Hi, I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II 200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on FPGA. I found this one: FPGA-Based System Design by Wayne Wolf I would like to know if this book is any good, especialy for a beginer like me. I also if it will be useful in the futur for some more advanced stuff, or is it just a entry level book that you throw away once you know the stuff. It's expensive, that's why I don't want any chance. If you have any other suggestion it could be useful. what I'm really looking for is an introduction on FPGA structure (CLB,IOB,BLOCK RAM,etc..), not a VHDL or VERILOG programming book Thanks
Good FPGA introduction book ?
Started by ●June 16, 2005
Reply by ●June 16, 20052005-06-16
> I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II >200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think >I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on >FPGA. I found this one:Have you checkedthe data sheet? It's got all the info you need. You will probably have to read it at least 6 times - more will make sense each pass. You can learn a lot of details and what's behind them if you follow this newsgroup. -- The suespammers.org mail server is located in California. So are all my other mailboxes. Please do not send unsolicited bulk e-mail or unsolicited commercial e-mail to my suespammers.org address or any of my other addresses. These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam.
Reply by ●June 17, 20052005-06-17
Hal Murray wrote:> > I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II > >200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think > >I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on > >FPGA. I found this one: > > Have you checked the data sheet?For Xilinx parts like Spartan2 there are both datasheets and user guides. They are not on the same web page so you need to look for the user guide. The user guide has lots of detailed information that isn't always easy to grok in the datasheet. Also on the Xilinx site are tons of app notes and a plethora (if plethora is the word I want to use) of tech tips.> > It's got all the info you need. You will probably have to read it > at least 6 times - more will make sense each pass. > > You can learn a lot of details and what's behind them if you > follow this newsgroup.Look through some older threads on board products and you'll find links to interesting sites like: http://www.fpga4fun.com/ Good Luck, Gabor
Reply by ●June 18, 20052005-06-18
<someone92@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1118955741.424815.78230@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...> Hi, > I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II > 200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think > I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on > FPGA. I found this one: > > FPGA-Based System Design by Wayne Wolf > > I would like to know if this book is any good, especialy for a beginer > like me. I also if it will be useful in the futur for some more > advanced stuff, or is it just a entry level book that you throw away > once you know the stuff. It's expensive, that's why I don't want any > chance. > > If you have any other suggestion it could be useful. what I'm really > looking for is an introduction on FPGA structure (CLB,IOB,BLOCK > RAM,etc..), not a VHDL or VERILOG programming book > > Thanks >CLB - Configurable Logic Block : Glob of logic. Different vendors will call their flavors different names, but typically there is logic and flip-flop(s); sometimes small memroy. Related terms: LUT, LE, PFU. IOB - Input-output Block : Goes in, goes out; sometimes both. Some vendors may throw some extra neat features in, such as termination, variable drive strength, selectable delays... Block RAM - small memory, but much bigger than what can fit in a CLB. Typically registered; often, variable dimensions. Sorry, I actually haven't read any "books" on FPGAs; I've just been designing with them for a decade. Xilinx, Altera, Orca (ATT/Lucent/Agere/Lattice?). PALs/PLDs before that. In the future, who knows. Would a book be all that useful? Might be, but I don't think it's necessary. There is a wealth of information (app notes, user guides, data sheets, tutorials) available for free on the internet, but sometimes it's useful to have all the information in one place. Jason
Reply by ●June 22, 20052005-06-22
someone92@hotmail.com wrote:> I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II > 200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think > I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on > FPGA. I found this one:> FPGA-Based System Design by Wayne WolfI went through the same thing and ended up with that same book based on looking at everything available at the local tech bookstore. It's been a while since I picked it up (haven't had time to play with FPGA lately) so I can't really offer any other comment than this looked like the best one available. G.
Reply by ●June 23, 20052005-06-23
someone92@hotmail.com wrote:> Hi, > I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II > 200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think > I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on > FPGA. I found this one: > > FPGA-Based System Design by Wayne Wolf > > I would like to know if this book is any good, especialy for a beginer > like me. I also if it will be useful in the futur for some more > advanced stuff, or is it just a entry level book that you throw away > once you know the stuff. It's expensive, that's why I don't want any > chance. > > If you have any other suggestion it could be useful. what I'm really > looking for is an introduction on FPGA structure (CLB,IOB,BLOCK > RAM,etc..), not a VHDL or VERILOG programming book > > Thanks >Did you check Clive Maxfield's The Design Warrior's Guide to FPGAs ? Much nicer to read than a databook anyway. Bert Cuzeau
Reply by ●June 23, 20052005-06-23
Easy reading, a bit chatty. Uneven covereage, dwells on the subjects he understands well, is short where he doesn't. But, don't we all... ;-) Peter Alfke
Reply by ●June 23, 20052005-06-23
info_ wrote:> someone92@hotmail.com wrote: > >> Hi, >> I'm starting to learn FPGA programming (using a Xilinx Spartan II >> 200K). I will use VHDL and already have bought VHDL books, but I think >> I also need a general introduction to FPGA so I plan to buy a book on >> FPGA. I found this one: >> >> FPGA-Based System Design by Wayne Wolf >> >> I would like to know if this book is any good, especialy for a beginer >> like me. I also if it will be useful in the futur for some more >> advanced stuff, or is it just a entry level book that you throw away >> once you know the stuff. It's expensive, that's why I don't want any >> chance. >> >> If you have any other suggestion it could be useful. what I'm really >> looking for is an introduction on FPGA structure (CLB,IOB,BLOCK >> RAM,etc..), not a VHDL or VERILOG programming book >> >> Thanks >> > > Did you check Clive Maxfield's > The Design Warrior's Guide to FPGAs ? > > Much nicer to read than a databook anyway. > > Bert CuzeauAahh...the guy who wrote that Linus Torvalds is from Sweden (o; rick
Reply by ●June 23, 20052005-06-23
Well. European geography was never a US forte. Confusing Sweden with Switzerland is much worse than mixing up Finland and Sweden. Hell, for a few hundred years, before Napoleon, those two were actually together. In Europe, I have asked people whether they know the difference between Michigan and Minnesota, and I got a blank stare... Peter Alfke
Reply by ●June 24, 20052005-06-24
Peter Alfke wrote:> Well. European geography was never a US forte. Confusing Sweden with > Switzerland is much worse than mixing up Finland and Sweden. Hell, for > a few hundred years, before Napoleon, those two were actually together. > In Europe, I have asked people whether they know the difference between > Michigan and Minnesota, and I got a blank stare... > Peter AlfkeSorry to push this thread further off topic, but... a) Michigan and Minnesota, while as large as many European countries are not countries, while Finland and Sweden are. b) You'd get a lot of blank stares in the US, too. c) At least you didn't confuse Sweden and Norway, you could be shot for that ;-)
