Tang Nano 20K FPGA board: rebuild a retro machine rather than emulate it

A software emulator imitates a console using a modern processor; an FPGA rewires its logic, cycle by cycle. The Sipeed Tang Nano 20K is the development board that made this approach affordable: a Gowin GW2AR-18 chip, an HDMI output and a microSD reader on a board the size of a USB stick. It's a bare board, intended for tinkerers.

What it does

• Loads open-source cores: the community publishes hardware descriptions (bitstreams) of 8- and 16-bit machines, arcade systems and 1980s home computers, which you compile or download and then flash to the board.
• Direct HDMI output: the picture goes from the board to a TV or monitor, with no PC in between once the core is in place.
• microSD reader and USB-C: the board is programmed over USB-C from Windows, macOS or Linux, and reads its data from a microSD card that you supply.

What it doesn't do

• It isn't a ready-to-use console: straight out of the box, the board plays nothing. You need to install the Gowin toolchain, choose a core and flash it.
• Supplied without games, in compliance with the law. No ROMs, no preloaded microSD card.
• It isn't compatible with cores from other FPGA platforms: a core written for another board won't load here without porting.
• No case, mains power supply, HDMI cable or controller with the board-only variant. No controller can be connected without an adapter or suitable wiring.
• The “20k Not Soldered” variant arrives with its headers not fitted: without a soldering iron, you won't be able to use the expansion pins.

Compatibility

The board is designed for an HDMI TV or monitor, and is programmed from a Windows, macOS or Linux PC via a USB-C cable (not included). The cores available depend solely on what the open-source community publishes for the Gowin GW2AR-18 chip: we neither supply nor guarantee any core, any game or any software compatibility list. Nothing here plugs into an original console: this is not a repair part.

Skill level required

Advanced. You need to be comfortable with an FPGA development environment, the command line and flashing a bitstream. The soldered variant spares you the soldering iron; the unsoldered variant requires soldering two pin headers (fine-tip soldering iron, solder, desoldering braid). Allow an evening for your first working core if you're new to FPGA.

In the box

• 1 Sipeed Tang Nano 20K FPGA board (Gowin GW2AR-18 chip).
• “20k Soldered” variant: pin headers already soldered.
• “20k Not Soldered” variant: headers supplied, to solder yourself.
• “Retro Game Kits” variant: the board with the accessories from the manufacturer's retro kit.

Read before ordering: Retro Peripherals

Delivery in 10 to 18 days · ships within 3 to 5 days · 2-year legal guarantee · 14-day returns.