The CPU portion is very fascinating to me because it uses a CPU written in only 200 lines of Verilog. If you were doing something that involves a high-speed data path, like say video, then using custom logic might be the right answer.įor other higher level interactive stuff, where abstraction makes things easier, then adding a CPU core might make sense.
Some things are just much simpler when done procedurally versus being done with a finite state machine. There are times when you want to include both CPU and custom logic design on an FPGA. They have much less frills and options, but are also a heck of a lot easier to use and gets the job done with necessary. You may want to read below about MicroBlaze MCSĪnd don't forget there are at least a few open source CPU and microcontroller implementations that you can use. Unless you plunk down serious money (let's say $600-$1k+) for a dev board, chances are your chip is going to be supported. Though I'd love to be able to use more threads for building.ĮDIT #2: forgot the biggest issue with WebPack: it only supports certain chips!! I bought some larger Virtex4 boards and had to get the 30 day eval to play with them.Īs a hobbyist, ISE webpack always did what I needed it to do. As a hobbyist, I have zero issues with the limitations imposed by the WebPack. Starting Sample Project First, open Project Navigator by selecting Start > Programs > Xilinx ISE Design Suite 11 > ISE > Project Navigator.
Xilinx ise 14.6 webpack download#
This project is available as a free download from. It is available as a free download from This tutorial uses settings for the Nexys2 500k board, which can be purchased from.
Xilinx ise 14.6 webpack install#
Otherwise you would have to run a lot of wires or make a custom board to connect an external micro to the really cool things the FPGA can do internally.ĮDIT: check out this table I'd say go for the digilent board if that table shows WebPack as being sufficient. This tutorial uses the project example1-VHDL, from another Digilent tutorial on the Xilinx ISE tools. First, install Xilinx ISE WebPACK on your PC or laptop. I'm not sure what other goodies you get.Īs for the micro, it's nice to have a micro 'embedded' in the FPGA for access to the FPGA's resources (perhaps things like high speed DSP, FFT, CORDIC, etc). You will get a few more cores available to you as well as some extra features in the simulator. If you want, you can get the 'System Edition' that has all the bells and whistles for 30 days. The free ISE does just fine for everything I do. (Full disclosure, Digilent has been very good to me and the hackerspace I teach at)