TG68 - The Open Source Minimig CPU into the FPGA

[HenryCase]

TobiFlex, you are awesome. Well done matey. :-D

[HenryCase]

freqmax wrote:
Regarding ethernet. What you will need is a PHY.

It looks like the microcontroller MiniMorph is proposing we use already handles the physical layer of the ethernet connection for us.

@Minimorph
First of all, thank you for taking on this project, the possibilities unlocked using an improved bootloader and ethernet+USB connections are great.

I would like to ask you a few questions.

1. As the LM3S6965 chip and FPGA would both be reprogrammable through the JTAG port, could we configure the LM3S6965 to act as a co-processor at runtime? Not sure why we would do this, just wanted to know if it would be possible.

2. LM3S6965 adds USB and Ethernet connectors to the Minimig. How easily can these be used for outgoing comms if Minimig code was amended to think they are serial port connectors?

3. Does the microSD slot support SDHC cards?

4. Price issue. So that I had some understanding of the added cost, I went onto Digikey's website. For the Microcontroller itself, we're talking around $13.10 USD:
Link
The evaluation board is around $69.00 USD:
Link
Other than the LCD screen and speaker (neither of which I see as essential, especially as the new bootloader would handle selecting the cores), would we lose any features by incorporating the microcontroller, microSD slot, ethernet port, JTAG port and USB port directly into the Minimig PCB design?

5. Last question relates to the bootloader. It seems to me that you are looking to replace the PIC with the LM3S6965 rather than having both devices on the board. I noticed that you plan on using ZIP files to hold the FPGA core data. Would the PIC chip used in Minimig 1.1 be powerful enough to do the unzipping? Just want to make sure Minimig 1.1 owners get access to the new cores.

[HenryCase]

Thanks for the reply MiniMorph, I'm sure I'll have more questions later as your project is an exciting development. Make sure you keep us posted with your progress.

[HenryCase]

I frequently use URLs that are too long in my posts, but I do know how to easily resize them. If downix or any other forum member is looking for an easy way to resize pictures they find online, check out this method:

1. Copy URL of image (right click->copy image location in Firefox).
2. Go to http://www.shrinkpictures.com/
3. On Resize Images form, click browse. In file open dialog, paste image URL, click on Open button.
4. Select resizing options, then click on Resize button.
5. Once image resized, you will have an option to host image at www.4freeimagehost.com. Click on the link. Use hosted image in forum post.

Here's the link to the resized Altair 8800 image I made:
http://www.4freeimagehost.com/show.php?i=PUSHdfc6b739ddc9.jpg
It has lost some of the cool detailing visible in the full size picture due to its smaller size (25% of original), which is a shame.

Hope that this post is useful.

[HenryCase]

downix wrote:
Ok, pt the resized one up, btw that free image host of yours stinks, useless for posting pictures into sites.  So I put it on one of my own sites.

I've never used that image hosting site before today, I created the guide in a couple of minutes. I'm just glad you resized the picture. :-) :roll:

[HenryCase]

xmag32 wrote:
Have you seen the new Altera Nios2 Devkit, it's a CycloneIII based board and it comes with a nice Color LCD 800x600,
audio, vga, 32MB DDR, SD-CARD etc. And you can order it from resellers in
Europe :-)
http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/kit-cyc3-embedded.html
Ok, it's a bit more expensive than the DE1 but cheaper than the DE2.
I think that's probably a good alternative.

Xmag32, the Nios2 does sound like a good board. Is that colour LCD included in the price, or can you buy the board without the LCD screen?

[HenryCase]

@MiniMorph

That's a great picture, great to see the device working. Looks like you're almost as untidy as me too! ;-)

I am tempted to buy one of those DE1s off you. Just got two questions:
1. How much are you selling for (I'm in the UK too by the way)?
2. How full is the FPGA when running TobiFlex's Minimig implementation?

Thanks in advance.