[sdiy] Xilinx 3E board comments

[James Patchell]

It is a VHDL component that is supplied by Xilinx (although...we never get 
to see that code)....Because of the fact that it is a 32 bit processor, if 
you use it in any serious application, it does require external 
memory....(the starter kit has 32MB of external ram just for it...).  In 
some cases, this does end up being less expensive.  I think that once you 
see it, you will see what it is all about.

At 06:21 AM 6/9/2006 -0700, Scott Gravenhorst wrote:
>Yet more ignorance - is the *Blaze softcore really a "code" entity that 
>executes in the
>FPGA itself?  Or is it a separate integrated circuit part?
>
>
>James Patchell <patchell at cox.net> wrote:
> >If you use Webpack, you can design digital hardware to your hearts
> >content...and you can use the PicoBlaze micro controller softcore.  If you
> >want to use something more sophisticated, like the MicroBlaze (32 bit
> >RISC), you need to purchase the EDK software.  I have interfaced the
> >ATMega128 up to Spartan 3 FPGA's as well, and this works out quite well.  I
> >have an ATMega128 connected to an XC3S200...for a motion controller
> >design...and that works out quite nice.  For that one, it turned out to be
> >cheaper to do that rather than use the MicroBlaze, and I didn't need the
> >power of the MicroBlaze.  There are many options...I used the ATMega128 and
> >interfaced the external bus right to the spartan...and used the extra RAM
> >inside the device as memory for the ATMega128...I ended up with something
> >like 24K or ram for the AVR.  All pretty cool...
> >
> >But for me...the MicroBlaze looks like the future.
> >
> >At 09:00 AM 6/9/2006 +0100, Paul Maddox wrote:
> >>james,
> >>
> >>>Yes, for $150 you get everything you need to do FPGA designs...the free
> >>>software will allow you to use schematic, VHDL and Verilog all in the
> >>>same design...which is very nice.
> >>
> >>so, you don't need the 'EDK' software?
> >>I mean, the one that requires an annual fee for the license?
> >>
> >>you can *JUST* use the webpack software?
> >>
> >>Paul
> >
> >         -Jim
> >***************************************************************
> >Come to the 2006 Pacific Southwest Synth DIY meet
> >June 10, 2006 at the Goleta Library....
> >
> >Details:
> >http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/synthdiymeet.html
> >***************************************************************
> >http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell
> >http://www.noniandjim.com/
> >***************************************************************
> >
> >
>
>---------------------------------------------------------
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>
>-- Scott Gravenhorst | LegoManiac / Lego Trains / RIS 1.5
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         -Jim
***************************************************************
Come to the 2006 Pacific Southwest Synth DIY meet
June 10, 2006 at the Goleta Library....

Details:
http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/synthdiymeet.html
***************************************************************
http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell
http://www.noniandjim.com/
***************************************************************