njnir.com Lattice Semiconductor offers low-power, small-form-factor FPGAs ideal for portable and edge computing applications, while Altera (now part of Intel) provides high-performance FPGAs optimized for data center and high-throughput processing tasks. Lattice devices excel in power efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making them suitable for consumer electronics and IoT solutions. Altera FPGAs feature advanced integration and scalability, supporting complex designs in enterprise and industrial environments.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Lattice Semiconductor | Altera (Intel FPGA) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Low power, small form-factor FPGAs | High-performance, scalable FPGAs |
| Target Applications | Embedded systems, IoT, low-power devices | Data centers, networking, high-end computing |
| Key Product Families | iCE40, ECP5, MachXO | Stratix, Arria, Cyclone |
| Power Efficiency | Excellent, optimized for ultra-low power | Moderate to high depending on model |
| Logic Density | Low to medium | Medium to very high |
| Development Tools | Lattice Diamond, Radiant | Intel Quartus Prime |
| Fabrication Technology | Primarily 28nm and smaller | From 14nm to 10nm process nodes |
| Market Position | Niche, low-power FPGA market | Market leader in high-end FPGA space |
Introduction to Lattice and Altera FPGAs
Lattice Semiconductor specializes in low-power, small form-factor FPGAs ideal for edge computing and mobile applications, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Altera, now part of Intel, offers high-performance FPGAs with advanced logic capacity and integrated features suitable for data centers, telecommunications, and complex system designs. Both companies provide diverse FPGA product lines tailored to different market needs, with Lattice focusing on ultra-low power applications and Altera delivering scalable, high-throughput solutions.
Company Backgrounds: Lattice vs Altera
Lattice Semiconductor, founded in 1983, specializes in low-power, small form-factor FPGA solutions targeting mobile, industrial, and communications markets. Altera, established in 1983 and acquired by Intel in 2015, is renowned for high-performance FPGAs used in data centers, networking, and aerospace industries. Both companies have shaped the FPGA landscape, with Lattice focusing on power efficiency and Altera emphasizing processing power and integration capabilities.
Architectural Differences
Lattice Semiconductor primarily focuses on low-power, small form-factor FPGA architectures designed for mobile and edge applications, emphasizing low latency and energy efficiency. Altera, now part of Intel, offers high-performance FPGA architectures with advanced DSP blocks and integrated ARM processors, targeting data center and high-throughput computing environments. Architectural differences include Lattice's emphasis on compact, power-optimized logic fabric versus Altera's large-scale, highly configurable logic arrays with extensive support for complex signal processing.
Performance and Speed Benchmarks
Lattice Semiconductor and Altera (now part of Intel) offer distinct performance and speed benchmarks within the FPGA market, with Altera devices generally delivering higher clock speeds and processing capabilities suited for high-performance computing and data-intensive applications. Lattice FPGAs prioritize lower power consumption and smaller form factors, making them optimal for cost-sensitive and portable solutions, though they typically exhibit lower maximum operating frequencies compared to Altera. Benchmark comparisons consistently show Altera's Stratix and Arria series outperforming Lattice's similar product lines in terms of logic density and throughput, reflecting their target market for high-speed, complex designs.
Power Consumption and Efficiency
Lattice Semiconductor devices are known for their ultra-low power consumption, making them ideal for energy-efficient applications in mobile and IoT markets. In contrast, Altera (now part of Intel) FPGAs generally offer higher performance but consume more power, suited for high-throughput computing tasks. Lattice's focus on low-power FPGAs results in greater efficiency for battery-powered and portable devices compared to Altera's power-intensive high-capacity solutions.
Development Tools and Ecosystem
Lattice Semiconductor offers a streamlined development environment with the Lattice Diamond software, emphasizing ease of use and low power FPGA design, while Altera, now part of Intel, provides the Quartus Prime software suite, which supports advanced design features, including high-level synthesis and comprehensive debugging tools. Lattice's ecosystem caters to cost-sensitive, low-power applications with extensive third-party IP cores suited for small to mid-range FPGA devices. In contrast, Altera's broader ecosystem integrates tightly with Intel's high-performance processors and accelerators, targeting high-end applications demanding robust development resources and scalable system designs.
