getting started in FPGA

[Eman]

Howdy folks.

I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a like
EE with some compsci mixed in. I've used CPLDs, and really want to
get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the 'embedded'
direction.

How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
limited ?

thanks

- moi

 

[Garrett Mace]

"Eman" <vze3tx4k@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:d7dce3cf.0311132339.57ab7886@posting.google.com...

Howdy folks.

I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a like
EE with some compsci mixed in. I've used CPLDs, and really want to
get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the 'embedded'
direction.

How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
limited ?

thanks

- moi

Buy an FPGA development board and start experimenting. You should be able to
find several options by googling for "FPGA development board" or something
similar. It will set you back no more than $100 to $200 for a system good
for lots of learning. There's no excuse not to buy one, the cost is
insignificant compared the BS degree you just purchased to help your career.
Of course, this same degree didn't teach you how to research technologies
and find development solutions....

 

[Mike Treseler]

Eman wrote:

How does one start out in fpga development

related thread:

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=ranjith++oe_demo

-- Mike Treseler

 

[Alex Gibson]

"Eman" <vze3tx4k@verizon.net> wrote in message news:d7dce3cf.0311132339.57ab7886@posting.google.com...

Howdy folks.

I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a like
EE with some compsci mixed in. I've used CPLDs, and really want to
get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the 'embedded'
direction.

How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
limited ?

thanks

- moi

for boards

burched.com
digilentinc.com
xess.com

 

[Jean Nicolle]

You can also try
http://www.fpga4fun.com/

Jean

"Eman" <vze3tx4k@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:d7dce3cf.0311132339.57ab7886@posting.google.com...

Howdy folks.

I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a like
EE with some compsci mixed in. I've used CPLDs, and really want to
get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the 'embedded'
direction.

How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
limited ?

thanks

- moi

 

[Vaughn Betz]

Howdy folks.

I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a like
EE with some compsci mixed in. I've used CPLDs, and really want to
get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the 'embedded'
direction.

How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
limited ?

thanks

- moi

Hi,

http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/kit-dev_platforms.jsp lists
Altera's development kits and many 3rd party kits using Altera parts.
Prices go from $99 to $7500. The Stratix 1S10 based board at $395 and
the Cyclone 1C20 board at $495 look like pretty good choices to me for
someone on a budget. They're supported by the free Quartus web
edition software.

You can go all the way down to the $99 MAX based board though if you
really want to keep costs down.

If you're still a university student, you can get a UP2 board which
has a 10K70 device along with Quartus and MaxPlus2 included, for $149
US. See http://www.altera.com/education/univ/kits/unv-kits.html for
details. I would strongly recommend you learn Quartus rather than
MaxPlus2 though -- while both support the 10K, Quartus is more
powerful and you will learn more using it.

Vaughn

 

[Martin Schoeberl]

Howdy folks.

I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a
like
EE with some compsci mixed in. I've used CPLDs, and really want
to
get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the
'embedded'
direction.

How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
limited ?

thanks

- moi


Hi,

http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/kit-dev_platforms.jsp lists
Altera's development kits and many 3rd party kits using Altera
parts.
Prices go from $99 to $7500. The Stratix 1S10 based board at $395
and
the Cyclone 1C20 board at $495 look like pretty good choices to me
for
someone on a budget. They're supported by the free Quartus web
edition software.

You can go all the way down to the $99 MAX based board though if you
really want to keep costs down.

If you're still a university student, you can get a UP2 board which
has a 10K70 device along with Quartus and MaxPlus2 included, for
$149
US. See http://www.altera.com/education/univ/kits/unv-kits.html for
details. I would strongly recommend you learn Quartus rather than
MaxPlus2 though -- while both support the 10K, Quartus is more
powerful and you will learn more using it.

Vaughn

You can find a reasonable priced Cyclone board (EP1C6) with some
additional memory for about $200 at:
http://www.jopdesign.com/cyclone/index.jsp

Martin