.webp){kind=small}
Why FPGAs?
Explore how Altera FPGAs deliver the flexibility, performance, and efficiency to accelerate innovation across AI, embedded systems, and next-generation technologies.
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 sensor and signal processing for AI systems, 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.
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 system data paths, 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.
Architecture |
Best For |
FPGA Relationship |
Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
CPU |
General-purpose sequential processing, complex software stacks |
FPGAs offload parallel and real-time workloads; SoC FPGAs combine both on one die |
Limited parallelism; OS scheduling adds latency |
GPU |
High-throughput AI training, large-scale parallel compute |
FPGAs handle deterministic inference and protocol processing; often co-deployed in the same pipeline |
High power envelope; fixed architecture; not suited for real-time control |
ASIC |
Very high-volume, fixed-function designs with frozen requirements |
FPGAs reduce mask NRE, enable in-field updates, and support faster iteration cycles |
Long development timelines; high NRE cost; cannot be updated post-fabrication |
ASSP |
Defined markets with standard functions (networking, wireless, video) |
FPGAs add custom logic, bridge protocols, and adapt to evolving standards alongside ASSPs |
Fixed feature set; limited differentiation beyond the ASSP's defined scope |
FPGA |
Real-time determinism, parallel data paths, in-field reconfigurability, evolving standards |
Complements and accelerates every architecture in this table |
Higher 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 largest pure-play FPGA provider, 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.
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.
Where FPGAs are Used
Data Centers and Cloud Computing
Optimize data processing, accelerate workloads, and enhance efficiency across modern data center infrastructures.
Robotics and Physical AI
Power intelligent robotics with low-latency processing, real-time sensor integration, and adaptable AI acceleration.
Aerospace and Defence
Enable reliable, high-performance processing for mission-critical aerospace and defense systems with adaptable FPGA solutions.
Industrial Automation
Enable precise real-time control, intelligent automation, and adaptable industrial systems with FPGA technology.
5G and Wireless
Accelerate wireless innovation with flexible, high-performance signal processing and support for evolving communication standards.
Design and Development Resources
Quartus Prime Design Software
The primary tool for FPGA design, simulation, and programming. The Lite edition is free to download with no license required.
FPGA AI Suite
Deploy optimized neural networks on Altera FPGAs using familiar AI frameworks. Supports custom precision for efficient edge inference.
IP Cores and Design Examples
Pre-built IP covering PCIe, Ethernet, DDR, DSP, and AI workloads. The design example library accelerates prototyping across every Agilex family.
Development Kits
Hardware-ready platforms for every Altera FPGA family, from Agilex 3 to Agilex 9, to prototype and validate designs before production.
oneAPI for FPGAs
Write Data Parallel C++ (DPC++) and compile for FPGA execution. Enables hardware and software engineers to collaborate in a shared toolchain.
FPGA Design Services
Altera's ASAP partner network includes certified FPGA design services firms for teams that need expert design support.
Common Questions
FPGA stands for field-programmable gate array. "Field-programmable" means the device can be configured by the customer or end user, in the field after manufacturing, rather than being fixed at fabrication. "Gate array" refers to the underlying array of configurable logic gates that implement digital circuits.
Yes. SoC FPGAs integrate embedded Arm processors alongside the programmable logic fabric on the same die. Software runs on the processor while hardware accelerators run in the FPGA fabric. Engineers can also implement soft processors, such as Altera's Nios V, directly within the FPGA logic itself.
Yes. FPGAs are widely used for AI inference, particularly at the edge and in latency-sensitive applications. Altera's Agilex Tensor Blocks enable optimized AI computation in hardware, and the FPGA AI Suite provides a tool flow for deploying neural networks with custom precision.
An FPGA is configured by loading a bitstream (a file generated by FPGA design software like Altera Quartus Prime) into the device. The bitstream programs the logic blocks, the routing between them, and the I/O behavior. Load a new bitstream and the circuit changes entirely, without replacing the physical hardware.
For specific workloads, particularly real-time signal processing, low-latency control, and parallel data pipelines, FPGAs provide performance and determinism that are difficult to achieve with CPUs alone. In most production systems, FPGAs and CPUs work together, with each handling the tasks it is best suited for.