Re: getting started in FPGA

> > > Howdy folks.
> > >
> > > I've got a recent BS in computer sytems engineering, which is a
like
> > > EE with some compsci mixed in.  I've used CPLDs, and really want
to
> > > get a good start in FPGAs so I can build my career in the
'embedded'
> > > direction.
> > >
> > > How does one start out in fpga development given that funds are
> > > limited ?
> > >
> > > thanks
> > >
> > > - moi
>
>
> Hi,
>
> http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/kit-dev_platforms.jsp lists
> Altera's development kits and many 3rd party kits using Altera
parts.
> Prices go from $99 to $7500.  The Stratix 1S10 based board at $395
and
> the Cyclone 1C20 board at $495 look like pretty good choices to me
for
> someone on a budget.  They're supported by the free Quartus web
> edition software.
>
> You can go all the way down to the $99 MAX based board though if you
> really want to keep costs down.
>
> If you're still a university student, you can get a UP2 board which
> has a 10K70 device along with Quartus and MaxPlus2 included, for
$149
> US.  See http://www.altera.com/education/univ/kits/unv-kits.html for
> details.  I would strongly recommend you learn Quartus rather than
> MaxPlus2 though -- while both support the 10K, Quartus is more
> powerful and you will learn more using it.
>
> Vaughn

You can find a reasonable priced Cyclone board (EP1C6) with some
additional memory for about $200 at:
http://www.jopdesign.com/cyclone/index.jsp

Martin