[Coco] FPGA CoCo and video

[Mark Marlette]

james,

I have a version of his source just not the latest. This is due to Gary working on making his Xilinix code port to the DE1. I would have to go take a peek at the code to determine what the color depth and ATM I am not in that lab to look at it. I can say, it looks good and we have tried several modes. :) Technical huh? :)

I use Altera in my designs, Gary has indicated that there are pros/cons to both and in the end, take your pick. He must speak the truth because he has put considerable effort in making the DE1 port work as well as his Xilinix port. As you noted there are several differences between the two platforms.

Gary has some other new features that I'll let him announce. Again, be seated, WAY cool!!!

The Altera Quartus software as you noted is a free download, last update/install for me was ~1.5GB self extracting compressed file. The lab machine compiled the code in just under 1/2 hour. I believe my laptop can compile it in just under 15 minutes, that is a 3.2GHZ machine. Just getting the boards programmed and setup righ now if you aren't familiar with it can be a major task. There are a reason the tools are so large, ther are complex.

I even had to have Aaron figure out what I was missing on the DE1 setup on Sunday at the fest....Forgot the FLASH download util tool before I tried to use it....

Anyway, the bottom line is this. People are working on this, it is cool and WAY fun!!!

Practical? That is for each is own. For me? Ahhh, yes. :)

Made it though another reduction here at work. I am now the youngest left in my current job title position and labor grade. They let the youngest one go this time for some reason....Sharks....let my cube partner next do go, had 8 months to go before he qualified for retirement.....

Regards,

Mark


----- Original Message -----
From: jdaggett at gate.net
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 4:57:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Coco] FPGA CoCo and video

On 17 May 2010 at 16:41, Mark Marlette wrote:

> All,
> 
> As this is exciting there are several hurdles that still need to be jumped and lots of testing that needs to be performed.
> 

Mark, since you are using Gary's  software on the DE-1, what is the color depth on your 
setup?

> This is not my work, wish it was.... :)
> 
> There are several camps on what a CoCo is, then on a personal level what a CoCo is to you. One shoe does not fit all. I can say I like all the shoes! :)
> 

I concur on that.  
> What makes the CoCo fun is personal and different to each.
> 
> There are two platforms. I am only familiar with the Altera which the price was listed. That product is shipped from Taiwan, add ~$35 as I recall. 
> 

I am more familiar with Xilinx than I am with Altera. Simply the Xilinx parts are slightly 
cheaper in unit cost than that of the Altera devices, or at least they once were. Though I am 
intrigued by the Altera EP2C20 device as it is available in a QFP package and the XC2S1000 
is not. Gary's Becker's Coco3 should work in a XC3S400 if you strip out the ROMs and place 
them in an EPROM or flash ROM/RAM external to the FPGA. 


james


--
Coco mailing list
Coco at maltedmedia.com
http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco