As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2000

                              Registration No. 333-
================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                                ACTEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



      CALIFORNIA                                    77-0097724
 (State of Incorporation)                (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
                               955 E. Arques Ave.
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



                 PROSYS TECHNOLOGY, INC. 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
            ACTEL CORPORATION 1995 EMPLOYEE AND CONSULTANT STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)


                                  John C. East
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                ACTEL CORPORATION
                               955 E. Arques Ave.
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                  (408) 739-1010
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)



                                   Copies to:

                            HENRY P. MASSEY, JR. ESQ.
                             Peter S. Heinecke, ESQ.
                              ARMEN S. MARTIN, ESQ.
                        Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
                                  (650) 493-9300



<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

====================================================================================================================================
                                                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                          Proposed               Proposed
                Title of                          Maximum                  Maximum                Maximum
               Securities                          Amount                 Offering               Aggregate            Amount of
                 to be                             to be                  Price Per              Offering            Registration
               Registered                        Registered                 Share                  Price                 Fee
<S>                                      <C>                       <C>                    <C>                    <C>
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, subject
to issuance under Prosys Technology,           293,997 shares            $ 33.3125  (2)         $ 9,793,775            $ 2,586
Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, subject
to issuance under the Actel Corporation        219,500 shares            $ 33.3125  (2)         $7,312,094             $ 1,930
1995 Employee and Consultant Stock Plan
======================================== ========================= ====================== ====================== ===================

Total                                          513,497 shares (1)        $ 33.3125  (2)         $17,105,869            $ 4,516
======================================== ========================= ====================== ====================== ===================
</TABLE>

(1)    For the sole purpose of calculating the  registration  fee, the number of
       shares to be registered under this  Registration  Statement is the number
       of shares subject to options  currently issued and outstanding  under the
       Prosys Technology,  Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan and the Actel Corporation
       1995  Employee  and  Consultant  Stock  Plan.   Actel   Corporation  (the
       "Registrant")  acquired all of the  outstanding  capital  stock of Prosys
       Technology,  Inc. ("Prosys") on June 8, 2000 (the "Prosys  Acquisition").
       Pursuant to the terms of the Prosys  Acquisition,  the Registrant assumed
       all outstanding  options to purchase Prosys Common Stock under the Prosys
       1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Assumed  Options"),  and such options became
       options to purchase the  Registrant's  Common  Stock,  subject to certain
       adjustments as to number of shares and exercise price.

(2)    Estimated  in  accordance  with Rule 457(h) under the  Securities  Act of
       1933,  as amended (the "Act") solely for the purpose of  calculating  the
       total  registration  fee.  Computation based upon the average of the high
       and low prices of the Common  Stock as  reported  on the Nasdaq  National
       Market on July 28,  2000,  because  the prices at which the options to be
       granted in the future may be  exercised,  and the prices at which  shares
       will be purchased in the future, are not currently determinable.



<PAGE>


PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3   INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         The  following  documents  and  information  heretofore  filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission are hereby incorporated by reference:

         Item 3(a)

                  The Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 3,
         2000, which contains audited financial  statements for the Registrant's
         fiscal  year ended  January 2, 2000,  the latest  fiscal year for which
         such statements have been filed.

         Item 3(b)

                  The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q filed on May
         17,  2000,  which  contains  unaudited  financial  statements  for  the
         Registrant's quarter year ended April 2, 2000, the latest fiscal period
         for which such statements have been filed.

                  The Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 19,
         2000.

         Item 3(c)

                  Items 1 and 2 of the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on
         Form 8-A declared  effective on August 2, 1993,  pursuant to Section 12
         of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended  (the  "Exchange
         Act").

                  All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
         Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the
         filing  of  a   post-effective   amendment  which  indicates  that  all
         securities  offered have been sold or which  deregisters all securities
         then remaining unsold,  shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
         in this  Registration  Statement and to be part hereof from the date of
         filing of such documents.

Item 4   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not Applicable.

Item 5   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         Not Applicable.

