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FPGA dev board recommendationa

FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Chris Kleeschulte

Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.

I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
that I can learn on using VHDL?


thanks,
Chris


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by David Mitchell

The Papilio looks pretty cool, for $50:

http://papilio.cc/





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On Thu, Jun 16, 2011 at 11:41 AM, Chris Kleeschulte <laconia@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
> Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
> people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
> that I can learn on using VHDL?
>
> thanks,
> Chris
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Dylan Smith

El 16/06/11 17:41, Chris Kleeschulte escribió:
> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
> that I can learn on using VHDL?
I recently got a Digilent/Xilinx FPGA dev board, it has a 200K gate
Xilinx Spartan, some static RAM, platform flash, various switches and
buttons, PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, RS232 port, VGA port and 7-segment
LEDs and indicator LEDs plus three 40-pin IDE style connectors for
connecting whatever you like to the board. It's straightforward and does
what it says on the tin. Cost is $140

http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,400,799&Prod=S3BOARD

Re: FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by javaguy11111

digilentinc.com has a good selection of boards at a pretty good price. I got started with their boards.

Show quoted textHide quoted text
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Chris Kleeschulte <laconia@...> wrote:
>
> Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
> people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
> that I can learn on using VHDL?
>
>
> thanks,
> Chris
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Simon Gornall

On 16 Jun 2011, at 09:41, Chris Kleeschulte wrote:

> Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
> people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
> that I can learn on using VHDL?
>

You can have my Terasic DE0 (http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?Language=English&CategoryNo=56&No=364) for $50 + postage if you want. I'm planning on moving to a Xilinx EDK kit (http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards-and-kits/DK-S6-EMBD-G.htm) so it's surplus. Works just fine.

Cheers
Simon


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Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Chris Kleeschulte

Simon:


I think I the Papilio one is probably something I can start with, but I
really appreciate the offer.


Chris


Show quoted textHide quoted text
> You can have my Terasic DE0 (
> http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?Language=English&CategoryNo=56&No=364)
> for $50 + postage if you want. I'm planning on moving to a Xilinx EDK kit (
> http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards-and-kits/DK-S6-EMBD-G.htm) so it's
> surplus. Works just fine.
>
> Cheers
> Simon
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Leon Heller

On 16/06/2011 17:41, Chris Kleeschulte wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
> people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
> that I can learn on using VHDL?


The Digilent boards are good value, I have one of their Xilinx Spartan-3
boards. If you want something really cheap, there are often some Altera
Cyclone boards on Ebay. I've got one and it works OK, but it's a
double-sided board to keep the cost down and won't be suitable for
serious stuff.

Leon
--
Leon Heller
G1HSM

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Dwayne Reid

At 10:41 AM 6/16/2011, Chris Kleeschulte wrote:
>Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
>people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
>I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
>computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
>VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
>that I can learn on using VHDL?

I have what might be a surprising suggestion: Open Logic Sniffer from
www.seeedstudio.com>

Its a joint design collaboration between Dangerous Prototypes and The
Gadget Factory (who make the Papilio) and I think that its simply awesome.

Here's why I suggest it:

1) Its a great little open-source logic analyzer. All code and
hardware is completely open.

2) It has a USB PIC on-board for getting FPGA code onto the
board. The PIC can be used as-is or you can customize it to your
specific requirements.

3) The FPGA has 32 i/o lines brought out to headers. 16 of those
lines are currently input-only because they have a 5V-tolerant buffer
feeding them. The other 16 lines are not touched in any way - they
can be inputs or outputs. Note that they are NOT 5V tolerant as
inputs and their logic 1 output is derived from 3.3V FPGA supply.

4) You can turn it back into a logic analyzer when you are finished
with it as a FPGA dev board.

I suggest that you check it out - you might be pleasantly surprised.

dwayne

--
Dwayne Reid <dwayner@...>
Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
(780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax
www.trinity-electronics.com
Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Chris Kleeschulte

Brilliant suggestion. I would have never thought of that device. thanks!


