[Coco] FPGA VS Software Emulators

[tim franklinlabs.com]

   For the most part, what you described is correct.. with the exception
   of your description: "Software Emulation". FPGA's are not software
   emulation. FPGA's are programmable gates which are configured to act as
   a specific hardware component (AKA Hardware Emulation). There's a huge
   difference between "Software Emulation" and "Hardware Emulation". VCC
   is a software emulator. DE-1 is a Hardware Emulator. I know this is
   nit-picking but when making a comparison of real and emulated, the
   devil is in the details. IMHO.

     On July 25, 2017 at 8:50 AM Bill Nobel <b_nobel at hotmail.com> wrote:

     Hi Walter good points to bring up.

     The Coco on a chip project uses SRAM @ 10ns access time. The
     CocoFPGA uses a faster SRAM which is why the speed difference. The
     reason software emulators can do a lot better speed is just that.
     Its a Software emulation, no speed limitations as it is a software
     clock that is changeable based on the CPU it's being run on. FPGA's
     still have to communicate to real hardware which will pass a
     limitation to the speeds they run, depending on what is being
     interfaced. Each hardware device will have a different speed rating.
     Both FPGA projects run on an internal clock of 50mhz which is then
     divided down to to a speed for each device connected (whether it's
     internally programmed or physically attached).

     There are many other factors that affect speeds as well, but in this
     case the FPGA is not really the limitation, it's the hardware that
     attaches to it.

     Bill Nobel
     b_nobel at hotmail.com<mailto:b_nobel at hotmail.com>

     On Jul 25, 2017, at 1:02 AM, Walter Zambotti
     <zambotti at iinet.net.au<mailto:zambotti at iinet.net.au>> wrote:

     Before I start this is not a one is better than the other debate.

     This is about better understanding each technology.

     Ok so my initial thoughts regarding FPGA (as I really know nothing)
     were
     hardware simulation should
     provide an end product that is more efficient and faster than a
     general
     CPU/software emulator.

     However this does not appear to be the case.

     The CoCo on a chip project emulates an 8mhz CoCo.

     The CoCoFPGA project a 25mhz CoCo.

     And VCC on my i5 (3.3 ghz) a 133mhz CoCo.

     What causes these differences in end speed?

     Why are the two FPGA projects so different in speed?

     Why are both FPGA solutions slower than a CPU/software solution?

     Is it the particular FPGA hardware itself?

     Would high end FPGAs provide a different result?

     I've just download the FPGA for Dummies eBook from Altera so I'm
     starting my
     education process.

     Walter

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