[linux-audio-dev] Re: [Alsa-devel] Firewire Audio Card Support

[Jussi Laako]

On Fri, 2004-11-19 at 21:03 +0000, Simon Jenkins wrote:

> Pessimistic. I had to specify a single 6-layer board, 5 days delivery 
> and 100 component placements before I got an online quote approaching
>  500Euro. And the price drops *fast* when you want a few more boards,
> a bit slower. Its down to 162Euro per board if you want 5 boards in 10
> days. Its down to 55Euro per board if you want 10 4-layer boards in 15
> days. That's manufactured and *assembled* (but not including the
> component cost). These are actual quotes from an actual company who I've
> actually used.

Then it's way more cheaper at UK than it's here in Finland. What I've
been ordering the starting cost (for making the films, etc) is around
250€ and the board itself from 100 to 250€ for series of 1 board
depending on the size. Minimum line width and isolation 4-6 mils*
(because of high density chips). For two boards the cost of single board
about halves. This for 4-layer board, chemical tin, two silkscreens. For
hidden/buried vias the price goes higher because of laser drilling.
Proto boards may have to be assembled somewhere, as soldering BGA chips
by hand is a bit difficult.. ;)

> >would be possible for about 10000€ if not counting price for the work.

> Either you typed an extra zero here, or you're factoring in 9000+Euros for
> development software and hardware, or you're expecting 10 generations of
> prototype before it works, or something.

It contains the development software, IP blocks and cost of prototype
boards.
You can count 2000€ for license of some decent PCB CAD, 500-1000€ for
the FPGA development environment (incl. VHDL compiler and JTAG
programmer), about 2000€ for PCI-Express IP block. About 3 rounds of
prototype PCBs (3 * 500) and sack of components for the board (I think
Virtex or Stratix is around á 50€ for <10). You may also need USB,
Firewire or PCI-Ex bus analyzer and a logic analyzer, but after that the
cost goes over my figure. So I think 10k is a bit high, would be a safe
bet without too much risk for going over that in reality.

OK, the cost is around IP blocks + prototypes ~ 3700€ if your employer
allows you to use company's tools for the project. And in this case it
would be around 1700 if you are going to use 32-bit PCI and use some
ready bridge ASIC. But I think it would be stupid to start developing a
32-bit PCI card at this point when the 32-bit PCI bus is going away and
PCI-Express rather quickly replacing it.

Because something can go wrong you should have at least 20-25% margin. I
think there should be a reasonable margin for possible problems if that
kind of project is started, because what really pisses off is when you
run out of money just before hitting the goal...

Are we talking in the same context here?


* mil = 1/1000 of inch

-- 
Jussi Laako <jussi.laako at pp.inet.fi>