Sipeed Tang Nano 9K FPGA Development Board with 1.14" SPI LCD

Specifications

• FPGA Core: Gowin GW1NR-LV9 (QN88PC6/15)

• Logic Capacity: 8,640 LUT4, 6,480 FF

• Onboard Memory: 32Mbit SPI Flash, 268K SRAM

• Clock Speed: 27MHz Onboard Crystal

• Video Output: 1x Standard HDMI, 1x RGB LCD FPC, 1x SPI LCD FPC

• Included Display: 1.14-inch SPI LCD

• Storage: TF (MicroSD) Card Slot (Bottom)

• Programming: Onboard BL702 (USB to JTAG/UART via Type-C)

• User I/O: 2x Tactile Buttons (S1, S2), 6x Onboard LEDs

• Dimensions: 70.0mm x 26.0mm

Downloads & Links:

• Official Documentation - Programming Steps and Examples
• Third Party Tutorial

Key Applications and Projects

• RISC-V Softcore Experimentation: Instantiating a PicoRV32 core inside the FPGA to learn computer architecture and run custom C code on your own hardware design.

• Retro Console Development: Designing custom VGA/HDMI display controllers in Verilog to output pixel art games or emulate classic 8-bit gaming systems.

• High-Speed Logic Interfacing: Creating custom SPI, I2C, or UART hardware controllers to read high-speed sensor data without microcontroller latency.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Custom Digital Photo Frame: Use the Tang Nano 9K to build a purely hardware-driven media display! Write a Verilog pipeline that reads raw bitmap image data from a MicroSD card inserted into the bottom TF slot. Route that data through a custom memory buffer in the FPGA fabric, and push the pixel data out through the onboard HDMI port to a living room TV, or to an attached 4.3" RGB LCD screen. You will learn the fundamentals of memory addressing, SD card SPI protocols, and video timing generation all in one impressive project!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x Sipeed Tang Nano 9K FPGA Board

• 1 x 1.14-inch SPI LCD Screen (FPC Ribbon)

• 1 x USB Type-C Data/Power Cable

• 2 x 24-Pin Male Header Strips

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What FPGA chip does this board use? It uses the Gowin GW1NR-LV9 (specifically marked QN88PC6/15) FPGA.

2. How many logic elements does it have? It features 8,640 Look-Up Tables (LUT4) and 6,480 Flip-Flops.

3. Do I need to buy a separate JTAG programmer? No, the board features a built-in BL702 chip that provides USB-JTAG and UART capabilities directly through the USB Type-C port.

4. What is the small screen included in the box? The kit includes a 1.14-inch SPI LCD screen with an FPC ribbon cable.

5. Where does the included LCD plug in? It plugs into the small 8-pin FPC connector located on the top of the board, near the center.

6. Can it output video to a standard TV or monitor? Yes, it features a full-sized HDMI connector wired directly to the FPGA for custom TMDS video generation.

7. Does it have expandable storage? Yes, there is a standard TF (MicroSD) card slot located on the bottom of the PCB.

8. Is this board breadboard compatible? Yes, the pin headers use a standard 2.54mm pitch, and the board is 26mm wide, fitting nicely across the center trench of a standard breadboard.

9. Are the header pins pre-soldered? No, the board comes with loose header pins, giving you the choice to solder them facing down for a breadboard or facing up for Dupont wires.

10. What software is required to program this board? You will need to use the Gowin EDA software suite to write, synthesize, and upload your Verilog/VHDL code.

11. What are the two buttons on the left side for? Labeled S1 and S2, these are user-programmable tactile buttons that you can assign to any input logic in your code (often used for reset or mode selection).

12. Does the board have user LEDs? Yes, there is a small bank of 6 surface-mount LEDs located near the center of the board for quick visual debugging.

13. What is the large white connector on the top? That is a 40-pin FPC connector specifically designed for attaching parallel RGB LCD screens (like a 4.3-inch or 5-inch display).

14. What are the exact dimensions of the PCB? The board measures 70.0mm in length and 26.0mm in width.

15. What is the logic voltage of the GPIO pins? The IO banks operate at different voltages. Bank 1 and Bank 2 are generally 3.3V (Vio=3.3V), while Bank 3 operates at 1.8V (Vio=1.8V).

16. How is the board powered? It is powered via the USB Type-C port, which feeds into an onboard 3-channel DC-DC power regulation circuit.

17. What is the clock speed of the board? It features an onboard 27MHz crystal oscillator to drive your synchronous logic circuits.

18. Can this run a RISC-V processor? Yes, the 9K logic capacity is more than enough to instantiate a PicoRV32 softcore processor inside the FPGA fabric.

19. How much flash memory is onboard for saving the bitstream? It has a 32Mbit SPI Flash chip to store your synthesized hardware design permanently.

20. What is the purpose of the BL702 chip? The BL702 microcontroller translates standard USB signals from your computer into JTAG and UART signals that the Gowin FPGA understands, serving as the onboard programmer.