GOWIN FPGA

[gnuarm]

Funny, I can't find this at Digikey now.  I wonder if this has anything to do with Gowin being labeled a CCMC (Communist Chinese Military Company) by the US government?

Gowin also ceased selling their boards (and all parts) from their Chinese distributors, and this has been a while. Seems like they want to move to a direct sales system.

This is not a Gowin product, it's from Trenz and they still sell the boards through Mouser, at least Mouser lists it.

[gnuarm]

Gowin also ceased selling their boards (and all parts) from their Chinese distributors, and this has been a while. Seems like they want to move to a direct sales system

I have not buy gowin recently, So where should we get the parts, ask them directly?

I don't know about Canada, but Gowin is sold through Edge and Rutronik in the US.  I was just in touch with Rutronic last week, so I'm pretty sure they are still in the loop.

[FrankBuss]

They're already stocked at Mouser:
https://br.mouser.com/GOWIN-Semiconductor/Semiconductors/Programmable-Logic-ICs/_/N-3oh8v?P=1y7ff8h

The prices are ridiculous. For example the GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 costs $26.76 and minimum order quantity is 168 pieces, and not in stock:
https://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/GOWIN-Semiconductor/GW1NR-LV9QN88C6-I5?qs=wnTfsH77Xs7buQ0%2F7AN%2FvQ%3D%3D

The same chip is used on the Sipeed Tang Nano 9K dev board, which you can get in single quantities for $17.84:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003810691048.html

And you get an USB port for programming and UART, HDMI connector, display connector etc. on top. I guess the other distributors sell the chip cheaper if I have a product later and buy more, but looks like for prototyping it on my own board, the only solution now for me is to buy these boards and desolder the FPGA (which needs only a few minutes with my hot air station) Well, I ordered 2 of the boards, one for developing, and one for desoldering

[FlyingDutch]

The prices are ridiculous. For example the GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 costs $26.76 and minimum order quantity is 168 pieces, and not in stock:
https://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/GOWIN-Semiconductor/GW1NR-LV9QN88C6-I5?qs=wnTfsH77Xs7buQ0%2F7AN%2FvQ%3D%3D

The same chip is used on the Sipeed Tang Nano 9K dev board, which you can get in single quantities for $17.84:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003810691048.html

And you get an USB port for programming and UART, HDMI connector, display connector etc. on top. I guess the other distributors sell the chip cheaper if I have a product later and buy more, but looks like for prototyping it on my own board, the only solution now for me is to buy these boards and desolder the FPGA (which needs only a few minutes with my hot air station) Well, I ordered 2 of the boards, one for developing, and one for desoldering

Hello,

I bought  ten pieces of two types as sample (4 EURO for piece) with Rutronik Poland (they are official Gowin reseller in Poland).

Best Regards

[FrankBuss]

I bought  ten pieces of two types as sample (4 EURO for piece) with Rutronik Poland (they are official Gowin reseller in Poland).

Thanks, sounds good. I will try to ask the distributors again if I get my design working with the Tang board, always better to use new chips instead of desoldering it.

Maybe it is company policy to make it difficult for small fishes to buy them with one click as usual, to avoid too many support questions? Pretty short sighted, because some of these small fishes could create the next big project.

[nctnico]

They're already stocked at Mouser:
https://br.mouser.com/GOWIN-Semiconductor/Semiconductors/Programmable-Logic-ICs/_/N-3oh8v?P=1y7ff8h

The prices are ridiculous. For example the GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 costs $26.76 and minimum order quantity is 168 pieces, and not in stock:
https://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/GOWIN-Semiconductor/GW1NR-LV9QN88C6-I5?qs=wnTfsH77Xs7buQ0%2F7AN%2FvQ%3D%3D

This is a sign that Mouser doesn't stock this chip normally and it is a special order. This is a common occurence among distributors and also an indicator to not to use this chip in a design; it is likely not very popular and may become obsolete sooner than other chips.

Mouser has a whole bunch of GW1NR-LV9 variants in stock in different packages which you can buy in single quantities.

[FrankBuss]

Well, it is the same chip as the Tang Nano 9K uses, so should be pretty popular. The first 300 sold out in 3 days: https://twitter.com/SipeedIO/status/1483382248023805954 But maybe the others are sold even more.

[nctnico]

I'd be carefull with labelling chips as popular for the sole reason they are used on demo boards. Often the footprint isn't the most optimal one for a design. The 88 pin QFN fits the Tang Nano board well because it probably is the package with the most pins they can fit on the board without going for a BGA package. There is a reason Mouser doesn't carry it as a standard part!

[paf]

Nice news from the Sipeed Twitter:

The GW1NR-LV9 (used on the Sipeed Tango Nano 9k) is supported by the "new" Education Version V1.9.8.03 of the software:
https://twitter.com/SipeedIO/status/1493961811925737476

Good News: No license required.
Bad News: Some minutes ago it was only available on the Chinese version of their website.

