You can get simpler FPGAs on a board that you can easily connect to for under $100. e.g. Numato Mimas w/Spartan 6 core https://numato.com/product/mimas-v2-spar

You can get simpler FPGAs on a board that you can easily connect to for under $100. e.g. Numato Mimas w/Spartan 6 core https://numato.com/product/mimas-v2-spartan-6-fpga-development-board-with-ddr-sdram https://numato.com/product/mimas-v2-spartan-6-fpga-developme... (with this plus the CPU softcore at j-core.org you can run Linux) Adafruit $79.95 https://www.adafruit.com/product/1553 https://www.adafruit.com/product/1553 (Spartan6) and $99.95 https://www.adafruit.com/product/451 https://www.adafruit.com/product/451 (Altera Cyclone IV) Many others on eBay etc. But this Reddit thread is likely useful: https://www.reddit.com/r/FPGA/comments/8kwz3q/fpga_boards_for_beginners/ https://www.reddit.com/r/FPGA/comments/8kwz3q/fpga_boards_fo...