Ideal FPGA Development Kit

[allen]

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

 

[backhus]

On 1 Apr., 07:43, allen <ayho...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

Hi Allen,
the only thing on which everyone will positively agree is an FPGA at
least. (Oh, I forgot to mention the RS-232! )
Everything else depends on the application, even the exact type of
FPGA.

You either end up with something that is so mediocre, that only
beginners will use it if the price is low enough, but remains useless
for professional designers,
Or the board will be so overloaded and expensive, that noone can or
will spend the money for it.

Look for example at the boards offered on the Xilinx webpage.
There you find a number of boards for each FPGA family. You almpost
always find a Starter board, some DSP specialized board, some Video
board, maybe a FPGA computing board and so on.

Maybe you could explain a little more about the background and
intention of your query.

Have a nice synthesis
Eilert

 

[Dinçay Akçören]

On Apr 1, 7:43 am, allen <ayho...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

It depends on the purpose of the board. For beginners and hobbyst
"must have" features will be different. For professional users "must
have" features will be different. But there may be some common
features like rs232 or external memory.

 

[Michael Kellett]

"allen" <ayhoung@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:81b56b55-23ce-42a4-804a-f6cbc82955fc@q40g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

I've never seen any point in general purpose development boards - I design a
board for the job. Reference designs are useful.

If I were going to attempt something with a big feasibility issue it might
be worth buying a fancy dev board but it hasn't happened yet.

Michael Kellett

 

[jozamm]

Hi,

A student board should contain :

- Switches
- Buttons
- Seven Segments Displays (Multiplexed)
- LCD or a port for a standard 16x2 LCD
- Port for an optional graphical LCD (very nice)
- RS232
- USB
- Memory
- Minimal RGB driver
- Optional port for more Clock sources
- A/D converter
- D/A converter
- An add-on for motor driving (seperate board)
- PS/2 interface

A good idea for educational board is to that the FPGA could be changed e.g. Altera or Xilinx. A decent board should have enough features so that a student can develop his graduate project on it so that students can spend more time on developing the hardware.

Professional board for computing purposes
- Lots of Memory
- Good Video driver
- 1 or 2 A/D converter
- 2 or 3 USB version 3
- PCI interface
- Slot for more memory
- 4 line LCD (debugging etc.)
- Keyboard interface

These are some ideas, Good luck for your development board

Regards,

Joseph

 

[Rob Gaddi]

On 3/31/2011 10:43 PM, allen wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

Somewhere that I can actually solder down components. Plated through
holes on 0.100" centers, with some grounds and VCCIOs interspersed. If
I'm going to the dev kit it's either because a) I'm trying to get up to
speed on a brand spanking new processor or b) I'm going off-datasheet
and need to get measured results for things they won't spec.

--
Rob Gaddi, Highland Technology
Email address is currently out of order

 

[scrts]

In my opinion:
1. FT245(or better FT2232 in FIFO mode - faster) for USB data transfer -
this can be implemented easily either on PC side or FPGA side.
2. DDR or DDR2 memory. Better 2 separate chips if possible. Also easy to
implement, because all vendors offer controllers for their FPGAs.
3. Ethernet.
4. IO expansions (well routed, not like Xilinx made on their S3E kit).

These are 4 basic things.
If I could find a PCI-E board + at least 2 LVDS RX and 2 TX outputs using
SMA or other useful connectors in addition to everything I mentioned
before - that would be perfect.

There are plenty of boards for beginners, but nothing in the middle range to
get more specific. The Cyclone IV GX starter kit would be just perfect,
however it has no expansion IOs... Other PCI-E boards cost too much.



"allen" <ayhoung@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:81b56b55-23ce-42a4-804a-f6cbc82955fc@q40g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

 

[Allan Herriman]

On Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:43:44 -0700, allen wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to see
if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

Not that I use dev kits, but if I did I would look for the following:

- For an FPGA with transceivers, I would want two of them brought out to
a pair of SFP+ sockets. The PCB routing should be of sufficient quality
to allow this to work at 10Gb/s.
The SFP+ control signals would also need to be connected to the FPGA (via
level translators if the FPGA can't handle 3.3V hotplug signals).

- Sites on the PCB for at least a few clock oscillators suitable for
clocking the transceivers. These would be LVDS or PECL oscillators, not
the CMOS ones that don't work so well above a few hundred MHz. One or
two sites would be populated with oscillators that would allow the
transceivers to do 1GbE and 10GbE. (The spare sites are to allow the
user to solder in their own oscs to support other protocols.)

