At present I am tossing up between CRII and Lattice MachX02, totally different beasts I know but they both have good features.
The closest equivalent Lattice parts to the Xilinx XC2, are the Mach4000Z/4000 series.
There is also the Atmel ATF15xx series, and Atmel also still make SPLDs.
I did find that a test compile, targeting a Mach4256ZE, started to struggle as the part went over ~ 70% full.
The Mach-XO2, seem to behave better as they pack toward 100%
Here are some of my trial notes on increasing a width param, until it fails to fit in the LCMXO2-256HC target
I think this was 2 Ctrs and 2 Capture/serialize of this width
// parameter CW = 47; // 136 out of 128 (106%) NO FIT @ 48b
//parameter CW = 43; // 126/128 98% used
//parameter CW = 39; // 115/128 89% used
parameter CW = 31; // 93/128 72% used
// parameter CW = 15; // 51/128 39% used
Thanks jmg, that gave me a better feel for what fits.
We just spent hours discussing options and decided to go with the X02, or at least get the software and a dev board with a view to using it unless we find something we really hate.
It's more than we need right now but I can see all sorts of stuff to do in future. One deciding factor was that when I downloaded a recent data sheet I discovered a "new" small package I was not aware of, a 32-pin QFN. The lack of a small hand-solderable package in the family was a big drawback I felt, problem solved with a new data sheet
...when I downloaded a recent data sheet I discovered a "new" small package I was not aware of, a 32-pin QFN. The lack of a small hand-solderable package in the family was a big drawback I felt, problem solved with a new data sheet
I forgot to mention the LCMXO2-256HC part above, was targeting the QFN32 package (hence the SPI readout)
If you get a Breakout board, try to ensure it has the 7000 part, not the older stock 1200.
Lattice say this
Ordering Part Number: LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN
Note: This replaces the LCMXO2-1200ZE-B-EVN. During the transition period, orders for the LCMXO2-1200ZE-B-EVN may be upgraded to the LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN. If you specifically require the LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN, it will be available on the Lattice on-line store in February 2013.
Shame Lattice do not (yet?) have TQFP48, or even QFN48...
Comments
The closest equivalent Lattice parts to the Xilinx XC2, are the Mach4000Z/4000 series.
There is also the Atmel ATF15xx series, and Atmel also still make SPLDs.
I did find that a test compile, targeting a Mach4256ZE, started to struggle as the part went over ~ 70% full.
The Mach-XO2, seem to behave better as they pack toward 100%
Here are some of my trial notes on increasing a width param, until it fails to fit in the LCMXO2-256HC target
I think this was 2 Ctrs and 2 Capture/serialize of this width
We just spent hours discussing options and decided to go with the X02, or at least get the software and a dev board with a view to using it unless we find something we really hate.
It's more than we need right now but I can see all sorts of stuff to do in future. One deciding factor was that when I downloaded a recent data sheet I discovered a "new" small package I was not aware of, a 32-pin QFN. The lack of a small hand-solderable package in the family was a big drawback I felt, problem solved with a new data sheet
_____
Rob
I forgot to mention the LCMXO2-256HC part above, was targeting the QFN32 package (hence the SPI readout)
If you get a Breakout board, try to ensure it has the 7000 part, not the older stock 1200.
Lattice say this
Ordering Part Number: LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN
Note: This replaces the LCMXO2-1200ZE-B-EVN. During the transition period, orders for the LCMXO2-1200ZE-B-EVN may be upgraded to the LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN. If you specifically require the LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN, it will be available on the Lattice on-line store in February 2013.
Shame Lattice do not (yet?) have TQFP48, or even QFN48...
I'm trying the IDE now, we'll see how that goes before buying a board.
I actually did an Altera chip maybe 20+ years ago, a PLCC68 package IIRC, real bleeding edge for us then.
______
Rob
The MachXO2 are in my opinion a bit better because they include block ram. That '1200 part has the same amount of logic as a 50 k gates FPGA.
The MachXO2 are in my opinion a bit better because they include block ram. That '1200 part has the same amount of logic as a 50 k gates FPGA.