This is both true and false. While I work with Intel/Altera, Xilinx is basically the same.
That devboard is using recycled chips 100 percent. Their cost is almost nothing.
The kintex-7 part in question can probably be bought in volume quantities for around $190. Think 100kEAU.
This kind of price break comes with volume and is common with many other kinds of silicon besides FPGAs. Some product lines have more pricing pressure than others. For example, very popular MCUs may not get as wide of a price break. Some manufacturers price more fairly to distributors, some allow very large discounts.
That devboard is using recycled chips 100 percent. Their cost is almost nothing.
The kintex-7 part in question can probably be bought in volume quantities for around $190. Think 100kEAU.
This kind of price break comes with volume and is common with many other kinds of silicon besides FPGAs. Some product lines have more pricing pressure than others. For example, very popular MCUs may not get as wide of a price break. Some manufacturers price more fairly to distributors, some allow very large discounts.