Forum Discussion
Honored ContributorUniversity Looking to Update Old Hardware
I am the Electrical Engineering Lab supervisor at a University in Pennsylvania and we are looking to update our PLD collection, programming interface, software (well basically everything) related to PLDs and CPLDs. We have, many years ago before I took this job, used the EPM7160SCL84-10, EPM7032LC44-15 and the EP610DC-35 chips, but have not been able to for several years since the software and hardware that programs them runs on Windows XP and needs to check the license before running and since XP is no longer secure our IT department no longer allows it on the network meaning we can no longer use the current set up.
Ideally we want to avoid dev boards and would like to program individual chips that can be put on a breadboard (these are the professor's requests). We want to use these within the context of a first semester digital class (undergrad) where the students can easily program simple circuits that will drive a 7 segment display, for example. The professor wants to expose the students, who build the circuits throughout the semester using 7400 series chips for their class labs, a more modern way of implimenting logic. I have been looking around for some time now for the solution and have not been able to find exactly what we want. I want to know if anyone knows of a solution that will fill our needs: ability to program individual chips that can be breadboarded (adapter boards can be used with TQFPs), TTL compatible logic levels would be preferred, and ease of use (they won't have all semester to learn how to program). Any help would be greatly appreciated.14 Replies
Altera_Forum"Individual chips that can be placed on a breadboard" (meaning DIP form factor most likely) is no longer realistic. FPGAs/CPLDs (modern parts) are invariably SMT packaging.
That being said, there are solutions for this, being mini development boards that are setup in a DIP form factor, suitable for plugging into breadboards. Digilent makes a number of them in their CMOD series: https://store.digilentinc.com/search.php?search=&search_query=cmod They range from lower end CPLDs for basic logic, to a mid size (Spartan) and a higher end (Artix) FPGA part. Sadly I don't know of any vendor that produces equivalent types of boards that use Altera parts (Digilent boards are Xilinx based, just like TerAsic boards are Altera based). No technical reason you could not, just no vendor support. Maybe someone else knows of similar types of pluggable boards with Altera parts.- Altera_Forum
Based on your requirements, you could probably get away with a MAX 10 or Cyclone V (regular or SoC) kit. Terasic makes some great cheap kits in this space, and starter kits from Intel FPGA are really good as well.
https://www.altera.com/products/boards_and_kits/all-development-kits.html - Altera_Forum
I think what is going to happen is that the idea of dropping a chip (anymore) onto a breadboard is just not realistic, but I want to make sure that is what we will need to do. We have Quartus Prime 17 on our school network and dev board is probably what we will do. That was my recommendation, but.. you know. Thanks. What would you recommed dev board wise?
- Altera_Forum
I was going to recommend cheap dev kits until you said you want to do breadboarding, which complicates things. I'd recommend contacting the Intel FPGA University Program for ideas and assistance:
https://www.altera.com/support/training/university/overview.html
