[dorkbotpdx-blabber] Xilinx

[Jared Boone]

I speak FPGA. I implemented a basic PCI card a couple of years ago  
using a Xilinx Spartan II. I'd recommend this company for inexpensive  
development boards and cables.

	http://www.digilentinc.com/

You can get a 500,000 gate board and cable for far less than $100  
these days. That just blows my mind...

As far as software, Xilinx provides a basic "WebPACK" that runs in  
Windows (and last I checked, Linux, too). The software is free, but  
limited to chips below a certain gate count. The gate count limit is  
quite high by hobbyist standards -- somewhere in the million-gate  
range, I think.

Of course, considering your pin-count criteria and desire for a DIP  
package, I don't think Xilinx will work for you. Even their CPLDs (low  
gate-count parts) are all surface mount these days. Perhaps this is  
close enough?

	http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavTop=2&NavSub=419&Prod=CMOD

	- Jared

On Dec 17, 2008, at 7:50 PM, Greg Grunest wrote:

> Is anyone on the list working with Xilinx PLD/FPGA devices or any  
> other brand or type of field programmable logic devices?
>
> Last time I used one was almost 20 years ago and required an  
> expensive programmer ($2500) and software.  It looks like they are  
> all JTAG now and a version of the dev software is available for  
> free.   Also, last time I used them, they had small devices (sub 24  
> macrocells) which I am unable to find now.  Everything I could find  
> on their website is massive with 50,000 gates minimum up to 570,000  
> gates and multiple power PC cores in them.  Am I missing something?
>
> I’m totally open to devices other than Xilinx and any suggestions  
> would be appreciated.
>
> I’m looking for:
>             A small-ish programmable logic device (approx 2000 gates  
> or 20 – 40 macrocells)
> In a 32 pin or less package (preferably dip)
> With free or cheap development tools (that don’t suck!)
> That programming devices are easily obtainable
> The chips themselves are cheap and easy to obtain (don’t need no  
> $500 Hughes “sea of gates”)
> In circuit programming would be awesome
> A device family with a wide range of devices which use all the same  
> programming tools and software
> Oh yeah, and A Pony! – (Thanks Mykle!)
>
> - greg
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