Re: Softcore in programmable logic?!

In article <1125596102.012601.32090@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
snuffie_456@xxxxxxxxx says...
> Hi,
>
> I have question about softcores in programmable logic. I hope someone
> can help me with it...
> I read that it is possible to create a microprocessor by using a
> softcore (eg. NIOS or Microblaze) and doing some programming on an FPGA
> or CPLD. But can someone tell me why you should do something like that?

Because you need a processor that doesn't exist on the FPGA?

> What are the advantages (or disadvantages) between a classical
> microprocessor and such a softcore in programmable logic?

It can be done in the FPGA fabric itself. Recently Altera and Xilinx
have been adding hard-core processors ;-) to their bigger FPGAs. Soft
cores allow the user to customize the function needed and place it
where it's needed (add multiple...). A microprocessor external to the
FPGA uses valuable I/O pins, has performance implications, may add
cost, etc.

> I have searched several times on the internet and different newsgroups.
> However, I am not able to find any relevant information.

--
Keith
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Looking for a low-cost development kit
    ... Most of the board vendors in the FPGA world like ourselves don't ... supply boards as bundled software kits as such. ... There various microprocessor cores on ...
    (comp.arch.fpga)
  • Re: Looking for a low-cost development kit
    ... Most of the board vendors in the FPGA world like ourselves don't ... There various microprocessor cores on ...
    (comp.arch.fpga)
  • Re: A first FPGA project
    ... machine like architecture rather than a processor core. ... WDC-1793 in an FPGA which sources data from a serial flash device. ... IIUC the WDC 1793 did actually have a microprocessor. ...
    (comp.arch.fpga)
  • Re: Softcore in programmable logic?!
    ... softcore and doing some programming on an FPGA ... Putting a soft core microprocessor onto an FPGA gives you the physical ... expense and complications to in-field FPGA programmability. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: FPGAs as DSPs
    ... If the processing requirement can be met with the use of a ... DSP uC, ... My experience is that for a given data rate, the FPGA solution will use about 20% of the power of a microprocessor solution. ... That is mainly because all of the control and unused data path overhead of the microprocessor is stripped out for the unrolled pipeline used in an FPGA. ...
    (comp.arch.fpga)
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