Sipeed Tang Nano 9K FPGA Development Board

Specifications

• Core Chip: GW1NR-9 FPGA
• Logic Units (LUTs): 8,640
• Registers (FF): 6,480
• Block SRAM: 468 Kbits
• Embedded Flash: 608 Kbits
• Shadow SRAM (S-SRAM): 17,280 bits
• SPI FLASH: 32M-bit
• Number of B-SRAM: 26
• Display Interface: HDMI, RGB Screen, SPI Screen connectors
• Debugger: Onboard BL702 USB-JTAG and USB-UART
• IO Levels: 3.3V (Not 5V tolerant)
• Connector: USB Type-C (Power & Programming)
• IO: * support 4mA, 8mA, 16mA, 24mA other driving capabilities

• Provides independent Bus Keeper, pull-up/pull-down resistors, and Open Drain output options for each I/O

Applications

• Edge AI & Neural Networks: Run PicoRV32 soft-cores or hardware accelerators for image recognition.
• Display Driving: Capable of driving HDMI displays or RGB screens directly.
• High-Speed I/O Control: Perfect for logic analysis, signal processing, and protocol emulation.
• RISC-V Learning: Experiment with soft-core processor implementation.

Project Evolution

• The Prerequisites: If you have mastered the Arduino Uno or ESP32, you understand sequential programming.
• The Upgrade: The Tang Nano 9K unlocks Parallel Processing. Unlike a microcontroller that runs one line of code at a time, this FPGA can handle thousands of logic gates simultaneously.
• Effort Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Requires learning HDL (Verilog/VHDL).
• Minimum Hardware: You will need a USB-C Data Cable (not just a charging cable) and a PC to run the Gowin IDE.

Virtual Technician & Wiring Guide ⚠️

• Voltage Warning: This board operates strictly on 3.3V Logic. Connecting 5V sensors or Arduino pins directly will damage the FPGA pins instantly. Use a Logic Level Converter.
• Programming: Use the onboard USB-C port. Ensure your USB cable supports data transfer.
• Driver: If the device is not recognized, install the Zadig driver for the BL702 debugger interface.

Package Includes:

• 1x Sipeed Tang Nano 9K FPGA Development Board

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the main chip on the Tang Nano 9K?
  It uses the GW1NR-9 FPGA chip with embedded SDRAM.
• Does this board support RISC-V soft cores?
  Yes, it supports PicoRV32 and other lightweight RISC-V soft cores.
• How do I program the Tang Nano 9K?
  You program it via the USB-C port using the IDE.
• Is a separate JTAG programmer required?
  No, it has an onboard BL702 chip that acts as a USB-JTAG debugger.
• Can I use this with the Arduino IDE?
  No, FPGAs require HDL (Verilog/VHDL) and are not programmed like Arduinos.
• Does it come with the 1.14 inch LCD?
  No, this is the Board Only variant. The LCD must be purchased separately.
• What is the logic voltage of the GPIO pins?
  The GPIO pins operate at 3.3V.
• Is the Tang Nano 9K 5V tolerant?
  No, applying 5V to any pin will damage the board.
• How much RAM does it have?
  It has 32 Mbit of embedded SDRAM and 468 Kbits of Block SRAM.
• Can it drive an HDMI display?
  Yes, it has an HDMI interface connector capable of driving standard monitors.
• Does it support open-source toolchains?
  Yes, it is supported by the open-source Project Apicula and Yosys.
• What cable do I need?
  You need a high-quality USB Type-C data cable.
• Can I use it for retro gaming emulation?
  Yes, it is powerful enough to emulate simple retro consoles (GameBoy, NES).
• Does it have WiFi or Bluetooth?
  No, this is a pure FPGA board without wireless connectivity.
• How many LUTs does it have?
  It features 8,640 Look-Up Tables (LUTs).
• Is it breadboard friendly?
  Yes, the headers (if soldered) fit into standard breadboards.
• What OS supports the Gowin IDE?
  Windows and Linux are supported.
• Does it have buttons and LEDs?
  Yes, it includes 2 user buttons and 6 user LEDs on board.
• Can I use it for camera input?
  Yes, it has a DVP camera interface for connecting sensors like OV2640.
• Why is my computer not detecting the board?
  Check your USB cable and ensure the correct drivers for BL702 are installed via Zadig.