FPGA CHIP WILL OVERTAKE ALL THE
CURRENT DEVICE PROCESSORS IN THE
COMING YEARS OF TECHNOLOGICAL
ENHANCEMENT
James Colin D. Da-anton
Institute of Computer Engineering of the Philippines Student Edition
University of Negros Occidental Recoletos
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
james_daanton@yahoo.com
Abstract— This IEEE study examines the
trajectory of FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)
chips as potential successors to current device
processors. Assessing the unique attributes of
FPGAs—flexibility, parallel processing, and
adaptability—the study explores recent advancements
impacting overall performance. Focused on applications
like real-time processing and hardware acceleration, the
research envisions a future where FPGA chips surpass
traditional processors, ushering in a new era of
heightened efficiency and computational capabilities.
The analysis acknowledges challenges, proposing
strategies for seamless integration. This concise study is
a valuable resource for those anticipating the
transformative impact of FPGA technology.
Keywords— Intel Altera, Field programmable Gate
Array(FPGA), Microchips.
I. INTRODUCTION
Ever since the world has kept evolving, buildings are
now modernized, education is now using smart
technologies, manual equipment and apparatus are now
using smart devices, and most important of all, it is the help
of computers that has keep on becoming more advanced and
complex with the idea of computer architecture (Moore’s
Law) using more contained transistors in microchips [1].
Moore's law states that a computer's performance
increases with the number of transistors employed on the
chip. Unfortunately, according to James R. Powel [6],
Moore's law will end on a predicted calculation in 2035 due
to the limits of creating the smallest transistors. Even smart
devices and I/O devices have their own limitations in
executing things using different microcontrollers (Arduino,
ESPs, and PIC families). Microcontrollers only run in series,
and that is why it is far beyond the power of technology
enhancement, which has widely become more flexible and
efficient because of the use of time.
A. Altera to Intel Programmable Solutions Group
Altera originally developed the FPGA and offered
it along with the System on Chip (SoC), Complex
Programmable Logic Devices (CPLD), and
complementary technologies, such as power solutions.
While Intel, which creates and builds the basic
technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's
computing devices, developed the world's first
commercially accessible "conflict-free" microprocessors,
In 2015, Intel acquired Altera, combining Intel’s
leading-edge products and manufacturing process with
Altera’s leading field-programmable gate array (FPGA)
[5].
B. Field Programmable Gate Array
The purpose behind the development of FPGAs
was to offer a more cost-effective and faster
time-to-market solution for electronic system design.
Designers could use FPGAs to implement and prototype
their digital circuits without the need for custom chip
fabrication, reducing development costs and time.
1) Hardware: Altera has been fabricating hardware
designs for FPGA chips since 2002 [4], such as
Cyclone 2002, Cyclone II 2004, Cyclone III 2007,
Cyclone IV 2009, Cyclone V LP 2017, and
Cyclone X GX 2017. According to the latest
research on FPGA market analysis [2], the global
FPGA market size was valued at USD million in
2023 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of
percent during the forecast period, reaching USD
million in 2032. There is still ongoing fabrication
and development of FPGA cyclones in the future
years of implementation.
2) Software: It is software programming tools with
the use of the programming language VHDL or
Verilog that are used to program the FPGA devices
such as CPLDs, Cyclone, Cyclone II, Cyclone III,
Cyclone IV, Cyclone V, and Cyclone X to execute
signals depending on the design of the user
program. FPGA supports gate-level modeling,
behavioral modeling, data flow modeling,
 structural modeling, and sequential circuit design. TABLE I
The software stated such things as: COMPARING FPGAs AND MICROCONTROLLERS
a) Xilinx Vivado:
b) Intel Quartus Prime:
c) Lattice Radiant: Feature FPGA Microcontroller
d) Synopsys Synplify:
Flexibility Superior Firmware
customization. reprogramming
C. Microchips
Possibility of only.
reprogramming
RISC-V CPU cores are accessible in Microchip
hardware and
FPGAs for hybrid FPGA+SoC architectures. An open
firmware.
standard instruction set architecture is called RISC-V.
Microchip offers the highest radiation resistance and
Programming & Complex Simple
dependability in the industry for space applications with
Firmware
its RTG4 and PolarFire FPGA choices [8].
Programming No portability Highly portable
There are different types of FPGA microchip that
Tools
they have developed with a specific implementation in a
hardware design like Most power efficient FPGA,
Cost Expensive Cost-effective
Exceptional Reliable and Military grade security. FPGA
Microchip such as:
Processing High Low
Power/Speed
● Polarfire - Reduce power by 50% over equivalent.
● IGLOO II - Improve design integration with
low-density.
● IGLOO - Meet low-power and small-space It is possible to use an FPGA if the design requires
requirements of portable electronics. complex logic, high processing ability, and if the cost to
● ProASIC®3 - designing a high-volume application performance ratio justifies it. FPGAs are more suitable for
around the Arm® Cortex®-M1 processor. applications requiring higher processing speeds or power.
● MICROCHIP - nonvolatile, reprogrammable Because of technology that enhances continuously, Speed is
ProASIC. important in technology for various reasons. From an
● Fusion - integrate analog and digital functions on economic perspective, maximizing the speed and efficiency
one chip. of value-added chains is crucial for profitable production,
the more speed it operates the more power it consumes.

