Obsolescence & proprietary FPGA toolchains - Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines

[Toby Thain]

On 2015-06-15 12:57 PM, Dave G4UGM wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of ben
>> Sent: 15 June 2015 17:18
>> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
>> Subject: Re: FPGA tricks - Re: using new technology on old machines. Was:
>> PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM
>>
>> On 6/15/2015 9:08 AM, Toby Thain wrote:
>>> On 2015-06-15 9:35 AM, Dave G4UGM wrote:
>>>> I don't think it is over kill. If you want over kill try this:-
>>>>
>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALXax3Gydl8
>>>>
>>>> and FPGA implementation of the Baby or SSEM which had 32x32 bits of
>>> RAM. The implementation uses around 1% of the Spartan 3E 1200K gates,
>>> and that includes the logic to generate the VGA which is around 50% of
>>> the circuit. I expect to get it on a 100K gate chip but that’s still
>>> over-kill.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Speaking of VGA, you might like this:
>>>
>>> http://www.fpgarelated.com/showarticle/42.php
>>>
>>> --Toby
>>>
>>
>> But alas the software does *not* support the older chips.
>
> How old is old? I managed to get a copy of ISE10.1 downloaded, installed and running without phoning, ringing or otherwise jumping through hoops. That supports the Spartan 2 which has been obsolete for some time..  If you want to play with some Spartan 2 chips contact me off-line.


Altera has the old version of Quartus for download on their site. I had 
to take advantage of this to get a version that would compile for my 
Cyclone I. :)

Anyone with older chips might want to grab the appropriate versions 
while they are still there...

--Toby


>
>> You want to make a mod 5 years down the road, sorry we do not support
>> that model any more. TTL needs to  be stock piled now for the next +50
>> years.
>> I finally got 18 bit FPGA computer (DE1) design I like, that is early 70's speed.
>> 1.5 us core. What I am having problems is finding a good book on Operating
>> Systems from that Era that is online, any one know a good book? I have
>> software that I need to write.
>> Ben.
>>
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