[sdiy] Programmable Logic?

[ASSI]

On Montag, 19. Juli 2004 01:11, Ryan Williams wrote:
> It's time for me to get started with digital design. Does anyone have
> any reccomendation for devices to use? I'm looking for two different
> types. one should be a simple small device (preferably in dip
> package) that would have a few hundred gates I guess (maybe more),
> and I want to start with a deccent FPGA soon also. I've been learning
> Verilog a little so I want to stick with that for now. that first
> type of device I want is just for small designs that may be better to
> put it on a chip then use several digital ICs. They would be
> sequential circuits.

The only thing still available in DIP packages is PALs (22V10 and 
friends). As they need a programmer and the density is on the low side 
of your requirements, I'd recommend going straight to CPLD (like Altera 
MAX) or FPGA. Starter kits for both are going cheap (sometimes for 
~$40, commonly for <$100), development software for the smaller parts 
is generally free (well, a download...) - make sure you don't need any 
special download cables and /or programmers on top of the kit. If <ou 
need to interface to TTL and want the configuration to stick, CPLD is 
the way to go. FPGA have gone to lower I/O voltages, but there's a much 
better chance you won't need any external circuitry. Also as most of 
them are SRAM based, you will need to provide the configuration 
bitstream when you start using them outside the development system.


Achim.
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