Really Good News: Yes, I have tried to run the full process on the Sipeed Tang Nano 9k examples, and the software really works.

[mon2]

Contact Edge Electronics in the US for any of the Gowin devices or tools. Have them drop ship the parts to you to avoid extra Trump fees.

They are more aggressive than Mouser.

There are inexpensive Gowin tools on AliExpress as well to get you started for at least the Little Bee family. Suggest to source the official kits by Gowin.

Here is one contact at Edge:

R.ILY(at)edgeelectronics.com

[ale500]

I ordered a Tang Nano 4K, the one with hard Cortex-M3. I'm looking through the documentation and doing some trial and error... did someone manage to get a working set of tools and some example going ?

[mon2]

Hi. Yes - we purchased this kit when it was first released.

Review the following:

https://cn.dl.sipeed.com/shareURL/TANG

A great contact @ Sipeed for assistance:

zepan[at]sipeed.com

and

support[at]sipeed.com

You can use the EDU version of the toolchain from Gowin to program this kit.

Also suggest to review this kit for the learning / example IPs:

https://github.com/magicjellybeanfpga/MiniStar

If you have questions, will try to answer them but lately have been up to our eyeballs on OEM design rework due to semiconductor industry blues. Major industries will be impacted unless we release new versions of our widgets so that is currently priority #1 for our company. The GOWIN devices are very nice and learned a great deal as compared to the never ending toolchain blues of using the Lattice devices. You can source the Gowin parts at very competitive costs from Edge Electronics (USA) as compared to Mouser = $$$.

[schratterulrich]

Hi,
I used the SiPeed Tang Nano 4k board to learn how to use FPGAs.
With the educational software you can program both the FPGA and the embedded uC without any restrictions.

I was able to get the uC running, the embedded hyperram and the gowin analyzer software for debugging.
I see the missing integrated simulator environment as the only shortcoming.

I thought, that the integration of FPGA, uC and memory makes it ideal to emulate a gameboy cartridge. So I have implemented this in a hobby project.
Unfortunately I had to realize that the availability of the gowin components for hobbyists is not given, so I had to use the nano board.

All in all the nano 4K board is excellent to enter the world of FPGAs...

[gnuarm]

They're already stocked at Mouser:
https://br.mouser.com/GOWIN-Semiconductor/Semiconductors/Programmable-Logic-ICs/_/N-3oh8v?P=1y7ff8h

The prices are ridiculous. For example the GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 costs $26.76 and minimum order quantity is 168 pieces, and not in stock:
https://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/GOWIN-Semiconductor/GW1NR-LV9QN88C6-I5?qs=wnTfsH77Xs7buQ0%2F7AN%2FvQ%3D%3D

The same chip is used on the Sipeed Tang Nano 9K dev board, which you can get in single quantities for $17.84:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003810691048.html

And you get an USB port for programming and UART, HDMI connector, display connector etc. on top. I guess the other distributors sell the chip cheaper if I have a product later and buy more, but looks like for prototyping it on my own board, the only solution now for me is to buy these boards and desolder the FPGA (which needs only a few minutes with my hot air station) Well, I ordered 2 of the boards, one for developing, and one for desoldering

The GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 is $5.28 at qty 1 at Edge Electronics.  But none in stock.  I made it up to the page where I enter the credit card info. 

https://www.edgeelectronics.com/fpga/gw1nr-lv9qn88c6-i5/#

[ebastler]

The GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 is $5.28 at qty 1 at Edge Electronics.  But none in stock.  I made it up to the page where I enter the credit card info. 

Umm -- why would you want to give them your credit card info when they don't have the chip in stock an do not even give a lead time?

[mon2]

Email them - they will reply. Rob was our last contact. Our parts were shipped out of HK and directly to us in Canada to avoid the Trump taxes. BTW - we also ordered some kits that are listed on the Gowin website but not mentioned on Mouser nor Edge's website so whatever you see on the factory website, should be available to you through distribution. Just sharing our experience with Gowin..

[gnuarm]

The GW1NR-LV9QN88C6 is $5.28 at qty 1 at Edge Electronics.  But none in stock.  I made it up to the page where I enter the credit card info. 

Umm -- why would you want to give them your credit card info when they don't have the chip in stock an do not even give a lead time?

Edge is not Digikey.  They are not set up for easy anonymous ordering.  The web site is for making contact.  I dealt with both Edge and Rutronik when working on an open source project.  Both were very helpful. 

[ebastler]

Edge is not Digikey.  They are not set up for easy anonymous ordering. 

At least they are set up to easily take your credit card details online. 

Anyway, glad if they work well for you as a supplier.