitment to programmable logic.

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FPGAs and Other Architectures

FPGAs do not replace CPUs, GPUs, ASICs, or ASSPs. In most systems, FPGAs work alongside these architectures, handling the workloads where programmable logic adds the most value. The right architecture depends on the workload, system constraints, and lifecycle requirements.

FPGA vs. CPU, GPU, ASIC, and ASSP

Engineers comparing architectures often evaluate FPGA vs. CPU for real-time control, FPGA vs. GPU for AI inference, FPGA vs. ASIC for custom logic development, and FPGA vs. ASSP for standards-defined functions. The table below summarizes where each architecture excels and how FPGAs complement them.

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Compare Architectures

ArchitectureBest ForFPGA RelationshipTrade-offs
CPUGeneral-purpose sequential processing, complex software stacksFPGAs offload parallel and real-time workloads; SoC FPGAs combine both on one dieLimited parallelism; OS scheduling adds latency
GPUHigh-throughput AI training, large-scale parallel computeFPGAs handle deterministic inference and protocol processing; often co-deployed in the same pipelineHigh power envelope; fixed architecture; not suited for real-time control
ASICVery high-volume, fixed-function designs with frozen requirementsFPGAs reduce mask NRE, enable in-field updates, and support faster iteration cyclesLong development timelines; high NRE cost; cannot be updated post-fabrication
ASSPDefined markets with standard functions (networking, wireless, video)FPGAs add custom logic, bridge protocols, and adapt to evolving standards alongside ASSPsFixed feature set; limited differentiation beyond the ASSP's defined scope
FPGA Real-time determinism, parallel data paths, in-field reconfigurability, evolving standardsComplements and accelerates every architecture in this tableHigher per-unit cost than ASIC at very high volumes; HDL design expertise required (mitigated by HLS and AI Suite)
Focused on FPGAs and Built for Innovation

Altera is the only pure-play FPGA company, with our products, software, IP, support, and partner ecosystem dedicated entirely to programmable logic. From the power-efficient Agilex™ 3 to the high-performance Agilex™ 9 family, Quartus® Prime software, and a global ecosystem of partners, we provide the technology and long-term support engineers need to innovate with confidence.

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Six Reasons Engineers Choose FPGAs

Deterministic, Real-Time Performance

FPGA fabric data paths can be designed for predictable, cycle-level latency, with no OS, no interrupt latency, and no scheduling overhead.

For motor control, radar, industrial automation, and robotics, this determinism is a core design requirement.

Parallel Processing at Scale

An FPGA processes many operations simultaneously across independent logic pipelines.

Signal processing, packet inspection, sensor fusion, and AI inference pipelines that handle continuous data streams in real time all benefit.

Reconfigurability and Long-Lifecycle Value

Products can be updated in the field as standards evolve.

Altera designs its Agilex family for long-lifecycle programs, giving industrial, defense, and infrastructure customers the supply chain confidence they need for multi-decade deployments.

AI Inference Efficiency at the Edge

Agilex Tensor Blocks enable optimized AI and DSP computation in hardware.

Altera's FPGA AI Suite provides a tool flow for deploying neural networks with custom precision, tuned to the application.

Faster Time to Market Than an ASIC

FPGAs avoid ASIC mask NRE and tape-out cycles.

At moderate volumes, the economics strongly favor FPGAs. Engineers can prototype, test, iterate, and ship faster without waiting for silicon.

Integration of Multiple Functions on One Device

Agilex FPGAs integrate Arm-based hard processors, Tensor Blocks, and hardened DSP blocks.

High-end Agilex 7 I- and M-Series devices add transceiver I/O at up to 116 Gbps, PCIe 5.0, CXL 2.0, and HBM2e memory up to 32 GB, reducing board area, power, and system complexity.