Xilinx and Altera are both FPGA manufacturers, but there are a few key differences between the two. For one, Xilinx offers a wider range of FPGAs than Altera. Altera’s FPGAs are also more tailored towards system-on-chip designs, while Xilinx’s focus is more on programmable logic. Finally, Altera has been bought by Intel, which could mean that their products will be more tightly integrated with Intel’s hardware in the future. All of this means that it can be confusing to decide which manufacturer to go with when choosing an FPGA.
What is Xilinx?
Xilinx, Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1984 by Ross Freeman, Bernard Vonderschmitt, and James Vason. The company’s name comes from the Xilinx XC2000 series FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), which were the first products the company introduced. Xilinx is known for its innovation in the field of programmable logic devices (PLDs), which are used in a wide range of electronic systems, from computers and telecommunications equipment to automotive electronics and industrial control systems. Xilinx’s FPGAs are used in a majority of the world’s supercomputers, and the company has been a pioneer in the development of energy-efficient FPGAs. Xilinx is also a leading supplier of software for designing PLDs. The company’s headquarters are in San Jose, California. Xilinx has over 7,000 employees worldwide.
What is Altera?
Altera is a company that was founded in 1983. The company focuses on Programmable Logic Devices. These are devices that can be programmed to perform various logic functions. Altera’s main product lines include FPGAs, CPLDs, and ASICs. The company has headquarters in Silicon Valley and has over 2,800 employees. Altera has been acquired by Intel in December of 2015. Prior to the acquisition, Altera was a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Difference between Xilinx and Altera
Xilinx and Altera are two of the biggest names in the field of FPGAs. But what exactly is an FPGA, and how do Xilinx and Altera differ? An FPGA, or field-programmable gate array, is a type of semiconductor device that can be configured by the user to perform a specific set of functions. This makes them incredibly versatile, and they are used in a wide range of applications from consumer electronics to military hardware. Xilinx and Altera are the two biggest manufacturers of FPGAs, and they both offer a broad range of products for different markets. One key difference between Xilinx and Altera is their approach to design. Xilinx uses a proprietary programming language called Vivado, while Altera uses the industry-standard Verilog. This means that Xilinx devices are typically harder to program, but they offer more flexibility in terms of design. Another difference is that Xilinx devices are generally faster than Altera devices, although this is changing with each new generation of products.
Conclusion
The two companies have taken different approaches to the market. Altera has been focusing on FPGAs, while Xilinx is betting on SoCs. In terms of product lines, Altera offers more products than Xilinx. However, Xilinx claims that its products are easier to use. It will be interesting to see how the two companies compete in the future.
