P1Vs - More RAM, fewer COGs (new iCE40 UltraPlus) ?
jmg
Posts: 15,175
I see Lattice have just added more members of their ICE40, called UltraPlus
UP3K : 2800 LUT, 1024Mbit , 4 DSP MMac, 80kb EBR 100 + $4.46
UP5K : 5280 LUT, 1024Mbit , 8 DSP MMac , 120kb EBR 50+ $5.75.
http://www.latticesemi.com/iCE40UltraFamily?pr1212
Package choices are QFN48, with 39io (UP5K only?) and ~ 2mm BGA with 21io
48MHz internal Osc, and 1 PLL , 2 x i2c and 2 x SPI
That would allow more RAM (4x), and fewer COGs than a P1, and the DSP cells would support some MAC opcodes.
Single Port RAM is 4 blocks of 16k x 16, Logic Fabric is 100MHz.16b Counter and 40MHz.64b Counter
See also this thread about very small micro-sequencer MCU cores. ( ie a Speed/Size trade off)
http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/164468/mcl86-now-mcl51-micro-sequencer-fpga-cores-308-312-lut
Other clock and PLL specs
On a per-COG basis the price is highish, but tolerable, and paired on a PCB with a P1 could give an interesting system.
A boost to 4x RAM, and DSP extensions, could extend the life-time of P1 whilst P2 gels into reality.
Of those specs, the Counter MHz indicates useful targets. With 16b to 100MHz, and 64b to a modest 40MHz, 32b is not spec'd but will be somewhere between those. 80MHz to at least match P1, would be desirable.
UP3K : 2800 LUT, 1024Mbit , 4 DSP MMac, 80kb EBR 100 + $4.46
UP5K : 5280 LUT, 1024Mbit , 8 DSP MMac , 120kb EBR 50+ $5.75.
http://www.latticesemi.com/iCE40UltraFamily?pr1212
Package choices are QFN48, with 39io (UP5K only?) and ~ 2mm BGA with 21io
48MHz internal Osc, and 1 PLL , 2 x i2c and 2 x SPI
That would allow more RAM (4x), and fewer COGs than a P1, and the DSP cells would support some MAC opcodes.
Single Port RAM is 4 blocks of 16k x 16, Logic Fabric is 100MHz.16b Counter and 40MHz.64b Counter
See also this thread about very small micro-sequencer MCU cores. ( ie a Speed/Size trade off)
http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/164468/mcl86-now-mcl51-micro-sequencer-fpga-cores-308-312-lut
Other clock and PLL specs
fMAX_GBUF Frequency for Global Buffer Clock network All Devices <= 185 MHz PLL: fIN Input Clock Frequency (REFERENCECLK, EXTFEEDBACK) 10 ~ 133 MHz fOUT Output Clock Frequency (PLLOUT) 16 ~ 275 MHz fVCO PLL VCO Frequency 533 ~ 1066 MHz fPFD3 Phase Detector Input Frequency 10 ~ 133 MHz
On a per-COG basis the price is highish, but tolerable, and paired on a PCB with a P1 could give an interesting system.
A boost to 4x RAM, and DSP extensions, could extend the life-time of P1 whilst P2 gels into reality.
Of those specs, the Counter MHz indicates useful targets. With 16b to 100MHz, and 64b to a modest 40MHz, 32b is not spec'd but will be somewhere between those. 80MHz to at least match P1, would be desirable.
Comments
(one of my peeves was the lack of a QFN48 Ice40 board, seems they were waiting on this part for that )
No price? but hopefully similar to their MachX0n boards ? ( uses the same FT2232H link device )
Looks interesting. Plenty of RAM and a 7x7mm QFN.
iCE40UP5K-B-EVN 1 $65.0000
iCE40UP5K-MDP-EVN 1 $281.0000
EVN Price is higher than I'd hoped, given these existing Lattice EVN price points
ICE40HX1K-STICK-EVN $21.86
LCMXO2-7000HE-B-EVN $26.23
The MDP-EVN has a LCD display, and the link
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/specsheets/Lattice_12132016_FPGA-UG-02009.pdf
is for iCE40 UltraPlus Display Frame Buffer Demo , with MIPI DSI TX Module
Seems these iCE40 parts could also give P2 a MIPI interface ? ( and maybe even a P1 ?)
JMG: where did you find these prices?
These FPGAs are really interesting with the big RAM blocks, just ideal for processors in FPGAs.
But the ICE40-Ultra is a bit slow, about half the speed of a Cyclone 4 or a MachXO2/3 in my tests.
My observation is that Lattice ICs take about 6 month from the announcement until you can really buy the chips. For example the MachXO2-1k in QFN32, I waited a long time and now it's much too expensive to be interesting. So I hope the above prices are right, also for the QFNs.
Andy
The counter MHz numbers were not stellar, be interesting to see what MHz P1V he Lattice tools spec.
I remember I've seen them listed as new products, 2 month ago, but could not find any information about UltraPlus devices then. Later they disapeared from the new products list.