• Get Listed
    • Get a FREE Quote for your Next Project
HardwareBee
  • Find ASIC Vendors
  • Browse Design Services Directory
    • FPGA Design Services
    • Electronic Design Services
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Add a Vendor
  • Get 3 Quotes From
    • FPGA Design Companies
    • FPGA IP Core Vendors
    • Electronic Design Companies
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Design & Manufacturing Vendors
  • WikiBee
  • Resources
    • FPGA Academy
    • Embedded Academy
    • FPGA vs ASIC Calculator
  • Calculators
    • Watt to dBm Converter
    • dBm to Watt Converter
  • Emerging ICs
    • SPARK Microsystems – SR1000
    • Cologne Chip – GateMate
  • Pricing
    • Get Your Company Listed
    • Get Monthly Outbound Leads
    • Get Free Consulting
HardwareBee
  • Browse Design Services Directory
    • FPGA Design Services
    • Electronic Design Services
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Add a Vendor
  • Get 3 Quotes From
    • FPGA Design Companies
    • FPGA IP Core Vendors
    • Electronic Design Companies
    • Embedded Software Companies
    • Design & Manufacturing Vendors
  • WikiBee
  • Resources
    • FPGA Academy
    • Embedded Academy
    • FPGA vs ASIC Calculator
  • Calculators
    • Watt to dBm Converter
    • dBm to Watt Converter
  • Emerging ICs
    • SPARK Microsystems – SR1000
    • Cologne Chip – GateMate
  • Pricing
    • Get Your Company Listed
    • Get Monthly Outbound Leads
    • Get Free Consulting
17248 Views

CPLD vs FPGA, What is the Difference?

20/12/2018, hardwarebee

One of the most consistently brought up questions among young engineers and FPGA beginners is whether they should use FPGA or CPLD. These are two different logic devices that have a different set of characteristics that set them apart from one another. So, let us settle this debate once and for all and clear the air: what is the difference between FPGA vs. CPLD?

 

CPLD VS FPGA Comparison

 

To answer this questions quickly — CPLD vs. FPGA and which one to use? FPGA contains much more logic blocks than CPLD, this means that FPGA can be used in more demanding and more complex applications.

 

Keep reading!

 

FPGA Overview

 

FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array. It is a programmable logic device that harbors a complex architecture that allows them to have a high logic capacity, making them ideal for high gate count designs such as server application, video encoders/decoders. Due to the fact that FPGA consist of large number of gates the internal delays in this chip are sometimes unpredictable.

 

The following figure shows a a typical FPGA architecture:

 

FPGA Architecture

 

CPLD Overview

 

CPLD stands for Complex Programmable Logic Device. It is a programmable logic device that is based on Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory or EEPROM, has a comparatively less complex architecture as compared to FPGA, and is much more suitable in small gate count designs such as glue-logic.

 

CPLD vs. FPGA

 

FPGA logic chips can be considered to be a number of logic blocks consisting of gate arrays which are connected through programmable interconnects. Such a design allows the engineer to execute complex circuits and develop flexible designs thanks to the great capacity of the chip. On the other hand, CPLD use macrocells and are only able to connect signals to neighboring logic blocks, making them less flexible and less suited to execute complicated applications. This is why they are also used mostly used as glue-logic.

 

Since CPLD only contains a limited number of logic blocks as opposed to FPGA whose logic block count can reach to up to a 100,000, a large number compared to the maximum 100 block limit of the former, it is generally used for simpler applications and implementations. Their smaller capacity also makes them cheaper as a whole. FPGA logic chips may be cheaper on a gate by gate basis, but tend to become more expensive when considered as a package.

 

As mentioned before, CPLDs use EEPROMs and hence can be operated as soon as they are powered up. FPGA are RAM based, meaning they have to download the data for configuration from an external memory source and set it up before it can begin to operate, and thereafter the FPGA goes blank after power down. This feature also makes FPGAs volatile as their RAM based configuration data is available and readable by external source, as opposed to the CPLD chips which retain the programmed data internally.

 

On the other hand, circuit modification is simpler and more convenient with FPGAs as the circuit can be changed even while the device is running through a process called partial reconfiguration, whereas in order to change or modify design functionality, a CPLD device must be powered down and reprogrammed.

