Hi guys. First post to this newsgroup, let's pop the champagne ;)
I need your advice on selecting a FPGA module for my needs.
Anyway. I need to stream data from a PC to a device, and back. Around
60-80 Mbps. I want to use Ethernet, 100 Mbps should do the job. I need a FPGA somewhere too, to format the data, handle the IO, and do some processing/FIR filtering.For now this will have two applications : streaming many channels of high bandwidth audio (24/192), and instrumentation (DSO). More later.
I have a working prototype with the Atmark Techno Suzaku FPGA module. It handles the full 100 Mbps bandwidth (barely) but not in full duplex. However I do not want to use this module in the final design : it isn't really suited.
After experimenting with the Suzaku which has a MAC chip, and an Atmel NGW100 which has no FPGA but a decent CPU/MAC with smart DMA I have come to the following conclusions :
- I'd like to use the OpenCores MAC core to drive a PHY and DMA the data to a fast memory buffer.
- The FPGA will then forward the buffered data to the IO channels in due time
- I need a CPU, but it will not touch the data, only parse the packet headers (I use UDP which is nice for this application).
- CPU will also handle other stuff like LCD and GPIO
- Microblaze is OK
- No OS will be used
So, I'd need a FPGA module with the following :
- 100BaseT Ethernet PHY connected to FPGA
- FPGA with enough gates to instantiate OpenCores MAC core, Microblaze, some BRAM buffers, some FIR filters, etc.
- 1MB fast memory (SDRAM or SRAM) where I can put my buffers and also my executable code. More is also good !
- Should be small, and not radiate EMI like a radio station
- Max cost $200, cheaper is better obviously !
- It should work ;)
I'd like something like this :
But noone sells it apparently and where is the docs ? I dunno. I could also use a module with a hard CPU if there is a fast access (ie. bus) from CPU to FPGA. I know the Xilinx tools, but I am not a Xilinx fanatic...
So, what is your advice ? I'd rather buy a module instead of having to build it...