Sipeed Tang Nano 9K FPGA Development Board with 1.14 LCD

Specifications

      FPGA Core Resources

• Core Chip: GW1NR-9 (FPGA)
• Logic Units (LUT4): 8,640
• Registers (FF): 6,480
• Multipliers (18 x 18): 20
• PLLs: 2

      Memory

• SDR SDRAM: 64 M-bit
• Block SRAM (B-SRAM): 468 K-bit (26 blocks)
• Shadow SRAM (S-SRAM): 17,280 bits
• User Flash: 608 K-bit
• External SPI Flash: 32 M-bit

      Hardware Interfaces & Peripherals

• Display Interface: HDMI, SPI screen, and RGB screen interfaces
• Connector: TF card slot, 2x 24-pin 2.54mm header pads
• Buttons: 2 programmable user buttons
• LEDs: 6 programmable onboard LEDs

     Debugger

• Chip: Onboard BL702
• Functions: Provides USB-JTAG and USB-UART functions for GW1NR-9

       I/O Characteristics

• Drive Strength: Supports 4mA, 8mA, 16mA, and 24mA
• Configuration: Independent Bus Keeper, pull-up/pull-down resistors, and Open Drain output options for each I/O

Onboard resources:

• GW1N-1
• 64Mbit QSPI PSRAM
• RGB LED
• RGB LCD 40P interface and drive circuit
• 24MHz crystal
• USB debugger, based on Type-C communication interface

Project Evolution
       Where does this fit in your journey?

• Prerequisites: You should be comfortable with basic C programming (Arduino level) and willing to learn Verilog or SystemVerilog.
• The Upgrade: This board unlocks Parallel Processing. While an Arduino struggles to drive a display and read a sensor simultaneously without lag, the Tang Nano 9K can do both instantly in separate hardware blocks.
• Effort Level: Intermediate/Advanced. Setting up the Gowin EDA (IDE) requires patience, but the payoff is professional-grade hardware control.

Setup & Wiring

• Warning: This device operates on 3.3V Logic. Do not connect 5V signals directly to the IO pins, or you will damage the FPGA.
• Driver Setup: You will need to install the specific USB drivers for the onboard BL702 debugger to flash the bitstream.
• Probots Instant-R&D: Don't hunt for the IDE. We recommend using the EDA (Educational Edition) which is free to download.

Package Includes:

• 1 x Sipeed Tang Nano 9K FPGA Development Board with 1.14 LCD

Applications

• RISC-V Softcore Learning: Run a soft CPU core (PicoRV) directly on the FPGA fabric.
• Retro Game Emulation: Powerful enough to emulate classic consoles (like GameBoy) and display them on the HDMI out.
• High-Speed Display Driver: Drive RGB panels or HDMI monitors with custom timing controllers.
• Logic Analyzer Design: Build your own logic analyzer using the high-speed I/O pins.

Frequently Asked Questions (Technical FAQs)

• Q1: What software do I need to program the Tang Nano 9K?
  A: You need the Gowin EDA software. The standard version or the educational version supports the GW1NR-9 chip.
• Q2: Does this board support Verilog?
  A: Yes, the Gowin IDE supports both Verilog and SystemVerilog for hardware description.
• Q3: Can I use this for RISC-V development?
  A: Absolutely. With 8640 LUTs, it is specifically designed to fit a PicoRV softcore, making it excellent for RISC-V architecture study.
• Q4: Is the JTAG debugger included?
  A: Yes, the board features an onboard BL702 chip that acts as a USB-to-JTAG debugger, so no external programmer is needed.
• Q5: Can I output video to a TV via the HDMI port?
  A: Yes, the HDMI port works, but you must program the FPGA with the correct TMDS signal generation logic. It supports up to 1080p, though 720p is recommended for memory reasons.
• Q6: How do I connect the 1.14-inch LCD?
  A: The LCD connects via the FPC connector on the board. Ensure the ribbon cable is seated correctly and the latch is locked.
• Q7: Is this board compatible with Mac OS?
  A: GW1NR-9 (FPGA) provides an IDE version for Windows and Linux. Mac users often use a Virtual Machine or open-source toolchains like project-apicula (experimental).
• Q8: What is the logic voltage level of the GPIO pins?
  A: The I/O pins operate at 3.3V. It is not 5V tolerant.
• Q9: Does it have built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
  A: No, this is a pure FPGA board. You would need to connect an external ESP32 or module for wireless connectivity.
• Q10: Can I use the Arduino IDE to program this?
  A: No, FPGAs require hardware description languages (HDL) and synthesis tools, not the C++ environment of Arduino IDE.
• Q11: How much RAM does it have for video buffering?
  A: It includes 64Mbits (8MB) of internal SDRAM, which is sufficient for frame buffering low-to-medium resolution video.
• Q12: Is the pin header pre-soldered?
  A: Typically, the headers come unsoldered in the box to allow for flexible mounting options.
• Q13: Can I power it with a battery?
  A: Yes, you can supply 5V via the USB-C port or the 5V pin. Ensure your battery has a regulated output.
• Q14: What is the difference between Tang Nano 4K and 9K?
  A: The 9K has roughly double the logic units (8640 vs 4608) and more internal memory, allowing for much more complex designs.
• Q15: Does it support MicroPython?
  A: There are experimental ports of MicroPython for softcores running on this FPGA, but it is not the native way to program it.
• Q16: Can I use the LEDs and buttons?
  A: Yes, the 6 LEDs and 2 buttons are connected to specific pins on the FPGA and can be defined in your constraints file.
• Q17: Where can I find the pinout diagram?
  A: The pinout is silkscreened on the back of the board, and a detailed map is available in the Sipeed datasheet linked in our resources.
• Q18: Is the USB-C cable included?
  A: This listing is for the board and LCD. A high-quality USB-C data cable is sold separately.