- A USB to JTAG programming dongle built-in, probably using something
like an FT2232H or FT232H.
- Open source host driver software for the built-in JTAG programming
hardware, with binaries available for at least WinXP, Win7 and major
flavours of Linux.

Regards,
Allan

 

[PovTruffe]

"Allan Herriman" <allanherriman@hotmail.com> a écrit :

- A USB to JTAG programming dongle built-in, probably using something
like an FT2232H or FT232H.
- Open source host driver software for the built-in JTAG programming
hardware, with binaries available for at least WinXP, Win7 and major
flavours of Linux.

What are the advantages of using this chip compared to using the
manufacturer USB cable ?

 

[John Adair]

Much delayed but will hopefully be actually be on show at ESC Silicon
Valley in May our Raggedstone3 will have most of this for you.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

On Apr 1, 9:33 pm, "scrts" <mailsoc@[remove@here]gmail.com> wrote:

In my opinion:
1. FT245(or better FT2232 in FIFO mode - faster) for USB data transfer -
this can be implemented easily either on PC side or FPGA side.
2. DDR or DDR2 memory. Better 2 separate chips if possible. Also easy to
implement, because all vendors offer controllers for their FPGAs.
3. Ethernet.
4. IO expansions (well routed, not like Xilinx made on their S3E kit).

These are 4 basic things.
If I could find a PCI-E board + at least 2 LVDS RX and 2 TX outputs using
SMA or other useful connectors in addition to everything I mentioned
before - that would be perfect.

There are plenty of boards for beginners, but nothing in the middle range to
get more specific. The Cyclone IV GX starter kit would be just perfect,
however it has no expansion IOs... Other PCI-E boards cost too much.

"allen" <ayho...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:81b56b55-23ce-42a4-804a-f6cbc82955fc@q40g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

 

[Allan Herriman]

On Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:41:58 +0200, PovTruffe wrote:

"Allan Herriman" <allanherriman@hotmail.com> a ĂŠcrit :
- A USB to JTAG programming dongle built-in, probably using something
like an FT2232H or FT232H.
- Open source host driver software for the built-in JTAG programming
hardware, with binaries available for at least WinXP, Win7 and major
flavours of Linux.


What are the advantages of using this chip compared to using the
manufacturer USB cable ?

Nobody else in the office can borrow it if it's soldered to your board.


Allan

 

[Uwe Bonnes]

PovTruffe <PovTache@gaga.invalid> wrote:

"Allan Herriman" <allanherriman@hotmail.com> a ?crit :
- A USB to JTAG programming dongle built-in, probably using something
like an FT2232H or FT232H.
- Open source host driver software for the built-in JTAG programming
hardware, with binaries available for at least WinXP, Win7 and major
flavours of Linux.

What are the advantages of using this chip compared to using the
manufacturer USB cable ?

Better behaviour of the connections at high speed, no ringing caused by the
connecting cable.
--
Uwe Bonnes bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de

Institut fuer Kernphysik Schlossgartenstrasse 9 64289 Darmstadt
--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------

 

[Rich]

On Apr 1, 12:43 am, allen <ayho...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

Keep the number of JTAG devices to three or less. FPGA, PROM and
maybe something else (CPLD or other FPGA?). The free jtag software
limits you to 3 JTAG devices, so i have to pay after that.

Thanks!
Rich

 

[scrts]

Maybe it is possible to get a brochure or a photo with explanations?

"John Adair" <g1@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4880f1b1-b7f2-42c4-93e8-e365e06cf37e@x1g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
Much delayed but will hopefully be actually be on show at ESC Silicon
Valley in May our Raggedstone3 will have most of this for you.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

 

[John Adair]

Not much I can disclose at the point other than it will be the same
theme as our Xilinx based Raggedstone1 and Raggedstone2. It's a
logical extension of the family so no real secrets there. If all goes
to schedule there will be a formal announcement a couple days before
ESC along with everything else for the show that we manage to complete
before then.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

On Apr 2, 11:29 pm, "scrts" <mailsoc@[remove@here]gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe it is possible to get a brochure or a photo with explanations?

