[sdiy] Xilinx 3E board comments

[James Patchell]

Verilog Rules!

:-)

At 07:12 PM 6/7/2006 +0200, Thomas wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I'm pretty new to this list(as of yesterday:)) but my opinion you should 
>start learning some basic vhdl. After all you are using an fpga and the 
>Pico en MicroBlaze are just Xilinx implementations of SoftCore 
>Microcontrollers. A good understanding of how the VHD language works is 
>pretty important when you whant to begin coding some digital filters and 
>such (if that  is your purpose).
>
>Anyhow i would be glad to help where I can with VHDL coding.
>
>regards,
>
>Thomas
>
>Paul Schreiber wrote:
>
>>>Also, the Base System Builder (BSB) file seems to be lacking a lot as 
>>>well (this is a file needed to use the EDK system wizard).
>>>
>>>In general, there is a lot about the Xilinx stuff that leaves a lot to 
>>>be desired.  The documentation for the software drivers for the EDK 
>>>ranges between poor and piss poor.
>>>
>>>However, it does have a very high cool factor.
>>
>>
>>I think that this board is SO COOL that I'm going to add sections to my 
>>website as I 'get going' with it. What amazes me is that companies 
>>*assume* you have used all of their *previous tools/boards* so the 
>>documentation of more along the lines of "here is where the ports/pins 
>>are". Xilinx is not unique in this. All the bits and pieces ARE there, 
>>but not in a nice, tidy package. Maybe Jim & I can write a 3E Board for 
>>Dummies book.
>>
>>This is NOT a reason not to buy it, though. The analogy is: you get a 
>>modular synth with minimal documentation. There are no patch diagrams. 
>>This board is a *digital modular* in the sense that all the necessary 
>>pieces are there, the documentation tells you how everything is connected 
>>up. It's then up to you to 'do something with it'. This board can EASILY 
>>be a Synergy, a K250, a K5000, a DX-1, a Lexicon PCM-90, you name it. It 
>>does have a VERY STEEP learning curve, like programming a DX-7. However, 
>>it's not *impossible* (there are 1000s of Xilinx users using the tools 
>>every day), you just have to sit down and take it slow. This $150 can 
>>keep you busy literally 3 years :) Me, I'm gonna stick 16 32-bit phase 
>>accumulators in there with a MicroBlaze uP.
>>
>>Paul S.
>>
>>
>

         -Jim
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