Beginers Guide to SoC Design, FPGA Implementation

[O-Dog]

Hi, can anyone give me some good references/links/books for information on designing systems that consist of a CPU core, with functionality implemented around the CPU (such as ethernet controller, hard disc controller), that are implemented on an FPGA.

I am unsure of the number of macrocells a typical FPGA has, and the macrocells required to implement an 8051 core. How would you go about developing software for the 8051 core?

Many thanks

 

[Ace-X]

Check this link:
http://www.dtweed.com/circuitcellar/xgrayjan.htm#1915

There you will find the 3 parts serie of articles from CircuitCellars:
"Building a RISC System in an FPGA"
Part 1: Tools, Instruction Set, and Datapath
Part 2: Pipeline and Control Unit Design
Part 3: System-on-a-Chip Design

BTW, usually definition "macrocell" is used for CPLD, FPGA's logic block is referred as a CLB (Configurable Logic Block).

Cheers!

Ace-X.

 

[gabby]

HI
Try this site , you can find a lot of free core and some links.

https://www.opencores.org/

Best regards.

 

[fpgaman]

You can try "Nios". This is a "soft" 16/32bit CPU developed by @ltera. It only need 1000-2000 LE.
The most important thing is: It has enough documents,software tools ,
and it is fully tested. Of course,MicroBlaze,a soft CPU from Xilinx, is another good choice.
I don't suggest you to use those free CPU core if you have a real project to do.