[Fpga-synth] New FPGAs

[Eric Brombaugh]

Depends on what the price is!

The features I'm primarily interested in are the DDR memory controller 
and the DSP48A slices. So far, the DSP48 is only available in the 
Spartan 3A-DSP parts or Virtex 4 & 5, which are primarily high-end (read 
as 'expensive', BGA-only), so not really practical for DIY. If the 
low-end Spartan 6 devices come out in the under-$30 range then they'll 
be worth considering for some projects. Otherwise I'll probably continue 
to use the Spartan 3E parts that I can get for $13 at Digi-Key.

FWIW, the V6/S6 parts aren't showing up on any of the distributors yet 
so there's little chance that I'll be using them in the near future.

Eric

malik martin wrote:
> Will this affect your decision to get one? (Price)
> 
>     On Feb 2, 2009 5:09 PM, "Eric Brombaugh" <ebrombaugh1 at cox.net
>     <mailto:ebrombaugh1 at cox.net>> wrote:
> 
>     Seen this?
> 
>     http://www.xilinx.com/products/v6s6.htm
> 
>     Looks like a bit of a snoozefest. New pre-adder on V6 DSP48.
>     Spartan6 has DSP48A (like Spartan3A-DSP) and new hard macros for DDR
>     memory control and PCI-E endpoint. Spartan still available in
>     144-pin flatpack for 2 smallest members. Using 40nm process, so
>     density is up a bit too.
> 
>     Basically just shuffling the furniture around. Lots of new marketing
>     terminology: "Targeted Design Platforms" basically means "Look at
>     all the IP cores we can shovel at you!"
> 
>     Now just waiting for price & availability.