Cheaptest FPGA board for Computer Architecture

http://mymicroprocessor.blogspot.com/2018/08/cheapest-fpga-board-rm250-similar-to.html

The A-CE4E6

Intel Cyclone IV FPGA ic.

On Wed, 15 Aug 2018 16:54:16 -0700 (PDT)
Othman Ahmad <othmana@gmail.com> wrote:

> http://mymicroprocessor.blogspot.com/2018/08/cheapest-fpga-board-rm250-si=
milar-to.html
>=20
> The A-CE4E6
>=20
> Intel Cyclone IV FPGA ic.

I like this one better, almost everything for a very low power
processor on one chip [1], and open-source development tool chain
available [2].

It also has 15% more LUTs, ten times more RAM, and an SPI
flash for code storage. But only 60% of multipliers, and 16b
wide memories.

The iCE40 UP5K also has on chip 10kHz and 48MHz oscillators, and
hardware support for 2 x SPI and 2 x I2C interfaces.=20

Jan Coombs
--=20

[1] Gnarly Grey UPDuino v1.0 Board $9.99 delivered
5.3K LUTs, 1Mb SPRAM, 120Kb DPRAM, 8 Multipliers, 34 GPIO on
0.1=E2=80=9D headers, SPI Flash, RGB LED, 3.3V and 1.2V Regulators
Gnarly Grey UPDuino v1.0 Board
http://gnarlygrey.atspace.cc/development-platform.html#upduino_v1

or with std FTDI programmer interface $15.99 delivered
http://gnarlygrey.atspace.cc/development-platform.html#upduino_v2

[2] Project Icestorm - see iCE40-UP5K-SG48
http://www.clifford.at/icestorm/

On Thursday, 16 August 2018 08:55:06 UTC+8, Jan Coombs  wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Aug 2018 16:54:16 -0700 (PDT)
> Othman Ahmad <othmana@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> > http://mymicroprocessor.blogspot.com/2018/08/cheapest-fpga-board-rm250-=
similar-to.html
> >=20
> > The A-CE4E6
> >=20
> > Intel Cyclone IV FPGA ic.
>=20
> I like this one better, almost everything for a very low power
> processor on one chip [1], and open-source development tool chain
> available [2].
>=20
> It also has 15% more LUTs, ten times more RAM, and an SPI
> flash for code storage. But only 60% of multipliers, and 16b
> wide memories.
>=20
> The iCE40 UP5K also has on chip 10kHz and 48MHz oscillators, and
> hardware support for 2 x SPI and 2 x I2C interfaces.=20
>=20
> Jan Coombs
> --=20
>=20
> [1] Gnarly Grey UPDuino v1.0 Board $9.99 delivered
> 5.3K LUTs, 1Mb SPRAM, 120Kb DPRAM, 8 Multipliers, 34 GPIO on
> 0.1=E2=80=9D headers, SPI Flash, RGB LED, 3.3V and 1.2V Regulators
> Gnarly Grey UPDuino v1.0 Board
> http://gnarlygrey.atspace.cc/development-platform.html#upduino_v1
>=20
> or with std FTDI programmer interface $15.99 delivered
> http://gnarlygrey.atspace.cc/development-platform.html#upduino_v2
>=20
> [2] Project Icestorm - see iCE40-UP5K-SG48
> http://www.clifford.at/icestorm/

Thank you for introducing me to Lattice FPGA. I had been looking for source=
s of Lattice Logic FPGA but cannot find any supplier.

The development tools of this FPGA is still primitive compared to Intel Qua=
rtus.

I started with Xilink in the 1990s. 30 years ago. When  I returned to the a=
cademic 10 years ago, I found that Xilink does not provide its tools for fr=
ee so I chose Altera.

We started with simulation tools but later on managed to get funds to buy f=
ull development boards for teaching. And now, are committed to developing F=
PGA using Altera/Intel ics. I do not know the status of Xilink but would li=
ke to reconsider if very attractive.

Despite a few offerings, like the Spartan development boards at competitive=
 prices, Intel FPGA are still more widespread and tend to be slightly cheap=
er than Xilink boards. Lattice boards are even more expensive.

Your source seem cheap but transportation cost will kill us. Its tools are =
still primitive but if Lattice were to provide manual routing tools, or any=
body else in the ICE project were to provide manual routing tools, I may re=
consider. Intel boards only allow auto-routing. Xinlink used to provide man=
ual routing tools but no more.

With manual routing tools, I can see exactly what devices are to be connect=
ed and how they are connected. It will allow me to optimise my design bette=
r. I used to do it for a Xinlink fpga for an instruction decoder demonstrat=
ion.

It was also satisfying to be able to see our components clearly. The pin pl=
anners are too jumbled up and do not provide much information about devices=
 that are connected. 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2018 19:00:03 -0700 (PDT)
Othman Ahmad <othmana@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thursday, 16 August 2018 08:55:06 UTC+8, Jan Coombs  wrote:
> > [1] Gnarly Grey UPDuino v1.0 Board $9.99 delivered
> > 5.3K LUTs, 1Mb SPRAM, 120Kb DPRAM, 8 Multipliers, 34 GPIO on
> > 0.1=E2=80=9D headers, SPI Flash, RGB LED, 3.3V and 1.2V Regulators
> > Gnarly Grey UPDuino v1.0 Board
> > http://gnarlygrey.atspace.cc/development-platform.html#upduino_v1
> >=20
> > or with std FTDI programmer interface $15.99 delivered
> > http://gnarlygrey.atspace.cc/development-platform.html#upduino_v2
> >=20
> > [2] Project Icestorm - see iCE40-UP5K-SG48
> > http://www.clifford.at/icestorm/
>=20
> Thank you for introducing me to Lattice FPGA. I had been
> looking for sources of Lattice Logic FPGA but cannot find any
> supplier.

[snip]

> Your source seem cheap but transportation cost will kill us.

 The boards I have bought are shipped 5000km for free, and one
 at a time do not attract customs charges.

> Its tools are still primitive but if Lattice were to provide
> manual routing tools, or anybody else in the ICE project were
> to provide manual routing tools, I may reconsider.=20

The Icestorm tool chain is open source, so could be adapted for
layout control, elimination of synthesis tool, and similar
custom work.=20

> With manual routing tools, I can see exactly what devices are
> to be connected and how they are connected. It will allow me
> to optimise my design better. I used to do it for a Xinlink
> fpga for an instruction decoder demonstration.
>=20
> It was also satisfying to be able to see our components
> clearly. The pin planners are too jumbled up and do not
> provide much information about devices that are connected.=20

These chips are so small that maybe you could do this without a
GUI, or add a chip layout planner to the tool chain yourself?

Jan Coombs

>I started with Xilink in the 1990s. 30 years ago. When  I returned to the 
>academic 10 years ago, I found that Xilink does not provide its tools for 
>free so I chose Altera.


You've started 30 years ago... and stayed there.