Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIntel’s plan to make Altera a standalone business began in 2023 and became an operating reality in 2024. It culminated in a majority-stake sale: Silver Lake’s acquisition of 51% closed on September 15, 2025, while Intel retained 49%. Altera is operationally independent, but Intel has not fully divested it.
What happened to Intel’s Altera unit?
Intel’s Programmable Solutions Group (PSG), which makes programmable logic products, was the starting point. In October 2023, Intel said it intended to operate PSG as a standalone business and explore an initial public offering within three years. That was a plan to consider an IPO, not a commitment to complete one.
On February 29, 2024, Intel launched Altera as its standalone FPGA company and gave the business its new brand. Altera was still an Intel business at that point. The later Silver Lake transaction changed the ownership structure: the sale closed in September 2025, with Silver Lake acquiring a controlling 51% stake and Intel retaining 49%.
Altera separation and sale timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | Intel said it intended to operate PSG as a standalone business and explore an IPO within three years. Intel’s announcement |
| February 29, 2024 | Intel officially launched Altera as its standalone FPGA company. It remained within Intel. Intel’s launch announcement |
| April 14, 2025 | Intel announced a definitive agreement to sell 51% of Altera to Silver Lake, valuing the company at $8.75 billion. Intel said it would retain 49%. Intel’s transaction announcement |
| September 15, 2025 | Altera announced that the acquisition had closed: Silver Lake owned 51%, and Intel retained 49%. Altera’s closing announcement |
Why did Intel sell a majority stake?
Intel described the deal as a way to sharpen its focus on its core business and strengthen its financial position. CEO Lip-Bu Tan said when announcing the agreement that it reflected a commitment to “sharpening our focus, lowering our expense structure and strengthening our balance sheet.”
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Designed for students and beginners looking to understand Digital Logic, fundamentals of FPGAs
- Features the Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA compatible with Vivado Design Suite WebPACK Edition (free download available from Xilinx)
- On board user interfaces include 16 user switches, 16 LEDs, 5 user pushbuttons, and a
- Expansion opportunities with four Pmod ports including 3 standard 12-pin Pmod ports and 1 dual
- Does NOT ship with micro USB cable
Silver Lake and Altera presented the investment as support for Altera’s growth, product investment, and operating agility. At the September 2025 closing, Altera CEO Raghib Hussain said the investment would position the company to accelerate innovation; Silver Lake chairman and managing partner Kenneth Hao cited confidence in its technology leadership and growth potential. These statements describe the parties’ rationale, not evidence that the transaction has already improved results.
What does the $8.75 billion valuation mean?
Intel called $8.75 billion the transaction valuation when it announced the agreement in April 2025; Altera used the same figure in its closing announcement. It is not the amount of cash Intel necessarily received for its 51% stake. Intel retained 49%, and its 2025 SEC filing says $1 billion of the purchase price was deferred in two equal $500 million installments due no later than December 31, 2026, and December 31, 2027. The filing also describes separation and transition arrangements. Intel’s 2025 SEC filing
Rank #2
- Arty A7 comes in two FPGA variants: Arty A7-35T features Xilinx XC7A35TICSG324-1L. Arty A7-100T features the larger Xilinx XC7A100TCSG324-1.
- Internal clock speeds exceeding 450MHz, On-chip analog-to-digital converter (XADC), Programmable over JTAG and Quad-SPI Flash
- 256MB DDR3L with a 16-bit bus @ 667MHz, 16MB Quad-SPI Flash, USB-JTAG Programming circuitry, Powered from USB or any 7V-15V source
- 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, USB-UART Bridge
- 4 Switches, 4 Buttons, 1 Reset Button, 4 LEDs, 4 RGB LEDs, 4 Pmod connectors, shield connector
Intel reported Altera’s fiscal 2024 financial measures when it announced the deal in 2025. GAAP and non-GAAP figures differ, so they should not be mixed:
| Altera FY2024 measure | Reported figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1.54 billion | Intel-reported FY2024 figure |
| Gross margin | $361 million | GAAP |
| Operating result | $615 million loss | GAAP |
| Gross margin | $769 million | Non-GAAP |
| Operating result | $35 million income | Non-GAAP |
Intel’s transaction announcement includes a reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures. Intel’s transaction announcement
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- [FPGA Chip] GW2AR-18 QN88 FPGA Chip containing 20736 LUT4 logic cells and 15552 Filp-Flops.There are 2 PLL in this FPGA chip, and many DSP units supporting 18 bit x 18 bit multiplication
- [Onboard Debugger ] Sipeed Tang Nano 20K Development Board support JTAG for FPGA, USB to UART for FPGA,USB to SPI for FPGA communication, Control MS5351 generate frequency
- [USB2.0 HS interface] The 27MHz crystal generates the clock for HDMI display, onboard MS5351 clock generating chip also provides mutiple clocks.Support Serial communication, high-speed SPI reception.
- [Application scenarios] Tang Nano 20K Open source Development Board supports game console emulators, drives RGB screens, multiple display outputs, 20K LUT4, RISC-V soft-core experiments.
- [Wiki] "dl.sipeed.com/shareURL/TANG/Nano_20K/1_Datasheet";Any after-Sales Privems, Please Contact us by click "Waypondev" store and ask a question or leave the message in our forum by "forum.youyeetoo .com/".
What Altera makes—and what the separation means for customers
Altera’s portfolio includes FPGA and system-on-chip devices, programmable hardware, design software and tools, intellectual property, development kits, and design services. The company lists applications including industrial automation, audio and video, robotics, aerospace, defense, data centers, telecommunications, and edge AI. Altera’s company information
Ownership and operating structure alone do not establish whether a particular product will change, remain available, or suit a project. For an FPGA evaluation, compare the intended application, device family and capacity, performance and power needs, available tools and IP, supply arrangements, and the engineering effort required. Altera’s corporate announcements do not provide a head-to-head product comparison or establish post-sale performance results.
Rank #4
- The best way to get started with FPGAs: Using a simple board with projects that build on eachother, now anyone can get started with FPGA development!
- Fun peripherals available: With 4 LEDs, 4 push-buttons, 7-segment display, USB connector, a VGA connector, and a PMOD (for expansion) you can have dozens of fun projects available to you out of the box!
- Works with Verilog and VHDL: No matter which programming language you want to get started with, the Go Board will work for you!
- No extra device required: Simply plug the Go Board into a USB port and go! Getting started with FPGAs has never been easier.
- Works with all operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux
What “standalone” means now
“Standalone” describes a progression, not a single event: Intel first planned to separate PSG operationally, then launched the Altera brand while retaining the business, and later sold a majority stake. Following the September 2025 close, Altera described itself as operationally independent, Silver Lake held control with 51%, and Intel remained a substantial 49% owner. The closing announcement establishes the ownership position as of that date; it does not establish whether ownership changed afterward.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Digilent Basys 3 Artix-7 FPGA Trainer Board: Recommended for Introductory Users
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