 

Example

 

For a networking system that transfers massive data from one end to the other end, and FPGA could be used to analyzing the data going through the system, packet by packet and informing the main CPU about various statistics such as: number of packets, number of voice or video packets etc. While in the same system, perhaps in the CPU circuitry an CPLD and act as an interrupt controller or as and GPIO controller.

 

FPGA vs. CPLD Infographics

 

The following infographics summarizes the difference between CPLD vs. FPGA.

 

Infographics showing CPLD VS FPGA

 

linked in icon
Sign up for HardwareBee
* = required field

Recent Stories

5+ Best UWB Chipset Providers Compared
5+ Best UWB Chipset Providers Compared
SPARK Microsystems Announces CDN$48 Million Financing Led by Idealist Capital
SPARK Microsystems Announces CDN$48 Million Financing Led by Idealist Capital
What is MicroLED? Overview, Benefits and Future
What is MicroLED? Overview, Benefits and Future
Auto processor market growing at 13% CAGR 22-28
Auto processor market growing at 13% CAGR 22-28
The Ultimate Guide: Current Mirror
The Ultimate Guide: Current Mirror
What is the Difference: GDDR5 VS. GDDR6
What is the Difference: GDDR5 VS. GDDR6
Watt to dBm (free) Converter
Watt to dBm (free) Converter
dBm to Watt (free) Converter
dBm to Watt (free) Converter
Get 3 Quotes from Electronic Design Companies
Get 3 Quotes from FPGA Design Companies
Get 3 Quotes from Embedded SW Services
Get 3 Quotes from EMS Companies

Find Design Services

Get Price Offers From
  • Electronic Design Services
  • FPGA Design Services
  • Embedded Software Companies
  • PCB Layout Services
  • Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers
  • Design & Manufacturing Services
Welcome New Vendors
  • Cologne Chip – GateMate
  • SPARK Microsystems – SR1000
  • TrigoPi
  • Fidus Systems
  • PCB Design
Answer a Question
  • Tips For Installing a PCB Prototype Board
  • Benefits of Working With a Reliable Flex Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer
  • FPGA company gross margin?
  • What is an FPGA used for?
  • When was FPGA invented
Recent WikiBee Items
  • Transformer
  • Y Capacitor
  • Verilog
  • FPGA vs. ASIC Cost
  • FPGA Synthesizer
Recent Posts
  • 5+ Best UWB Chipset Providers Compared
  • SPARK Microsystems Announces CDN$48 Million Financing Led by Idealist Capital
  • What is MicroLED? Overview, Benefits and Future
  • Auto processor market growing at 13% CAGR 22-28
  • The Ultimate Guide: Current Mirror
Most Popular Blog Posts
  • Promwad Accelerates Product Development with Vendor-Agnostic FPGA Design in Multiple Industries 
  • Understanding Knee Voltage
  • Understanding UPS Block Diagram
  • Understanding DV/DT in Electronics
  • Understanding Charge Pump

Never miss an update!

Follow us on LinkedIn

Do you need any price
information?

(Electronic design, FPGA design, Embedded SW services, PCB design, Turnkey)

Yes
No
HardwareBee

Copyright 2017-2023, HardwareBee. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Get Free Support
  • Get listed
  • Send a wiki/article
  • Advertise

Follow Us

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn company page where we share our latest updates LinkedIn
Partner with us Partner with us

Design and Manufacturing Services

  • Engineering Design Services
  • Electronic Design and Manufacturing
  • Electronic Product Development
  • Electronic Product Design
  • Electronic Consulting Services
  • Electronic Engineering Companies
  • Electronic Engineering Services
  • Electronic Product Design and Development
  • Electronics Design Services
  • Electronics Design Company
  • Electronic Design Consultants
  • Electronic Design Company
  • FPGA Design Company
  • FPGA Consultant
  • FPGA Design Services UK
  • Electronics Manufacturing services
  • Electronics Manufacturing Companies
  • Electronic Contract Manufacturing Companies
  • Electronic Manufacturing Services Companies
  • EMS Companies Directory
  • Electronic Design Services
  • FPGA Design Services
  • Embedded Software Companies
  • PCB Layout Services
  • Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers
  • Design and Manufacturing Services