Customer Requirements：FPGA+SOC solution, using the previous FPGA, with the SOC adopting the RK3588 solution, design schematic and PCB project
There is a significant difference based on the engineer’s experience level and the region. In the Chinese market, the monthly cost of a qualified FPGA engineer (including company management fees, profits, etc.) typically ranges from 150,000 to 300,000 RMB, with senior experts being more expensive.
AD Schematic Design
1. Workload Assessment: Although the peripheral circuits of the RK3588 are complex (power tree, memory, various interfaces), due to the availability of mature reference designs, this part mainly involves “copying the model” and appropriately tailoring it according to customer needs.
Cost proportion: Relatively low, accounting for about 20%-30% of the total hardware design cost.
PCB Design (Core Cost)
This is the main point of price difference, which entirely depends on the complexity and performance requirements of the board. The following are key influencing factors:
1. Number of Layers: The RK3588 typically requires at least 8 layers, and more complex boards (especially those needing to connect to FPGA) may require 10 to 16 layers. The number of layers is the primary driver of PCB costs (material + design fees).
2. Other High-Speed Interfaces: Such as PCIe 3.0, SATA 3.0, USB 3.1, Gigabit/Ten-Gigabit Ethernet, etc. Each additional interface that needs to operate at high speeds increases the design and verification difficulty.
The customer needs to design 1 core board, 2 side boards, and 1 base board
3. Other Support Work.
➢BOM list organization and alternative solutions provision.
➢Communication with the board factory to address engineering issues (impedance control, stacking structure, etc.).
Based on the above analysis, I can provide a more realistic price range. Please note that this only includes the schematic + PCB design service fee and does not cover board fabrication, component procurement, soldering, debugging, etc.
| Project Complexity Level | Main Features | Estimated Workload | Price Range (RMB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Type | 1. Utilizes basic functions of RK3588.2. May only configure one set of LPDDR4, with other high-speed interfaces (like PCIe) slowed down or unused.3. FPGA and SOC connected via low-speed parallel bus or Ethernet.4. Board has about 8 layers. | 2-3 months | 80,000 – 150,000 |
| Standard Performance Type | 1. Fully utilizes RK3588 performance: equipped with LPDDR4X/LPDDR5, PCIe, multiple USB3.0, etc.2. FPGA and RK3588 interconnected via high-speed interfaces (like PCIe 2.0/3.0).3. Board has 10-12 layers. | 3-5 months | 150,000 – 250,000 |
| High Complexity/High Reliability Type | 1. Requires extreme performance or special interfaces (like multiple camera inputs, multiple network ports).2. Board size has strict limitations, with very high layout density.3. Industrial or commercial reliability requirements. | 5-8 months or longer | 250,000 – 400,000+ |
The above explanation: The quotation for FPGA projects is high because FPGA development is a technology-intensive task, and its value lies not only in the code itself but also in the completeness of design documentation, the rigor of the verification process, and the sustainability of long-term maintenance.
Selected Past Articles:
There is an unwritten rule in the industry: the older you are, the more experience you have with board design.
There was a PCB project where the requirement was to add components to the source PCB, with a total of over 3000 pins in the source file, and the customer insisted it must be completed in 3 days, while I naively thought his project was very simple!!