Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
AVR and FPGA knowledge request? — Parallax Forums

AVR and FPGA knowledge request?

codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
edited 2012-03-08 02:03 in General Discussion
Ok, i have been sick + college = no time to do anything
now i am about to order a new batch of parts inculding 3 props and one wdc65c02 and a few atmegas
here is the problem
i want to start with FPGAs and what i need to do that i cant figure out.
i started with the propeller with the serial to prop adapter as its cheap and easy.
and the prop to write a program for it easy just download the proptool IDE!
well i decided to ask you guys for advice.
what to use to get started easy and cheap on atmegas and FPGAs
oh why FPGAs well i made some interesting stuff in LOGISIM (wich is a good digital circuit simulator)
and i want to make it real
here is a peice of my CPU i am making
alu core unit2.zip
it opens with logisim
i intend to make modular sub componet CPU with a seperate command core ALU and memory maneger. so i can then use ramchips or registers as system registers and make the CPU scalable if you open this please note the way my X an Y registers are configured they can be functioned together or either can be functioned against a ram byte and the intended scheme is paired ram banks with automatic tracking of which byte has an instruction i am still working out the details of my command core and how to scale the register memory. pretty fun eh? :tongue: now if any of you want to help YAY thanks big thumbs up and plus i will make sure to include thanks in my code. thats all i can do for you if you help.
zip
zip
alu core unit2.zip
3K

Comments

  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2012-03-07 21:30
    Codeviper

    Best bet, try one of the FPGA vendor forums for help.All the vendors are into doing synthizable cpu's so that's where the expertise is.
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,185
    edited 2012-03-07 22:18
    codeviper wrote: »
    what to use to get started easy and cheap on atmegas and FPGAs

    A good starter place for FPGA is the Lattice MachXO2 Breakout Board. (LCMXO2-1200ZE-B-EVN) just $29.99
    This has a FT2232H - one channel for ISP, and a spare channel for user link.
  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-03-07 22:24
    thank you JMG that kind of advice is great.
    $30 is pretty cheap
    anyone know of a DIY option though i like DIY stuff, i learn better from that.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-03-07 22:27
    I would use an FPGA from Xilinx or Altera. Here is one that I have used and enjoy: http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,400,790&Prod=BASYS2

    I've also used this board: http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,400,897&Prod=NEXYS3

    If you're interested, I'll sell you one of them for 50% student cost + $5 shipping (the BASYS2 contingent on me finding it...). I've had a bunch of fun developing on FPGAs, but it's difficult for me.
  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-03-07 23:20
    sounds like a good deal, just one problem i got no clue as to the student value :lol:

    is there any FPGAs on DIPs that are any good?
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,185
    edited 2012-03-08 00:22
    codeviper wrote: »
    thank you JMG that kind of advice is great.
    $30 is pretty cheap
    anyone know of a DIY option though i like DIY stuff, i learn better from that.

    What do you mean DIY ? - Any Verilog/VHDL you code is certainly Doing it Yourself !!
    The Board has 0.1" connectors, so you can integrate into anything you like.

    There is nothing in DIP that will swallow a Soft-CPU.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-03-08 00:27
    @codeviper

    Take a look at the links I provided: they list a student price on the webpage. Usually students can get a significant discount. As far as DIP, unlikely.

    I don't know about other FPGAs, but the Digilent boards have IO ports (they call them Pmod connectors) that can be directly wired to a breadboard, and they interface at standard logic levels (IIRC 3.3v).
  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-03-08 00:58
    thanks SRLM i did look and that site is good the best option i think i found is the 40pin dip board and the comment was sorta meant to be funny to hence the little smily face :lol:
    JMG thanks too i don't mind if the FPGA is not big enough for a whole CPU since it is a modular design i am after (if you want to look at my ALU) a design that will have parts of a CPU on different chips and use ram chips or addressable storage registers for registers. in fact it be awesome just to get started with any level of FPGAs so eventually i can make my own CPU.

    but yeah both of you gave great advice. thanks really.
    yeah i like to make my own cables and stuff i found some ok looking DIY cables to go from a parallel port to the FPGA but funny enough the person who posted it didnt have anything that he did with it so i am clueless as to what it can do. and the site didn't say how to use it so it could just be trolling.
    it is a great way to learn to make all the stuff from scratch needed to use the stuff. or at least its my best way to learn :tongue:
  • codevipercodeviper Posts: 208
    edited 2012-03-08 01:30
    here is some nice stuff but nothing that makes me want to risk spending cash on FPGAs yet
    http://www.customcircuitsolutions.com/cable.html
    http://www.pyroelectro.com/tutorials/byteblastermv/schematic.html
    and one question what level of logic can a macrocell emulate? one gate or an advanced function?
    anyone got some good suggestion on AVRs i like the propeller but AVRs can do a lot more in the area of math functions or so i have heard, plus some AVRs are dirt cheap.
    i have a hard time discribing my goals i know but thanks for helping me and putting up with this.
    or if going for math is a PIC better?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-03-08 02:03
    Cheap FPGA boards are available on Ebay. Most use the older Altera Cyclone II, but there is nothing wrong with that.
Sign In or Register to comment.