Microchip PolarFire-Powered TinyBeast FPGA Delivers Real-Time Performance with DDR4 and PCIe
Mar 29, 2025 — by Giorgio Mendoza 1,031 views
CrowdSupply recently introduced the TinyBeast FPGA, a compact platform based on Microchip’s PolarFire FPGA technology. It stands out for its ability to offload computationally intensive tasks from the central processor, enabling real-time data processing in space-constrained environments like automation, measurement, and robotics.
TinyBeast FPGA comes in two configurations. The TinyBeast FPGA P features a Mini PCIe interface, providing direct connectivity to industrial sensors and peripherals for embedded systems. The TinyBeast FPGA S offers additional flexibility, requiring a separate carrier board for standalone applications, making it well-suited for edge computing.
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TinyBeast FPGA P Block Diagram
Both variants integrate Microchip’s VectorBlox technology, which provides hardware acceleration for AI inferencing. This capability supports real-time processing of complex algorithms, beneficial for applications like predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and industrial image recognition.
| Feature | TinyBeast FPGA P-300 | TinyBeast FPGA P-100 | TinyBeast FPGA S-300 | TinyBeast FPGA S-100 | PicoEVB Artix-7 | Mars ZX2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPGA Family | Microchip PolarFire | Microchip PolarFire | Microchip PolarFire | Microchip PolarFire | Artix XC7A50T | AMD Zynq |
| Configuration Type | Flash-Based | Flash-Based | Flash-Based | Flash-Based | SRAM-Based | SRAM-Based |
| Logic Elements | 300 K | 100 K | 300 K | 100 K | 52 K | 17.6 K |
| Embedded RAM (On FPGA) | 10.6 Mb | 5.2 Mb | 10.6 Mb | 5.2 Mb | 2.7 Mb | 1.92 Mb |
| DSP Blocks | 924 | 288 | 924 | 288 | 120 | 80 |
| Security Features | Anti-tamper, DPA-resistant, ECC | Anti-tamper, DPA-resistant, ECC | Anti-tamper, DPA-resistant, ECC | Anti-tamper, DPA-resistant, ECC | Basic encryption | Basic encryption |
| Transceivers | Up to 12.7 Gbps | Up to 12.7 Gbps | Up to 12.7 Gbps | Up to 12.7 Gbps | Up to 6.6 Gbps | – |
| RAM on Module | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | – | 512 MB |
| Clocking | – | – | Flexible clocking IC – SI5338A-B-GM with 25 MHz ±10ppm reference oscillator | Flexible clocking IC – SI5338A-B-GM with 25 MHz ±10ppm reference oscillator | – | – |
| Ethernet | – | – | 10/100/1000 Mbit Ethernet PHY on board | 10/100/1000 Mbit Ethernet PHY on board | – | 10/100/1000 Mbit Ethernet PHY on board |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe x1 Gen2 | PCIe x1 Gen2 | PCIe x1 Gen2 (Via carrier card) | PCIe x1 Gen2 (Via carrier card) | PCIe x1 Gen2 | – |
The SE-216 and SE-215 carrier boards are available for TinyBeast FPGA S. The SE-216 supports PCIe x1 Gen2 EP applications and is compatible with the SoM3-MPF300T, offering voltage options of 1.8V and 2.5V, along with a 1Gb Ethernet interface.
TinyBeast FPGA S Block Diagram
The SE-215 provides additional flexibility with support for both PCIe x1 Gen2 EP/RC applications and compatibility with PolarBerry. It includes connectivity options such as a 10Gb SFP+ optical interface, DisplayPort, and a MicroSD card slot. The SE-215 also supports standalone operation with an external 12V power source.
TinyBeast FPGA offers resources for developers through its GitHub repository. Available resources include open schematics, sample firmware, and PC software for configuration and data extraction. Regular updates provide ongoing support for developers.
TinyBeasts Variants
Sundance DSP has also demonstrated the TinyBeast FPGA’s Direct and DMA access to LSRAM and DDR4 memory. This capability accelerates data-intensive tasks, including high-speed sensor data processing and algorithm implementation directly on the FPGA. By offloading data transfers to the DMA engine, the system’s responsiveness is further enhanced.
Further information
The TinyBeast FPGA P-300 and P-100 are priced at $860 and $710, respectively, with free US shipping. The TinyBeast FPGA S-300 and S-100 are available at $1,034 and $900.
Carrier boards SE-215 and SE-216 are priced at $1,043 and $881, while a breakout board for TinyBeast FPGA P cards is offered at $255. Worldwide shipping is available for $18, with orders expected to ship by September 30, 2025.
PolarFire is kind of long in the tooth, problems with its IDE notwithstanding.
PolarFire II was supposed to be out more than a year ago.
To me, Efinix Titanium&Topaz look WAY better in many ways.
The both have RISC-V cluster and way more capable PCIe3(Topaz) oand PCIe4 (Titanium).
At WAY lower price.
Cute, but I can buy a B650M motherboard, Ryzen 7600 CPU, 16GB DDR5, and an RTX 3050 GPU for about the same price.