3 Oct
2006
3 Oct
'06
4:56 a.m.
Subject: Re: VCF Build-It-Yourself Workshops
From: David Betz <dbetz at xlisper.com>
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:25:55 -0400
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>
FPGA and hardware are not exactly the same thing. FPGA you implement
logic using software tools to compile and test not unlike writing software.
Where working with random logic (gates and flops) you have to deal with
all of the physical characteristics such as fanout, propagation delays,
signal distortion and power distribution.
There re a number of sites on the net for FPGA experimentors. Start with
http://www.fpga4fun.com/.
PISC is pitiful Instruction Set Computer, instructional.
http://www.zetetics.com/bj/papers/piscedu2.htm
This page and links (web ring) from it are loaded with both random logic
implementations and FPGA designs for homebrewed CPUs both unique and classic.
http://www.homebrewcpu.com/
Allison
On 10/2/2006 at 2:43 PM David Betz wrote:
Yes, I know people have been doing it for a while. I was thinking
that you were suggesting a built-it-yourself session where
participants would learn how to do it themselves. I'm a software guy
and could easily write a software emulator but have less experience
with doing hardware design. I'd love some pointers on how to
implement a CPU in an FPGA. I would *love* to assemble an FPGA kit that
allowed me to experiment
with various classic architectures (and maybe some modern ones!).
Sign me up if you decide to have one!
Golly, folks have been doing this for quite awhile. The XESS kits
seem to
be very popular. There was/is even a fellow who was offering a
pin-compatible Z80 replacement implemented in FPGA.