Item 6   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         As permitted by the California General  Corporation Law, the Registrant
has included in its  Articles of  Incorporation  a provision  to  eliminate  the
personal  liability of its directors for monetary  damages for breach or alleged
breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, subject to certain exceptions. In
addition,  the Bylaws of the Registrant  provide that the Registrant is required
to indemnify its officers and directors under certain  circumstances,  including
those circumstances in which  indemnification  would otherwise be discretionary,
and the Registrant is required to advance expenses to its officers and directors
as incurred in connection  with  proceedings  against them for which they may be
indemnified. The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its
officers and directors  containing  provisions that are in some respects broader
than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the California General
Corporation  Law. The  indemnification  agreements  may require the  Registrant,
among other things,  to indemnify  such officers and directors  against  certain
liabilities  that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or
officers (other than liabilities  arising from willful  misconduct of a culpable
nature),  to  advance  their  expenses  incurred  as a result of any  proceeding
against them as to which they could be indemnified, and to obtain directors' and
officers' insurance if available on reasonable terms. At present, the Registrant
is not aware of any pending or threatened  litigation or proceeding  involving a
director,  officer, employee or agent of the Registrant in which indemnification
would be  required  or  permitted.  The  Registrant  believes  that its  charter
provisions  and  indemnification  agreements are necessary to attract and retain
qualified persons as directors and officers.

Item 7   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not Applicable.

Item 8   EXHIBITS

 Exhibit Number                             Document
---------------   --------------------------------------------------------------
     4.1          Restated    Certificate   of   Incorporation   of   Registrant
                  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Registrant's Form
                  S-1 (file No. 33-64704)  declared effective on August 2, 1993)

     5.1          Opinion  of  Counsel  as  to  Legality  of  Securities   Being
                  Registered.

     23.1         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP,  Independent  Auditors (see page
                  7).

     23.2         Consent  of  Counsel   (contained   in  Exhibit  5.1  hereto).

     25.1         Power of Attorney (see page 6).



<PAGE>



Item 9   UNDERTAKINGS

         A.       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  any  material  change  to  such
information in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
the  Act,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall  be  deemed  to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.


         B.       The  undersigned   Registrant   hereby  undertakes  that,  for
purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under  the Act,  each  filing  of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.


         C.       Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.



<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant,  Actel Corporation,  a corporation  organized and existing under
the laws of the State of California, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-8 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of  Sunnyvale,  State of
California, on August 2, 2000.

                                           ACTEL CORPORATION

                                           By: /s John C. East
                                           -------------------
                                           John C. East
                                           Chief Executive Officer and President

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature
appears  below  constitutes  and appoints  John C. East and David L. Van de Hey,
jointly  and  severally,   his   attorneys-in-fact,   each  with  the  power  of
substitution,  for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Registration  Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto
and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that   each  of  said
attorneys-in-fact,  or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Registration  Statement  has been signed by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Signature                          Title                                  Date
---------------------------   ---------------------------------------------   -----------
<S>                          <C>                                             <C>
/s/ John C. East              President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal   August 2, 2000
---------------------------   Executive Officer), and Director
(John C. East)

/s/ Henry L. Perret           Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial   August 2, 2000
---------------------------   Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting
(Henry L. Perret)             Officer)

/s/ Jos C. Henkens            Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Jos C. Henkens)

/s/ Jacob S. Jacobsson        Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Jacob S. Jacobsson)

/s/ Frederic N. Schwettman    Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Frederic N. Schwettman)

/s/ Robert G. Spencer         Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Robert G. Spencer)
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8)  pertaining to the 1998 Stock Option Plan of Prosys  Technology,  Inc., and
the 1995 Employee and Consultant Stock Plan of Actel Corporation,  of our report
dated January 21, 2000,  except for the second paragraph of Note 15, as to which
the  date  is  March  31,  2000,  with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial
statements of Actel  Corporation  incorporated by reference in its Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended  December  31,  1999,  and the related  financial
statement  schedule  included  therein,  filed with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                                              /s/  ERNST & YOUNG

San Jose, California
August 1, 2000



<PAGE>



Exhibit 5.1



                                 August 2, 2000



Actel Corporation
955 E. Arques Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA  94086

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on or about August 2, 2000 (the
"Registration  Statement"),  in  connection  with  the  registration  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  of 440,018 shares of your Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the  "Shares")  reserved  for  issuance  under the Prosys
Technology,  Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan and your 1995  Employee and  Consultant
Stock Plan (collectively,  the "Plans"). As legal counsel for Actel Corporation,
a  California  corporation,  we have  examined  the  proceedings  taken  and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Plans.

         It is our opinion that, when issued and sold in the manner described in
the Plans and pursuant to the  agreements  which  accompany each grant under the
Plans,   the  Shares  will  be  legally  and  validly  issued,   fully-paid  and
non-assessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement,  and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                                Professional Corporation
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2000

                              Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                                ACTEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      CALIFORNIA                                    77-0097724
 (State of Incorporation)                (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
                               955 E. Arques Ave.
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                 PROSYS TECHNOLOGY, INC. 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
            ACTEL CORPORATION 1995 EMPLOYEE AND CONSULTANT STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                                  John C. East
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                ACTEL CORPORATION
                               955 E. Arques Ave.
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                  (408) 739-1010
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                            HENRY P. MASSEY, JR. ESQ.
                             Peter S. Heinecke, ESQ.
                              ARMEN S. MARTIN, ESQ.
                        Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
                                  (650) 493-9300
====================================================================================================================================
                                                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                          Proposed               Proposed
                Title of                          Maximum                  Maximum                Maximum
               Securities                          Amount                 Offering               Aggregate            Amount of
                 to be                             to be                  Price Per              Offering            Registration
               Registered                        Registered                 Share                  Price                 Fee
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, subject
to issuance under Prosys Technology,           293,997 shares            $ 33.3125  (2)         $ 9,793,775            $ 2,586
Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------------
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, subject
to issuance under the Actel Corporation        219,500 shares            $ 33.3125  (2)         $7,312,094             $ 1,930
1995 Employee and Consultant Stock Plan
======================================== ========================= ====================== ====================== ===================

Total                                          513,497 shares (1)        $ 33.3125  (2)         $17,105,869            $ 4,516
======================================== ========================= ====================== ====================== ===================
(1)    For the sole purpose of calculating the  registration  fee, the number of
       shares to be registered under this  Registration  Statement is the number
       of shares subject to options  currently issued and outstanding  under the
       Prosys Technology,  Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan and the Actel Corporation
       1995  Employee  and  Consultant  Stock  Plan.   Actel   Corporation  (the
       "Registrant")  acquired all of the  outstanding  capital  stock of Prosys
       Technology,  Inc. ("Prosys") on June 8, 2000 (the "Prosys  Acquisition").
       Pursuant to the terms of the Prosys  Acquisition,  the Registrant assumed
       all outstanding  options to purchase Prosys Common Stock under the Prosys
       1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Assumed  Options"),  and such options became
       options to purchase the  Registrant's  Common  Stock,  subject to certain
       adjustments as to number of shares and exercise price.

(2)    Estimated  in  accordance  with Rule 457(h) under the  Securities  Act of
       1933,  as amended (the "Act") solely for the purpose of  calculating  the
       total  registration  fee.  Computation based upon the average of the high
       and low prices of the Common  Stock as  reported  on the Nasdaq  National
       Market on July 28,  2000,  because  the prices at which the options to be
       granted in the future may be  exercised,  and the prices at which  shares
       will be purchased in the future, are not currently determinable.
PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3   INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         The  following  documents  and  information  heretofore  filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission are hereby incorporated by reference:

         Item 3(a)

                  The Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 3,
         2000, which contains audited financial  statements for the Registrant's
         fiscal  year ended  January 2, 2000,  the latest  fiscal year for which
         such statements have been filed.

         Item 3(b)

                  The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q filed on May
         17,  2000,  which  contains  unaudited  financial  statements  for  the
         Registrant's quarter year ended April 2, 2000, the latest fiscal period
         for which such statements have been filed.

                  The Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 19,
         2000.

         Item 3(c)

                  Items 1 and 2 of the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on
         Form 8-A declared  effective on August 2, 1993,  pursuant to Section 12
         of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended  (the  "Exchange
         Act").

                  All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
         Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the
         filing  of  a   post-effective   amendment  which  indicates  that  all
         securities  offered have been sold or which  deregisters all securities
         then remaining unsold,  shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
         in this  Registration  Statement and to be part hereof from the date of
         filing of such documents.

Item 4   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not Applicable.

Item 5   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         Not Applicable.

