Re: FPGA recommendations

On 6 Dec 2005 16:08:58 +0200, the renowned David Brown
<david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

<much snippage>

>All major FPGA/CPLD players use node-locking on their tools, and all
>(that I know of) have some sort of time limitation on their free
>versions. Altera paid-for licenses are permanent - I'd guess the same
>applies to Xilinx.

The Xilinx free Webpack software is not node locked, only Modelsim,
and it doesn't 'call home'. I think it's permanent, but I've not
verified this. The stuff I downloaded a couple of years ago still
worked a few weeks ago, even Modelsim.

>Altera and Xilinx are by far the biggest players in the fpga market -
>there are others in the CPLD line (Lattice has some nice parts). But
>for fpgas, you are best with A or X unless you want a more specialist part.

That was my conclusion.

<more snippage>

>Of course, opinions vary wildly, and depend on many factors (your target
>applications, the quality of your distributors, personal experience).
>But either way, drop the old Flex devices and go for Cyclone II /
>Spartan 3 (or Stratix II / Virtex for the high end) and the latest
>version of the tools.

My FAE said that the best Xilinx deal was typically with the latest
silicon.

They seem to be following certain aspects of Microchip's business
model-- leaving higher prices on old silicon, inexpensive development
tools widely distributed, etc. Of course FPGAs use close to
state-of-the art silicon processes so they can't go with surplus
memory fabs for production-- they are fabless. Don't know much about
Altera. Similar?


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@xxxxxxxxxxxx Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
.

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