Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Parallax FPGA Board — Parallax Forums

Parallax FPGA Board

Kerry SKerry S Posts: 163
edited 2014-08-12 06:51 in Propeller 1
Now that we have this amazing release of the P1 can we get a status and some info on the up coming Parallax FPGA board? Would be nice to know if it would be worth the wait!

Just basic info, I realize it is still in process.

Which Cyclone V chip are you planning on using (so we can read up on the specs)?

How many I/O lines are you going to bring out for us to interface to?

Are you including external ram on board?

Other 'goodies'?

Target price?

Will it be available for use in custom products, not just as an educational board?

With the ability to make custom P1 cores, along with other application specific functions, I could see this as having potential as a great embedded controller board if the features/price are right.

Heck, with good hardware to build on I would love to see a high powered P2 licensed 'core' for serious applications available for it. The 'hot' version Chip finished then abandoned comes to mind as a GREAT starting point. You could do some killer Automation & Control and Robotics applications with it!

Comments

  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2014-08-10 15:44
    Kerry S wrote: »
    ....the up coming Parallax FPGA board?

    My take on this, is the earlier ideas were to use a larger Cyclone V, as the first pass P2 would not fit even a single COG in the smaller one.
    Those goal posts have since moved significantly, and the choice is now more open ended.
    It may be that the present common candidates can run enough of the new P2 COGs to be useful.

    With many target builds going down for P1V, that may also influence the choice.
    It may be another vendor has a 'better fit' device.


    Also note the CV builds have come in larger, and slower, than hoped, but that may improve.
    More RAM seems to be the important edge of Cyclone V.
  • cgraceycgracey Posts: 14,155
    edited 2014-08-10 16:11
    Our FPGA board will use a Cyclone V -A7 part, which is next to the biggest -A9 part. We would have chosen the -A9 part, but Quartus II Web Edition only supports up to the -A7 device, so we used that one. It's plenty big enough for Prop2 development, but should be good for whatever's next, as well. Altera gave us a good price on the -A7 device so that we will be able to sell the board for around $300 (I think that's what Ken told me, anyway). The board will have six high-speed DACs and some other common stuff that we need going forward.
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2014-08-10 16:22
    Sounds like my FPGA dev board collection will have to grow...
    cgracey wrote: »
    Our FPGA board will use a Cyclone V -A7 part, which is next to the biggest -A9 part. We would have chosen the -A9 part, but Quartus II Web Edition only supports up to the -A7 device, so we used that one. It's plenty big enough for Prop2 development, but should be good for whatever's next, as well. Altera gave us a good price on the -A7 device so that we will be able to sell the board for around $300 (I think that's what Ken told me, anyway). The board will have six high-speed DACs and some other common stuff that we need going forward.
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    edited 2014-08-10 16:42
    cgracey wrote: »
    Our FPGA board will use a Cyclone V -A7 part, which is next to the biggest -A9 part. We would have chosen the -A9 part, but Quartus II Web Edition only supports up to the -A7 device, so we used that one. It's plenty big enough for Prop2 development, but should be good for whatever's next, as well. Altera gave us a good price on the -A7 device so that we will be able to sell the board for around $300 (I think that's what Ken told me, anyway). The board will have six high-speed DACs and some other common stuff that we need going forward.

    Is this progressing, or paused until the P2 numbers are firmed up ?
    I think Altera have full footprint compatible vertical migration, in the 484 pin packages, so the final device can then be a 'late choice'.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2014-08-10 17:41
    Bill Henning wrote: »
    Sounds like my FPGA dev board collection will have to grow...
    +1
  • cgraceycgracey Posts: 14,155
    edited 2014-08-10 17:47
    jmg wrote: »
    Is this progressing, or paused until the P2 numbers are firmed up ?
    I think Altera have full footprint compatible vertical migration, in the 484 pin packages, so the final device can then be a 'late choice'.

    It's being designed by Daniel Harrison at Parallax. That's his main job right now.
  • Kerry SKerry S Posts: 163
    edited 2014-08-11 06:47
    cgracey wrote: »
    Our FPGA board will use a Cyclone V -A7 part, which is next to the biggest -A9 part. We would have chosen the -A9 part, but Quartus II Web Edition only supports up to the -A7 device, so we used that one. It's plenty big enough for Prop2 development, but should be good for whatever's next, as well. Altera gave us a good price on the -A7 device so that we will be able to sell the board for around $300 (I think that's what Ken told me, anyway). The board will have six high-speed DACs and some other common stuff that we need going forward.

    That sounds great Chip!

    With plenty of I/O lines and a generic flexible layout it could be a great commercial platform.

    Please consider selling it with a commercial P1 core license (to use on THAT board). I know that I would be willing to pay extra for that. And even more for the ability to use your 'hot' P2 design for custom applications.


    I think it would be possible for you to sell a considerable number of boards and Virtual Core IP!
  • YanomaniYanomani Posts: 1,524
    edited 2014-08-11 22:48
    Hi Chip

    Does all available Cyclone V -A7 pins be brought out from Parallax FPGA board, ready to be used someway?
    Could we at least dream of connecting or even stacking two or more of them, to overcome Quartus 2 Web Edition limitations of don't allowing us to create really big designs with -A9 parts?

    Yanomani

    cgracey wrote: »
    Our FPGA board will use a Cyclone V -A7 part, which is next to the biggest -A9 part. We would have chosen the -A9 part, but Quartus II Web Edition only supports up to the -A7 device, so we used that one. It's plenty big enough for Prop2 development, but should be good for whatever's next, as well. Altera gave us a good price on the -A7 device so that we will be able to sell the board for around $300 (I think that's what Ken told me, anyway). The board will have six high-speed DACs and some other common stuff that we need going forward.
  • Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL) Posts: 1,720
    edited 2014-08-11 23:01
    re:Our FPGA board will use a Cyclone V -A7 part,

    Apple’s A7 Cyclone CPU :lol:
    Apple shocked the world with its 64-bit A7 SoC, which appeared in the iPhone 5S and then the iPad Air

    http://www.extremetech.com/computing/179473-apples-a7-cyclone-cpu-detailed-a-desktop-class-chip-that-has-more-in-common-with-haswell-than-krait





    re" The board will have six high-speed DACs and some other common stuff that we need going forward.

    The board sounds great and I look forward to getting one.
  • cgraceycgracey Posts: 14,155
    edited 2014-08-11 23:24
    Yanomani wrote: »
    Hi Chip

    Does all available Cyclone V -A7 pins be brought out from Parallax FPGA board, ready to be used someway?
    Could we at least dream of connecting or even stacking two or more of them, to overcome Quartus 2 Web Edition limitations of don't allowing us to create really big designs with -A9 parts?

    Yanomani

    We have something like 96 user I/Os. The rest of the signals get connected to the DACs and SDRAM.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2014-08-12 06:51
    I've been wanting to get into FPGA programming. This new board sounds like the perfect place for me to start.
    I can't wait. Keep us updated.

    Bean
Sign In or Register to comment.