II. TODAY’S MICROCONTROLLER VS. FPGA

A microcontroller is an integrated circuit that behaves
like a small computer. Typically, it consists of a CPU or
central processing unit, some memory, and a few peripheral
devices for the input and output of signals. The Field
Programmable Gate Array is a large integrated circuit. Its
architecture has thousands of CLBs, or configurable logic
blocks, that include LUTs, or look-up tables; FF, or
flip-flops; and MUX, or multiplexers [3].
The basic purpose is the same for an FPGA and a
microcontroller—both allow the end user to determine their
functionality. Both are capable of performing specific
applications while being embedded within a system, for
instance, a vehicle, washing machine, or traffic light
controller.
A primary difference between an FPGA and a
microcontroller is that, unlike a microcontroller, there is no
fixed hardware structure within an FPGA. Rather, an FPGA
has fixed logic cells, which, along with other interconnects,
an engineer can program in parallel using the HDL coding
language.
III. DEVICES ADOPTING FPGAs
Despite the enhancement and implementation, technologies
rapidly developed because of the power itself. Flexibility,
hardware acceleration, high performance, high speed, and
efficiency are all types that an FPGA can handle. It’s not
accurate to say that some of the basic devices could indeed
use FPGA, but the main reason to implement it is to widely
develop all the basic devices into readily complicated
synchronization or interface techniques. I/O devices could
readily become IoT, and computers could be enhanced with
the help of FPGAs for time efficiency, such as GPUs, RAM,
and sensors for fast timing execution, etc. There are many
applications that FPGAs have successfully implemented,
such as aerospace, industrials, graphics processing, and
wireless communications. This big company has
successfully developed the FPGA; why not use Altera
instead of microcontrollers?
IV. CONCLUSION
This study shows that while most commonly used device
processors and microcontrollers have limitations, FPGA can
be employed as an all-in-one chip with real-time
monitoring. It can run 24 hours non stop without any errors.
Considering its complexity and speed, it is the ideal option
to be employed in the majority of current devices.
[6] Powel, J. R., & Chojecki, P. (2023). What Is Moore's
In conclusion, given the rate of technological Law? Is Moore’s Law Dead? Built In. Retrieved
advancement in the upcoming years, it is possible that December 22, 2023, from
FPGA will surpass all of the current device processors. The https://builtin.com/hardware/moores-law
only issue that technology organizations frequently have
when utilizing FPGA is that it might be challenging to [7] Tweed, D. (2019, July 15). FPGA CPUs, how to find
comprehend the logic involved in executing and integrating the max speed? Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange.
FPGA with hardware devices. Despite its speed and Retrieved December 22, 2023, from
multitude of successful applications, FPGA remains a https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/448457
refined solution. /fpga-cpus-how-to-find-the-max-speed

V. ACKNOWLEDGMENT [8] What is a Microchip FPGA? (2023). RAYPCB.

Retrieved December 22, 2023, from
My girlfriend, Cleah Jane Villasor, has provided me with https://www.raypcb.com/microchip-fpga/
continuous support and encouragement throughout the
process of finishing this IEEE Paper, for which I am truly PHOTOGRAPH AND BIOGRAPHY
grateful. Her understanding, kindness, and supportive
comments came in very handy when things got tough.

I appreciate you being my foundation and being there for

me through all the highs and lows of this academic journey.
Your support and faith in me have always inspired me, and I
am incredibly grateful to have you in my life.

This achievement is equally yours and mine, and for that,

as well as the love and understanding you give me, I am
incredibly appreciative.

REFERENCES James Colin D. Da-anton

22 Years Old
[1] Chojecki, P., & Urwin, M. (2023, August 17). What Is June 5, 2001
Moore's Law? Is Moore’s Law Dead? Built In. Prk. Maanyag brgy. Alijis Bacolod City
Retrieved December 22, 2023, from CpE - E41
https://builtin.com/hardware/moores-law Engineering Course
IV Year College
[2] FPGA Market [2024-2032] Booming and Indicating
Significant Growth in Industry Worldwide. (2023, My Learning Log
December 6). LinkedIn. Retrieved December 22, 2023,
from Inclined to this IEEE paper, I learned more about the
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fpga-market-2024-203 capacity, power, and limitations of an FPGA for our tech
2-booming-indicating-significant-cgmdf/ generation. The FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate
Array and performs digital signal processing with its
[3] FPGA Vs Microcontroller: Understanding the Key capability to exploit parallelism, especially replication of
Differences. (2023, June 25). Rush PCB. Retrieved hardware functions that operate concurrently in different
December 22, 2023, from parts of the chip. As of today, FPGA has a limited source
https://rushpcb.com/fpga-vs-microcontroller-understand because it is not yet well known due to its hard logic
ing-the-key-differences/ understanding. But if we have to focus on this, the FPGA
will actually surpass all microcontrollers that exist in this
[4] Intel® Cyclone® FPGA and SoC FPGA Devices. (n.d.). technology generation, not only with its capability but also
Intel. Retrieved December 22, 2023, from because of its overall advantage. I bet that FPGA will
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/det become popular in the near future. Therefore, I conclude
ails/fpga/cyclone.html that this IEEE paper will explain FPGA further information
that this programmable logic will be needed by the near
[5] Intel to Acquire Altera. (2023). Design And Reuse. technology enhancement.
Retrieved December 21, 2023, from
https://www.design-reuse.com/news/37515/intel-altera-
acquisition.html