From Prototype to Market

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

 I'm currently developing a system with an FPGA, we've recently finished our prototype which we built on a DE0-board (Cyclone III) with the help of Quartus Web Edition. Anyhow, my question now is: In order to reach market entry, what Altera - Products and IP's do we have to purchase?  If I've understood this right, we need the Quartus full edition in order to save the .sof-file on a static memory? Is this correct?  We have a system with a Nios II/f soft CPU and some other IP's like UART, PIO's etc. Do we have to pay a licence fee for them individually or is the cost of SoPC-components built in, in the Quartus license?  In order to produce the product, what's the most common way, integrate a EPCS on the PCB or to sort of make a partition of a Flash (CFI) ? Is there any good reference designs out there?  Happy easter, Mr_embedded

[Altera_Forum]

Quartus II Web Edition will allow you to create .sof/.pof programming files for your Cyclone III design. Quartus II Web Edition is limited mostly supporting only the low cost device families like Cyclone, but the Subscription Edition does have a few "nice to have" features which are outlined here: 

 http://www.altera.com/literature/po/ss_quartussevswe.pdf  the Nios II/f core will require a license, but you can simulate it and evaluate on board using OpenCore Plus (along with most of the other Altera IP cores). you will need a license to go into production and create programming files for the configuration flash  EPCS is much easier than CFI for configuration

[Altera_Forum]

You reference the setup on DE-Nano. But add a flash to store your code. I always use Nios-E as it is free, no license requirement.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for the replies. 

 The economy-version of Nios is free? Where can I find a pricelist for IP's?  Regards, mr_embedded

[Altera_Forum]

Yes, Nios II E is free. 

 Are you going to use Nios II on ASIC or FPGA?

[Altera_Forum]

you should contact your local Altera distributor for IP pricing