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Chip Volume Break Even Calculator

Work out chip volume break even instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Chip Volume Break Even Calculator

The ASIC-versus-FPGA break-even is the NRE difference divided by the unit cost difference. Below that volume the FPGA wins on total cost; above it the ASIC does, and the gap widens linearly — which is why high-volume consumer parts are always ASICs.

Formula

Break-even volume

V = (ASIC NRE - FPGA NRE) / (FPGA unit cost - ASIC unit cost)

Worked example

With the default values below, Chip Volume Break Even Calculator returns Break-even volume of 39,073. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

ASIC NRE
6,800,000
ASIC unit cost
14
FPGA unit cost
165
FPGA development cost
900,000

Results

Break-even volume
39,073 units
Saving at 1 million units
$145,100,000
Total cost at break-even
$7,347,020
Saving per unit beyond break-even
$151.00

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Break-even volume
  3. 3Break-even volume= 39,073 units
  4. 4Saving at 1 million units= 145,100,000
  5. 5Total cost at break-even= 7,347,020
  6. 6Saving per unit beyond break-even= 151.00

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this analysis omit?

Time to market, the ability to fix bugs in the field, power and performance differences, and the risk that an ASIC respin adds mask cost and months of delay.

Why choose an FPGA above break-even?

Reconfigurability, shorter schedule, lower risk and the option to change standards or algorithms after shipping. Those can outweigh unit cost.

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