Chris


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> I have what might be a surprising suggestion: Open Logic Sniffer from
> www.seeedstudio.com>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Jeff Heiss

Do you have a project in mind to get started?


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On 6/16/2011 2:55 PM, Chris Kleeschulte wrote:
>
> Brilliant suggestion. I would have never thought of that device. thanks!
>
> Chris
>
> > I have what might be a surprising suggestion: Open Logic Sniffer from
> > www.seeedstudio.com>
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>


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Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Malcolm Parker-Lisberg

Chris

See:
<http://www.ami.ac.uk/courses/programmes/overview-amic.asp#modules-and-awards>
for online course material, the first three modules of each are free to access, they will give you a good grounding in VHDL (I helped write some of them) and other technologies also

Malcolm

I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!

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--- On Thu, 6/16/11, Chris Kleeschulte <laconia@...> wrote:

From: Chris Kleeschulte <laconia@...>
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, June 16, 2011, 5:41 PM

















Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the

people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.



I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a

computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and

VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board

that I can learn on using VHDL?



thanks,

Chris



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Chris Kleeschulte

Jeff:


I was intrigued with the rise of Bitcoin and Namecoin. Politics and backroom
snickering aside, I am totally unaccustomed to NOT being able to solve a
problem (well at least) using a CPU. One can't compete in the realm of this
problem domain without the power of a GPU, FPGA or ASIC. OpenCL is nice, but
I would love to learn about how FPGA's work. So, the project is to make a
custom FPGA board tailored to solving these sorts of hashes without making
the feds think I have a grow house in my basement.


Chris

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On Thu, Jun 16, 2011 at 2:57 PM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Do you have a project in mind to get started?
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-16 by Harvey White

On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:59:42 -0000, you wrote:

>digilentinc.com has a good selection of boards at a pretty good price. I got started with their boards.

Hamilton-avnet has a board that's reasonable in price, has a xilinx
3AN 50K FPGA on it. Think it also has a processor on it for touch
inputs and programming via USB.

Harvey

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>
>--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Chris Kleeschulte <laconia@...> wrote:
>>
>> Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
>> people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>>
>> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
>> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
>> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
>> that I can learn on using VHDL?
>>
>>
>> thanks,
>> Chris
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-17 by Harvey White

On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:41:28 -0400, you wrote:

>Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
>people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
>I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
>computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
>VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
>that I can learn on using VHDL?

Also remember that VHDL is concurrent, not a procedural language.
Things do not happen after each other, they happen at the same time.
Once you master components, you have a real good approach to design.

The nice thing is that you don't design the part, you just tell VHDL
what to do, and it does it.

Harvey

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>
>
>thanks,
>Chris
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-17 by Ryan Bray

Vhdl can be either concurrent or sequential. You can even mix and match
components using either.

sent from my android device. thumb mistakes should be expected.
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 2011-06-16 6:01 PM, "Harvey White" <madyn@...> wrote:
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:41:28 -0400, you wrote:
>
>>Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like
the
>>people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>>
>>I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
>>computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA
and
>>VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
>>that I can learn on using VHDL?
>
> Also remember that VHDL is concurrent, not a procedural language.
> Things do not happen after each other, they happen at the same time.
> Once you master components, you have a real good approach to design.
>
> The nice thing is that you don't design the part, you just tell VHDL
> what to do, and it does it.
>
> Harvey
>
>>
>>
>>thanks,
>>Chris
>>
>>
>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------------
>>
>>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:
>>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] FPGA dev board recommendationa

2011-06-17 by James Bishop

Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 2:41 AM, Chris Kleeschulte <laconia@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
> Please excuse me for asking a completely off topic question, but I like the
> people on this list a lot and I trust their answers.
>
> I am getting into VHDL for the purpose of programming FPGA's. I am a
> computer scientist by trade, so I am really green when it comes to FPGA and
> VHDL. Does any have a recommendation for a low cost FPGA development board
> that I can learn on using VHDL?
>
> thanks,
> Chris
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]