Device Portfolio and Product Range
Lattice Semiconductor offers a diverse device portfolio emphasizing low-power, small form-factor FPGAs and CPLDs, ideal for consumer electronics, industrial applications, and edge computing. Altera, now part of Intel, provides a broader product range with high-performance FPGAs such as the Stratix, Arria, and Cyclone series, targeting data centers, telecommunications, and complex computing tasks. Lattice focuses on cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions, whereas Altera's devices excel in scalability and advanced processing capabilities.
Cost and Value Comparison
Lattice Semiconductor offers cost-effective FPGA solutions primarily aimed at low-power, low-density applications, making it ideal for budget-sensitive projects with moderate performance needs. Altera, now part of Intel, delivers higher-performance FPGAs with greater logic capacity and advanced features, resulting in a higher cost but providing superior value for complex, high-speed applications. Evaluating total cost of ownership, Lattice excels in affordability and energy efficiency, while Altera's products justify their premium price through enhanced capabilities and scalability.
Market Applications and Use Cases
Lattice Semiconductor specializes in low-power, small form-factor FPGAs widely used in consumer electronics, industrial automation, and edge computing applications, emphasizing cost-efficiency and energy saving. Altera, now part of Intel, targets high-performance FPGA markets in data centers, telecommunications, and automotive industries, supporting complex signal processing and AI workloads. The distinct market focus results in Lattice excelling in portable and embedded systems, while Altera dominates in high-throughput computing and large-scale infrastructure deployments.
Future Trends and Industry Impact
Lattice Semiconductor and Altera (now part of Intel) are key players in the FPGA market, with Lattice focusing on low-power, small form-factor devices tailored for edge computing and IoT applications, while Altera offers high-performance FPGAs for data centers and AI workloads. Future trends indicate Lattice will drive advancements in energy-efficient, cost-effective programmable logic solutions for embedded systems, whereas Intel's Altera portfolio will push the boundaries of computational power, integrating AI acceleration and high-speed connectivity. The industry impact includes broadening FPGA adoption across diverse sectors, accelerating AI deployment at the edge, and enabling highly customizable hardware architectures essential for next-generation 5G, automotive, and industrial automation technologies.
FPGA architectures
Lattice FPGA architectures emphasize low power and small form factor for cost-sensitive applications, while Altera (now Intel) FPGAs prioritize high performance and scalability with advanced adaptive logic modules and embedded processors.
LUT resources
Lattice FPGAs typically offer fewer LUT resources compared to Altera (now Intel) FPGAs, which provide significantly larger and more flexible LUT arrays suitable for complex logic implementation.
HDL synthesis
Lattice offers low-power, cost-efficient FPGA solutions with optimized HDL synthesis tools for compact designs, while Altera (now Intel FPGA) provides high-performance synthesis capabilities targeting complex, large-scale FPGA applications.
Configuration memory
Lattice FPGAs typically use non-volatile flash-based configuration memory for faster startup and lower power consumption, while Altera (now Intel) FPGAs rely on volatile SRAM-based configuration memory requiring external configuration storage.
IP core compatibility
Lattice FPGA devices offer broad IP core compatibility with open-source and third-party vendors, whereas Altera (now Intel) provides extensive proprietary IP cores tightly integrated within its Quartus design environment for optimized performance.
Timing closure
Lattice FPGAs offer faster timing closure compared to Altera devices due to their optimized low-power architectures and streamlined placement and routing algorithms.
Device families (e.g., ECP5 vs Cyclone)
Lattice's ECP5 device family offers low-power, cost-effective FPGA solutions with mid-range logic density ideal for edge applications, while Altera's Cyclone family provides higher logic density and performance optimized for cost-sensitive, high-volume consumer and industrial markets.
Development toolchains (e.g., Diamond vs Quartus)
Lattice's Diamond software offers a user-friendly, resource-efficient IDE optimized for low-power FPGAs, while Altera's Quartus provides a comprehensive, high-performance toolchain with advanced optimization features for complex FPGA designs.
SerDes interfaces
Lattice offers low-power, cost-effective FPGAs with integrated multi-Gbps SerDes interfaces ideal for compact applications, while Altera (Intel) provides high-performance FPGAs featuring advanced SerDes technology supporting higher data rates and complex signal integrity for demanding communication systems.
Soft-core processors (e.g., Nios II vs Micro32)
Lattice's Micro32 soft-core processor offers a lightweight, configurable RISC architecture optimized for low-power FPGA applications, while Altera's Nios II provides a versatile, 32-bit embedded processor with extensive ecosystem support and customizable performance for complex SoC designs.
Lattice vs Altera Infographic
