Question

Calculate the breakeven point between a gate array and a FPGA with the following information: FPGA: IC cost = $75/chip, NRE = 0 Gate Array: IC cost = $3/chip NRE = $50K

Answer 1

The breakeven point between a gate array and FPGA is 694 chips.

Step-by-step explanation:

The breakeven point between a gate array and a FPGA can be calculated by comparing the total costs of each option. The breakeven point is reached when the total costs of both options are equal. For the FPGA, the total cost would be the sum of the IC cost and NRE (Non-Recurring Engineering) cost. For the gate array, the total cost would be the sum of the IC cost and NRE cost.

Let's calculate the breakeven point:

1. For the FPGA: IC cost = $75/chip, NRE = $0, Total cost = $75/chip.
2. For the gate array: IC cost = $3/chip, NRE = $50,000, Total cost = $3/chip + $50,000.

To find the breakeven point, we can set the two total costs equal to each other and solve for the number of chips required:

$75/chip = $3/chip + $50,000

$72/chip = $50,000

Number of chips required = $50,000 / $72/chip = 694

Therefore, the breakeven point between the gate array and FPGA is 694 chips.