Atum A3 Nano FPGA Kit with Nios V for RISC-V Embedded Development

Atum A3 Nano FPGA development kit

The Atum Nios V Starter Kit is a feature-rich FPGA development platform designed to accelerate design and testing with the Nios V processor. It targets embedded engineers, system developers, and educators seeking a hands-on solution for exploring RISC-V–based embedded systems on a high-performance FPGA platform.

At its core, the kit features the Atum A3 Nano board, powered by the Agilex 3 A3CZ135BB18AE7S FPGA. This device provides 135,110 logic elements, integrated memory blocks, hardware multipliers, and multiple PLLs, enabling efficient execution of compute-intensive and signal-driven workloads. Together, these capabilities offer the flexibility required for advanced embedded, communication, and multimedia applications.

Previously, we have covered several FPGA development kits, including the Alchitry Au V2, Tang Mega 138K Pro Dock, ICE-V Wireless, and Muse Lab iCESugar-nano, among others. Feel free to check them out if you are interested in these products.

Atum A3 Nano block diagram

The Atum A3 Nano board Specifications:

• FPGA: Intel/Altera Agilex 3 A3CZ135BB18AE7S
  • 135,110 logic elements
  • 6.89 Mbit M20K + 1.4 Mbit MLAB memory
  • 368 x 18 x 19 multipliers
  • 4 I/O PLLs, 8 fabric I/O PLLs
• Memory and Storage:
  • 64 MB SDRAM, 32-bit data bus
  • MicroSD card socket
  • 128 Mbit QSPI flash for configuration
• Programming and Debug:
  • On-board USB Blaster III (USB Type-C)
  • ASx4 mode for flash programming
• Communication Interfaces:
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • UART
• Display: HDMI output (via TI TFP410, supports 1080p/WUXGA@60 Hz)
• Expansion Headers:
  • One 2x 20 GPIO connector (3.3 V)
  • Two 2x 6 PMOD-compatible GPIO connectors (3.3 V)
• User I/O:
  • 4 LEDs
  • 2 slide switches
  • 2 push-buttons
• Power: 5 V DC input
• Dimension: 85 x 70 mm

Atum A3-Nano FPGA development kit specifications

The Atum A3 Nano board is supported by the Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition, which offers design, simulation, and debugging tools within a unified environment. Developers can compile HDL designs, integrate IP cores, and deploy RISC-V–based Nios V firmware without switching between software platforms. The onboard USB Blaster III enables direct programming and real-time debugging. With ready-to-use example projects, the software workflow allows fast transition from schematic design to a fully functional FPGA prototype.

Connectivity of Atum A3 Nano

The Atum Nios V Starter Kit ships with the Atum A3 Nano board, pre-installed heatsink, acrylic enclosure, USB Type-C cable, and a 5V/2A power adapter. Priced at $179, it provides a cost-effective platform for development and learning on the Intel Agilex 3 FPGA. It is suitable for universities, research labs, and embedded developers, and is available through Terasic’s official store as well as authorized distributors. Additional details are listed on the official product page.

All images courtesy of Terasic.