Item 6   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         As permitted by the California General  Corporation Law, the Registrant
has included in its  Articles of  Incorporation  a provision  to  eliminate  the
personal  liability of its directors for monetary  damages for breach or alleged
breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, subject to certain exceptions. In
addition,  the Bylaws of the Registrant  provide that the Registrant is required
to indemnify its officers and directors under certain  circumstances,  including
those circumstances in which  indemnification  would otherwise be discretionary,
and the Registrant is required to advance expenses to its officers and directors
as incurred in connection  with  proceedings  against them for which they may be
indemnified. The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its
officers and directors  containing  provisions that are in some respects broader
than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the California General
Corporation  Law. The  indemnification  agreements  may require the  Registrant,
among other things,  to indemnify  such officers and directors  against  certain
liabilities  that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or
officers (other than liabilities  arising from willful  misconduct of a culpable
nature),  to  advance  their  expenses  incurred  as a result of any  proceeding
against them as to which they could be indemnified, and to obtain directors' and
officers' insurance if available on reasonable terms. At present, the Registrant
is not aware of any pending or threatened  litigation or proceeding  involving a
director,  officer, employee or agent of the Registrant in which indemnification
would be  required  or  permitted.  The  Registrant  believes  that its  charter
provisions  and  indemnification  agreements are necessary to attract and retain
qualified persons as directors and officers.

Item 7   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not Applicable.

Item 8   EXHIBITS

 Exhibit Number                             Document
---------------   --------------------------------------------------------------
     4.1          Restated    Certificate   of   Incorporation   of   Registrant
                  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Registrant's Form
                  S-1 (file No. 33-64704)  declared effective on August 2, 1993)

     5.1          Opinion  of  Counsel  as  to  Legality  of  Securities   Being
                  Registered.

     23.1         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP,  Independent  Auditors (see page
                  7).

     23.2         Consent  of  Counsel   (contained   in  Exhibit  5.1  hereto).

     25.1         Power of Attorney (see page 6).
Item 9   UNDERTAKINGS

         A.       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  any  material  change  to  such
information in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
the  Act,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall  be  deemed  to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         B.       The  undersigned   Registrant   hereby  undertakes  that,  for
purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under  the Act,  each  filing  of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         C.       Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant,  Actel Corporation,  a corporation  organized and existing under
the laws of the State of California, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-8 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of  Sunnyvale,  State of
California, on August 2, 2000.

                                           ACTEL CORPORATION

                                           By: /s John C. East
                                           -------------------
                                           John C. East
                                           Chief Executive Officer and President

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature
appears  below  constitutes  and appoints  John C. East and David L. Van de Hey,
jointly  and  severally,   his   attorneys-in-fact,   each  with  the  power  of
substitution,  for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Registration  Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto
and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that   each  of  said
attorneys-in-fact,  or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Registration  Statement  has been signed by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                          Title                                  Date
---------------------------   ---------------------------------------------   -----------
/s/ John C. East              President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal   August 2, 2000
---------------------------   Executive Officer), and Director
(John C. East)

/s/ Henry L. Perret           Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial   August 2, 2000
---------------------------   Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting
(Henry L. Perret)             Officer)

/s/ Jos C. Henkens            Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Jos C. Henkens)

/s/ Jacob S. Jacobsson        Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Jacob S. Jacobsson)

/s/ Frederic N. Schwettman    Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Frederic N. Schwettman)

/s/ Robert G. Spencer         Director                                        August 2, 2000
---------------------------
(Robert G. Spencer)
EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8)  pertaining to the 1998 Stock Option Plan of Prosys  Technology,  Inc., and
the 1995 Employee and Consultant Stock Plan of Actel Corporation,  of our report
dated January 21, 2000,  except for the second paragraph of Note 15, as to which
the  date  is  March  31,  2000,  with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial
statements of Actel  Corporation  incorporated by reference in its Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended  December  31,  1999,  and the related  financial
statement  schedule  included  therein,  filed with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                                              /s/  ERNST & YOUNG

San Jose, California
August 1, 2000
Exhibit 5.1

                                 August 2, 2000

Actel Corporation
955 E. Arques Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA  94086

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on or about August 2, 2000 (the
"Registration  Statement"),  in  connection  with  the  registration  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  of 440,018 shares of your Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the  "Shares")  reserved  for  issuance  under the Prosys
Technology,  Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan and your 1995  Employee and  Consultant
Stock Plan (collectively,  the "Plans"). As legal counsel for Actel Corporation,
a  California  corporation,  we have  examined  the  proceedings  taken  and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Plans.

         It is our opinion that, when issued and sold in the manner described in
the Plans and pursuant to the  agreements  which  accompany each grant under the
Plans,   the  Shares  will  be  legally  and  validly  issued,   fully-paid  and
non-assessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement,  and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                                Professional Corporation