If you’ve been wanting to dip your toes into the world of FPGAs without breaking the bank, the OneKiwi KIWI 1P5 might just be the board for you. Priced at only $14, this compact dev board is built around the GOWIN GW1N-UV1P5 device and is aimed at prototyping, digital logic design, and even education.
Unlike some FPGA boards that require extra adapters and cables, the KIWI 1P5 comes ready with onboard USB-JTAG for debugging and a USB-to-UART bridge for communication—so you can get started right out of the box.
Key Features of the KIWI 1P5
FPGA Core: Gowin GW1N-UV1P5
- 1,584 Logic Units
- 96Kbit Block SRAM
- 256Kbit User Flash
- 2x PLL
- I/O Expansion: 40-pin 2.54mm header (up to 125 I/Os, 3.3V compatible)
- USB Connectivity:
- USB-C for power + UART
- USB-C for debugging (built-in JTAG converter)
- Debugging & Control:
- Gowin U2X USB-JTAG debugger
- DIP switch for external FPGA programming
- 2 user buttons + 2 user LEDs
- Power: 5V over USB-C with onboard 3.3V regulator
- Size: 70mm x 22.86mm
- Industrial-grade: Operates between -40°C to 75°C
Software & Development Support
The KIWI 1P5 works with the GOWIN EDA toolchain for programming and synthesis. For simulation, you can use Modelsim to test waveforms and debug HDL projects. OneKiwi also provides tutorials covering real-world examples like LED control, PWM generation, UART communication, and key debounce with state machines—perfect for both beginners and pros.
At just $14, it’s one of the most affordable FPGA boards with industrial temperature range support.
If you need something more powerful, boards like the Mercury 2 (Xilinx Artix-7) or Icepi Zero (Lattice ECP5) pack in way more logic cells and memory. But for cost-optimized applications and learning, the KIWI 1P5 stands out as a solid entry-level option.
Pricing & Availability
The OneKiwi KIWI 1P5 is available now on Amazon for $14. In the box, you get:
- The FPGA board
- A USB-C cable
- Two 24-pin headers
- A simple enclosure
For more details, check out Gowin’s official documentation and OneKiwi’s tutorials to get started.
0 Comments