Selecting an FPGA as a beginner - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: nilanf
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 07:59:52 am
content: Hi there, I need help in choosing between the best FPGA option for beginners from the below options:iceSugar FPGA board by LatticeSpartan Edge Accelerator by Seeed StudioI am planning to focus more on hardware accelerator projects.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 11:44:09 am
content: Why did you choose those two?I have always had some interest in FPGA's myself too, but I don't dare to start with them, because my brain is already filled to overflowing with general electronic and microcontroller stuff.I guess that if you start with a kit that has been a kickstarter (about 20 options), is on crowdsupply (More then 70), then you would probably have a starting point that is relatively accessible for beginners.I am also running Linux myself, and have a strong tendency to support Open Source tools instead of vendor specific stuff (even if it is for "free") and both are (or at least used to be) quite severe limiting choices for FPGA's. But whatever software tools are available now, the choice for the software is probably more important then for the hardware.A long time ago you also had to choose between VHDL and Verilog. But because my head is already full, I have not managed to keep track on what is used to program these things in these modern times.

author: nvmR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 12:11:11 pm
content: Also consider this:https://hackaday.com/2020/01/24/new-part-day-led-driver-is-fpga-dev-board-in-disguise/Larger learning curve, but way more options, and an open source toolchain!

author: dietert1
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 12:39:44 pm
content: When looking at the "Spartan Edge Accelerator Board" i was wondering what is the interface between the ESP32 MCU and the FPGA. Probably some SPI link.In this respect a zynq is much more powerful, as the FPGA and the CPUs share a common bus interconnect good for high speed data transfer that you want when making an accelerator or some special i/o peripheral for the MCU. Also for the zynq you get integrated development tools that support this kind of application with ready to use AXI and the like.Regards, Dieter

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 12:48:42 pm
content: Quote from: nvmR on August 29, 2023, 12:11:11 pmI am aware of that one, but did not mention it in my first post because of that (supposed) learning curve.FPGA's, and especially the software that goes with it are quite complicated things, and as a beginner you want to start with small bites. So forget the hacking stuff for a while and start with some beginners kit: Hardware + software + a manual.But now I went back to that old hackaday article, it also has links to 7 other FPGA platforms and some of them may be suited for a beginner.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 02:27:09 pm
content: A decent place to start:https://nandland.com/the-go-board/There are tutorials at the site. Lattice isn't my favorite but I do llke to have gadgets (LEDs and such) on the board.The Lattice IceStick 40 is reasonable and there are a bunch of tutorials athttps://vhdlwhiz.comhttps://hackaday.com/tag/icestick/I prefer more capable boards with lots of gadgets:https://digilent.com/shop/nexys-a7-fpga-trainer-board-recommended-for-ece-curriculum/I prefer Xilinx Vivado to the Lattice toolchain. Everything is integrated into a single application: Edit, simulate and synthesize, all in one place. The Integrated Logic Analyzer of Vivado is very handy.

author: nilanf
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 03:32:16 pm
content: I had to choose between these two because of their affordable price range. I really love open source toolchains but when it comes to job profiles, I see more vendor-specific projects and experience. I have already worked with Lattice icestick and apio toolchain that's why iceSugar is in my bucket list.

author: nilanf
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 03:35:54 pm
content: Sounds cool. Will check. Thank you. But for now I am focusing on things I am familiar with so that I can carry out an individual research related to hardware acceleration.

author: nilanf
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 03:36:57 pm
content: Quote from: dietert1 on August 29, 2023, 12:39:44 pmSimply Zynq boards are expensive. I would try some Chinese variants from Ali express but not sure.

author: nilanf
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 03:40:22 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on August 29, 2023, 02:27:09 pmTotally agree with you when it comes to Vivado. Also I already have tried icestick. I cannot afford these high-end capable boards for now. Thank you for your suggestions.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 04:27:06 pm
content: I've done a number of smaller projects with the Xilinx ise free software using their XC9500 and now XC9500XL CPLDs, as well as the XC2C (coolrunner II) CPLD and Spartan 2E and Spartan 3A FPGAs. All use the same general tools, languages, simulator and workflow. I do this on a Linux system, and use what is likely a Chinese clone of the "Platform Cable USB" JTAG download pod.I don't use developent boards, but now have a number of left over boards from old projects that can serve that purpose.Jon

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2023, 01:35:39 pm
content: Quote from: nilanf on August 29, 2023, 03:40:22 pmAs FPGAs go, the Latticre Icestick is reasonably priced at around $50. I would be concerned if I found a board for much less than that.https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/lattice-semiconductor-corporation/ICE40HX1K-STICK-EVN/4289604

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2023, 02:35:58 pm
content: The XC9500XL series run about $2-5 in single quantity, in the 44-pin QF package. The XC3S50AN is about $15 in the 144-lead TQFP package with internal EPROM. If you can find a breakout or adapter board with the right footprint you might be able to hand solder the chip and try it out at very low cost. The Platform Cable USB can be had on eBay for about $29.Jon

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2023, 04:18:27 pm
content: Quote from: jmelson on August 30, 2023, 02:35:58 pmThose are CPLDs not FPGAs as the OP wanted to discuss. The differences are huge but the big one is the lack of large BlockRAM on CPLDs. Dual port BlockRAM in many cases (if not all).

author: dietert1
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2023, 06:07:05 pm
content: As the icestick has a very small 1K FPGA, i looked for something similar with the 8K version of the FPGA. While the Lattice breakout board isn't currently available, ebay has the "iceFUN iCE40-HX8K FPGA-Modul-" , a nice offer at the price. The module looks a bit strange with all those LEDs, yet it includes a PIC MCU to implement a USB programmer and four ADC channels.Olimex.com also have something: iCE40HX8K-EVB - even cheaper but not including the programming interface.Regards, DieterEdit: Farnell seem to have one original Lattice breakout board ICE40HX8K-B-EVN on stock.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2023, 09:09:42 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on August 30, 2023, 04:18:27 pmThe XC3S50A is the smallest FPGA currently available in the Spartan 3 family, and pretty much the cheapest entry into the FPGA world. This unit has quite a bit of capacity in LUTs, FFs, and blockRAM. A few multipliers too.Yes, the others I mentioned are CPLDs, but can be an entry into the world of VHDL or Verilog programming.Jon

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2023, 10:47:42 pm
content: To me, hardware acceleration implies blistering IO rates and smoking fast arithmetic. CUDA Units come to mind but mini chips like we’re discussing aren’t going to make the cut. There’s a reason that expensive chips exist.ASIC chips are needed for real speed.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2023, 04:37:14 am
content: Search Google for Nvidia Jetson Nano and Google Coral for interesting Edge processors used primarily for AI.

author: liaifat85
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2023, 03:58:20 pm
content: You can see this review for making your decision:https://www.electronicshub.org/best-fpga-development-boards/Personally, I find Altera and Papilio boards good for beginners. But those are quite old.If you ever want to design a board with EP4CE6E22C8N or EP4CE10E22C8N of Cyclone IV, you can see here:https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/FPGA___MCU_development_board.html

author: nilanf
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 04, 2023, 04:17:40 pm
content: This is great. Thank you