PGA & FPGA

[Tony Hung-Yao Wu]

Hi,

Can any one tell me the difference between PGA(programmable
gate array) and FPGA(Field programmable gate array)?

Thanks a lot and please reply to to...@pacific.usc.edu

/Tony

[David Grieve]

Tony Hung-Yao Wu (to...@pacific.usc.edu) wrote:
: Hi,

: /Tony

The acronym PGA usually is taken to mean Pin Grid Array which is a style
of packaging commonly used for large FPGA, which are, as you said, Field
Programmable Gate Arrays.

All gate arrays are - by definition - programmable in some sense.
Traditional gate arrays require you to spend mucho dollars designing
the 2 or 3 metalization layers required to customise a generic die
and is essentially a "one shot" - before you go bust that is :-).

FPGA's are programmable in a manner similar to an SRAM or PROM or EEPROM
typically and can (with a few notable exceptions) be re-programmed
several times at *relatively* little cost (i.e. a one-time investment
in the programming software and hardware).

David.