POWER requirement calculation for FPGA's for BOARD DESIGNERS and enthusiasts

AUTHOR: ARUN KATHIRU(HARDWARE DESIGN ENGINEER)


This will give you brief idea about calculation of power required for FPGA,s.In the case of FPGAs mainly current hence power consumption depends on following factors
1)DEVICE
2)speed grade
3)junction temparature(higher jn power greater the power requirement).
4)clock frequency of the digital design(higher frequency greater the power consumption).
5)No of plls(phase locked loops) used.
6)No of IO'pins used.
7)No of memory blocks used.
8)No of DSP elements used(like multipliers.)

For calculating Altera fpga power , they provide you with "Early power estimate spread spectrum"
excel sheet which is freely downloadable from their site.You have to specify
1)device part no
2)clock frequency (operating)
3)no of plls used
4)no of IO pins used.
5)no of memory blocks.
6)no of dsp elements.
7)device class,speed grade,temparature chara.

If u enter this i the excel sheet it will calculate the total power consumption,along with
current drawn from
1)VCCIO(IO voltage).
2)VCCINT(core voltage).
3)VCCA(2.5v to pll).
4)vccD(1.2v to pll).

HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOUR DESIGNING PROCESS