Using Quartus II 13.0 today — practical notes
This is the version most users need. It is completely free to download and use, requiring no paid license file. Free.
: You can typically find 13.0 SP1 by navigating to the Intel FPGA Software Download Center and selecting the "Legacy" or "Archives" section.
Popular in low-power, cost-sensitive commercial applications. Stratix II FPGAs: High-performance legacy arrays.
: RTL simulation fails with "modelsim-altera eda executable is not located" error. altera quartus ii 13.0 free download
Ensure the installer has administrative privileges to write files to your system directory. Linux Installation Hints
Browse to your Quartus installation directory, typically located at: C:\altera\13.0sp1\quartus\drivers\usb-blaster .
Quartus II 13.0 is old but gold. It is significantly smaller and faster than modern Quartus Prime. If you are reviving an old DE1, DE2, or a Chinese clone board with a Cyclone II chip,
Altera Quartus II 13.0 remains an essential tool for maintaining older hardware and utilizing affordable development boards found in classrooms worldwide. By securing the free Web Edition download from official sources and properly configuring your USB-Blaster drivers, you can seamlessly design, simulate, and program classic FPGA architectures on modern computers. Using Quartus II 13
Go to the official Intel FPGA Download Center. The direct path is often: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/fpga/development-tools/quartus-ii/resource-archive.html
In the world of FPGA and CPLD design, few software tools have earned the legendary status of Altera Quartus II. For engineers, students, and hobbyists working with legacy hardware, represents a critical milestone—it was the final version of the Quartus II series to offer comprehensive support for beloved development boards like the Altera DE1 and DE2, as well as essential legacy device families including Cyclone II FPGAs.
The Web Edition serves as an entry-level, no-license-required platform equipped to execute the entire FPGA design flow.
Last updated: 2025
Launch the main Quartus executable. If you are on a modern OS like Windows 10 or 11, right-click the .exe file, select Properties , go to the Compatibility tab, and check "Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 7" .
Enterprise hardware engineers designing complex systems.
Quartus II is Altera's (now Intel Programmable Solutions Group) flagship integrated development environment (IDE) for FPGA and CPLD design. Released in May 2013, version 13.0 was a major update that delivered significant performance improvements and new features.