Newbie looking for guidance

everphilski@gmail.com wrote:

> Rob,
> 
> On Feb 13, 4:18 am, Rob <BertyBoos...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> 
>>>Xilinx's FireBlaze processor simulation on a FPGA.
>>
>>Do you mean Xilinx's MicroBlaze processor? If so, note that this is a
>>general purpose CPU with a fairly average MIPs spec. You'd easily be
>>able to get comparable or better performance with an off the shelf
>>microprocessor -and without all the headaches!
> 
> 
> Yes, I meant MicroBlaze, thanks for catching the typo. This is good,
> so you are saying you would prefer working with a discrete
> microcontroller interfaced to a FPGA, instead of a FPGA with a
> MicroBlaze (or other core) onboard?

PFGA+MicroBlaze lacks code memory, so that's a significant cost.
Generally, if you can find a single chip uC that will fit your task,
you get the EMC & reliability benefits of on-chip memory, and
also (probably) get to use a smaller/cheaper FPGA+LoaderPROM

A good topical example of a companion processor for FPGA,
would be the Atmel AT91SAM9XE series. 200+ MIPS, from 128 bit wide
flash, and $7.30/10K, with 128/256/512K FLASH.

Plus all this fruit:
[USB 2.0 Full Speed Host and Device Ports, an Ethernet 10/100 Base-T MAC 
as well as a two-slot Multimedia Card Interface (SDCard/SDIO and 
MultiMediaCard Compliant), a Synchronous Serial Controller (SSC), four 
USARTs, two master/slave Serial Peripheral Interfaces (SPI), a debug 
UART and two Two Wire Interfaces (TWI).]

If you need megabytes of code, then the balance tips back a little.

-jg