ASICs VS Programmable Devices - The Basics

May the peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon you all…

Is there a difference between ASICs and Programmable devices (like FPGAs/CPLDs)? YES. There are physical differences between them but the purpose of using them is been the same. The purpose is to implement your design and having it in the form of hardware.

To explain this in a very simple way, let us take the following example.

The situation is like this,

WE ARE VERY HUNGRY NOW. WE WANT SOMETHING TO EAT TO FULFILL OUR STOMACH.

Here comes two ways to overcome the above problem,

The first is to prepare some food for ourselves in home and the next way is to approach some restaurants and take the readymade foods available wi them.

Here we have to notice one issue, eventhough they are two different approaches but the purpose of them is the same, i.e. satisfying your hunger.

This is what ASICs and Programmable devices teaches us, the purpose of them is been the same.

ASICs are often referred to us as tailor made ICs.

Just think of this example, you want a shirt now, again there are two ways, they are

1. Go to a tailor shop and give your measurements. The tailor will stitch the shirt for you which will exactly fit to you because the shirt is made from your instructions and

2. Go to a Showroom and pick the shirt for you. Here you are saving time when compared to the previous process (because stitching time will be more) but sometimes shirt/pant will not exactly fit into body because you may be short or tall. Then you have to do some alternations.

ASICs and Programmable devices are exactly the same like the above example. Implementing your designs in an ASIC will take more time when compared to Programmable devices because you have to design your circuits, approach a vendor (just like you approach a tailor to stitch your shirt/pant), make a chip which will replicate your design. On the other hand using Programmable devices we can save time because, to design your circuits, buy an already manufactured Programmable device, and implement your design.

  

If you see here, the biggest advantage ASICs have over their counterparts is that you will get exactly your design fed into an IC without any extra circuits inside it. Just like a tailor made shirt or preparing your food. You know your taste and you will prepare food according to you/your family members. Isn’t it?

On the other side, implementing your design in a Programmable device will not only have your design but also some extra circuits inside it. It will suit only for some standard customers just like ready made shirts will suit into people of standard sizes and not to all of them or eating in restaurants where you will feel the food not upto your taste..

If you ask me what I will use for my design, without any question I will go for the seamless ASIC technology.

BECAUSE HOME MADE FOOD IS BETTER THAN HOTEL FOOD. ISN’T IT?

Thanks and Take care,

May the Almighty guide us in the straight path always…Aamin.

God knows best…

Your brother,

Aashiq Ahamed A

aashiq.ahamed.14@gmail.com