"John Adair" <g...@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message

news:4880f1b1-b7f2-42c4-93e8-e365e06cf37e@x1g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
Much delayed but will hopefully be actually be on show at ESC Silicon
Valley in May our Raggedstone3 will have most of this for you.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

 

[JoeP]

On Apr 2, 2:25 pm, Rich <r.newk...@juno.com> wrote:

On Apr 1, 12:43 am, allen <ayho...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

Keep the number of JTAG devices to three or less.  FPGA, PROM and
maybe something else (CPLD or other FPGA?).  The free jtag software
limits you to 3 JTAG devices, so i have to pay after that.

Thanks!
Rich

Rich,
I dont understand this requirement. The PCBs will be tested before
you get them. Probably with JTAG/Boundary-scan. Then all you need is
the FPGA software, which is free, to program the development kit, and
vendor JTAG pod.

Regards,
Joe

 

[scrts]

Hm, any plans with Altera FPGAs?

"John Adair" <g1@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ba2f7258-d9ee-4da0-9438-320636c71fb8@s33g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
Not much I can disclose at the point other than it will be the same
theme as our Xilinx based Raggedstone1 and Raggedstone2. It's a
logical extension of the family so no real secrets there. If all goes
to schedule there will be a formal announcement a couple days before
ESC along with everything else for the show that we manage to complete
before then.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

On Apr 2, 11:29 pm, "scrts" <mailsoc@[remove@here]gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe it is possible to get a brochure or a photo with explanations?

"John Adair" <g...@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message

news:4880f1b1-b7f2-42c4-93e8-e365e06cf37e@x1g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
Much delayed but will hopefully be actually be on show at ESC Silicon
Valley in May our Raggedstone3 will have most of this for you.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

 

[scrts]

Great, can't wait to see!

"John Adair" <g1@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message
news:59aa7f47-7ab5-4dbd-9e9a-6d8b05ee1b52@d19g2000yql.googlegroups.com...
Raggedstone3 is Altera based.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

 

[John Adair]

Raggedstone3 is Altera based.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

On Apr 3, 6:06 pm, "scrts" <mailsoc@[remove@here]gmail.com> wrote:

Hm, any plans with Altera FPGAs?

"John Adair" <g...@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message

news:ba2f7258-d9ee-4da0-9438-320636c71fb8@s33g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
Not much I can disclose at the point other than it will be the same
theme as our Xilinx based Raggedstone1 and Raggedstone2. It's a
logical extension of the family so no real secrets there. If all goes
to schedule there will be a formal announcement a couple days before
ESC along with everything else for the show that we manage to complete
before then.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

On Apr 2, 11:29 pm, "scrts" <mailsoc@[remove@here]gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe it is possible to get a brochure or a photo with explanations?

"John Adair" <g...@enterpoint.co.uk> wrote in message

news:4880f1b1-b7f2-42c4-93e8-e365e06cf37e@x1g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
Much delayed but will hopefully be actually be on show at ESC Silicon
Valley in May our Raggedstone3 will have most of this for you.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

 

[Rich]

On Apr 3, 9:55 am, JoeP <joe.parke...@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Apr 2, 2:25 pm, Rich <r.newk...@juno.com> wrote:





On Apr 1, 12:43 am, allen <ayho...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey guys,

I work in the FPGA development kit sector, and I was just looking to
see if you guys had any ideas regarding what would be your MUST HAVE
features on an FPGA dev kit?

Thanks in advance!
Allen

Keep the number of JTAG devices to three or less.  FPGA, PROM and
maybe something else (CPLD or other FPGA?).  The free jtag software
limits you to 3 JTAG devices, so i have to pay after that.

Thanks!
Rich

Rich,
I dont understand this requirement.  The PCBs will be tested before
you get them.  Probably with JTAG/Boundary-scan.  Then all you need is
the FPGA software, which is free, to program the development kit, and
vendor JTAG pod.

Regards,
Joe- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Joe,
I know the boards are tested. I use these boards for development and
validation of small re-usable IP blocks. The IP blocks have internal
JTAG accessible registers. The free JTAG software I'm using is from:
http://www.intellitech.com/jtag/free-jtag-software-ijtag.asp .
It lets me describe the registers and I can make TCL/TK scripts to
operate the IP via JTAG. It's commercial quality software like their
$15K packages, just they limit you to three devices in the chain for
the free version. This enough for me and to provide a free jtag tool
to my customers when the project is complete.
It only works with Xilinx USB cable and VCS. Unfortunately I dont use
VCS as that is outside of my budget too.
There is a nice tutorial on the link using the Xilinx spartan starter
kit.

Enjoy!
Rich