FPGA purchase advice

[Snowman_]

Hi I would like to purchase an FPGA to experiment on for fun and then eventually incorporate into my senior design project next year. I would like to program a simple ALU onto the FPGA and possibly a simple microprocessor.

I have experience with the Digilent Basys2 http://www.amazon.com/Basys2-250K-Xilinx-Spartan-Development/dp/B005G8AQXW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1402275968&sr=8-6&keywords=fpga+digilent

the software I used was quite old I think it was Xilinx 9.2.

I'm willing to buy another FPGA over the Basys2 and learn it's software (has to have a free or student software version) if there are clear advantages over the one I linked. Perhaps an FPGA with built in memory for storage. My budget is $150. Also feel free to recommend any other hobby circuit stuff that isn't too expensive.

Thank you.

 

[Hugo Drax]

The ISE software I think is free for student use for up to a XC6SLX75 (74637 logic cells) [Spartan 6 series]

That board you linked seems fine.

http://www.xilinx.com/products/design-tools/ise-design-suite/ise-webpack.htm

is what you want.

 

[Snowman_]

I started downloading the recent ISE software. I'll start messing with it in simulation tonight.

I know you said the one I linked is fine, but should I consider something in the Spartan 6 series?

 

[schneiderguy]

If you want to do a microprocessor implementation, IIRC a basic 32bit pipelined MIPS processor that I did for a class project used over 25% of a 500k "gate" Xilinix Spartan3 FPGA, so you might be cutting it close with a 250k gate/LUT version.

We used the Digilent Nexys 2 that includes the Xilinx Spartan3:
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products...ce1c83757-F3FC02B3-5056-0201-028B20D188F16422

It has 20MB onboard Flash and 20MB onboard SRAM, that IIRC can either be used in DRAM or pseudo-SRAM modes.

Your other FPGA options would be Altera or Lattice. I'm not familiar with Altera's software, and I don't believe that any of Lattice's FPGAs are over 100k LUT.

 

[Snowman_]

If you want to do a microprocessor implementation, IIRC a basic 32bit pipelined MIPS processor that I did for a class project used over 25% of a 500k LUT (gate?) Xilinix Spartan3 FPGA, so you might be cutting it close with a 250k gate/LUT version.

We used the Digilent Nexys 2 that includes the Xilinx Spartan3:
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products...ce1c83757-F3FC02B3-5056-0201-028B20D188F16422

It has 20MB onboard Flash and 20MB onboard SRAM, that IIRC can either be used in DRAM or pseudo-SRAM modes.

Your other FPGA options would be Altera or Lattice. I'm not familiar with Altera's software, and I don't believe that any of Lattice's FPGAs are over 100k LUT.

Unfortunately to get the academic pricing for the Nexys 2 I would need a professor's .edu address to verify I'm in a course that needs it. I want this for hobby purposes but I will eventually use it towards school. I'm going to help a professor with some research starting this week, I'll ask him if he can help get me an FPGA at academic pricing.

I ordered the Basys 2 for now, I can get the Nexys 2 at some point if I need the extra features. I know in the lab we will be working with a Cypress PSoC 1, I just wanted a small FPGA to test out some basic stuff.

 

[javier_machuk]

have you considered using only the software? I mean, the simulation function of the xilinx ISE is quite good, and when i was making a simple MIPS desing you really don't need a "real" fpga board unless you want to use a physical peripheral for live testing.
It even let you know if your current desing will fit into your target fpga, so you don't end up buying a fpga that is "too small" for your needs.
I'm sorry if there are any errors in my english.. this is not my primary language.

 

[Snowman_]

Very good advice javier, the simulation is quite good however I would like a board for physical prototyping.

I'll have access to a Spartan 6 series in the lab, I just wanted something for at home. I'm enjoying the board I purchased, especially with the updated Webpack...what we used in intro to digital design was very outdated and clunky.

Thanks for the advice Hugo, Schneider, and Javier

 

[Ayah]

don't get too used to the ISE, it's being phased out in favour of vivado.
but for the future, I'd suggest you take a look at the cyclone v gx starter kit/board, even has 512MB of ddr2! rather cheap for it's capabilities. (I bought a Nexys4 with the academic discount [works even in Canada!] since the cyclone v gx starter kit wasn't out yet)

 

[remz]

Hello Ayah,

I am currently considering the Nexys4 DDR, but can you tell me by which supplier you managed to get the academic pricing in Canada?

So far I can see Digikey has the DDR board but they don't display any academic discount. I only see the discount directly from Digilent.

Thank you and have a good day!
Rem

 

[polarmystery]

A few choices (I own all of these at home):
(Xilinx-LX9 board) Has LPDDR2
http://www.em.avnet.com/en-us/design/drc/Pages/Xilinx-Spartan-6-FPGA-LX9-MicroBoard.aspx

(Altera-MAX10 board) No memory, but huge prototyping area
http://www.mouser.com/new/altera/altera-max10-dev-tools/

(Lattice-ICE stick) No memory
http://www.latticesemi.com/icestick

(Xilinx-Artix7) A little outside your budget, but extremely powerful for what you need:
http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards-and-kits/1-4pilqh.html


Software to run either is free. All come with programming USB cables (JTAG->FTDI USB interface).

 

[Eelectricity]

I read recently that there is a new openhardware cpu project. The patents have run out on the cpu used in the Sega Dreamcast (SuperH chip) and so a few guys and some of the original architects of the SuperH are working on it again.

They have got it running on two low-cost FPGA Spartan6 boards Numato Lab's mimas2 and Avnet's Lx9 microboard

http://events.linuxfoundation.org/sites/events/files/slides/Turtles%20all%20the%20way.pdf

Even if you're not interested in the project you might like those boards.

But the project is interesting because having open hardware is good thing for us all.

Two related sites are nommu.org and 0pf.org (that's a zero not a letter o, if you get orangutans you typed a letter o)

 

[Snowman_]

Saw this old thread bumped up, figured I'd reply. I enjoyed using the little basys2 while I had it, though it's pretty inadequate for anything serious. Slowly switching over to Vivado. My school loaned me a very nice FPGA, so I haven't used my basys2 in a while.