Retro-Computing with FPGAs

zoid.com writes "I ran across a couple of really interesting projects using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) processors. First is the C-ONE project that is a reconfigurable computer. The default mode is a C64 compatible one, but the machine just boots the FPGA from an IDE device at power on, so it could theoretically be pretty much anything. The second one is the FPGA Arcade. This site is about recreating gaming hardware from the past in modern programmable devices. They currently have Pacman, Space Invaders and Galaxian implemented in FPGAs."

Re:Hardware emulation

[cuddles]

Quick quiz: What is MAME? Software, right. Second question: What's an FPGA? Field Programmable Gate Array - a chunk of reconfigurable silicon. Now you tell me :--) Gordon

Re:Jeez!

[tazan]

The problems not the cpu, z80's are less than $2. Having a 12" x 18" circuit board made and populated with the other 150 chips on the board gets expensive.

Re:Hardware emulation

[tazan]

Yes I have and in this case it's less than a computer with an interface to an arcade cabinet and about the same as a used 25 year old board from ebay. I'd much rather have a new board.

Custom SETI@Home chip.

[Anonymous Coward]

So, could it be done? A FPGA chip reprogrammed to crunch SETI code via hardware?

Re:Size...

[Orion_]

That's nice...but, this will not be very useful compared to todays apps and emulators...now if they could get the hardware down to size, this would be a great PDA...

You've entirely missed the point... this is not meant to be a "useful" machine, but rather a hobbyist machine. Something for people who want to be able to tinker and play with a computer with a relatively simple design that allows a programmer to have more or less complete control of the machine. Modern PCs are much too complex to fit this niche.

Think of it as something like a more advanced version of the C64 (or other 8-bits). Not something for people trying to do serious work -- that's what your desktop computer is for -- but something for people that like really get into the guts of the system.

Re:Any point?

[Wildstar128]

Hallo, the C-One can be many things. Lets not think so outright that the C-One is strictly about "Retro-Computing". It is in ways as ultra-modern by concept that hardware can be reconfigurable. One chip that can be turned into different kinds of hardware. That is a feat that will take incredible CPU power to make as virtual machines. With FPGAs its not virtual and its not emulated. Think of an array of silicon gates that can be rewired on the fly without use of soldering gun or expensive fabrication labs. The C-One's C-64 mode and compatibility is a feat about retro but think of tha past and the future being put into one point. Futuristic hardware concepts can literally be "proven". Now we can make hardware alot like we can make software. We can make efficient hardware with the same efficient principles of efficient software programming with understanding of hardware. What about real-world prototyping. Developers will love this. In all reality, we can even be a DVD Player as well. The future of the C-One would be the use of FPGA technology and a new revolution of software that incorporates hardware add-ons on CD-ROM. Now imagine this, I have this super fancy SuperNintendo cartridge, I can now incorporate a SuperFX chip all on CD-ROM. How, it is called VHDL the revolutionary bridge between software and hardware. Our ability to reprogram the hardware via software. The ability to incorporate our very own hardware in every CD-ROM we sell. Now, we can distribute hardware in 10-15 cent CD-R disc (CD-ROM). This is some of many possibilities we can see. This is only the beginning. Reconfigurable hardware is used in even modern DVD Players and digital setop boxes and other luxeries and state of the art products.

Re:Hardware emulation

[Wildstar128]

Guess what with FPGA - it can even be the SNES in one chip and also include all the cartridges and all the VHDL implementation of every hardware add-on included in the cartridges and added in on the fly on little Flash Cards the size of a PS2 memory card. Now we may call this the Nintendo Advance - No. Its one chip, and may use less power and still equal ther performance. You could even build your own Gameboy Advance like device with one FPGA. Have 1280 x 1024 resolution. All you need is a 300 K gate logic device. You can even use the Nios core that is built in to such FPGAs as the CPU.

wait, its STILL stupid!

[mekkab]

WoW! I can make a c-64!! Maybe I'll be uber-cool and use my Xilinx FPGA to re-create an old PONG box!

(*the above is sarcasm)

See, this isn't an article about "Wow! FPGA's are KOOL!" (they are! but they were cool 6 years ago when I used them in my digital lab class)- actually, that article would most likely be about evolutionary computing- google it. This is an article about recreating the past. I think you are missing the point.

I support your right to geek. I support your right to come up with a 40 hour solution to a 10 second problem, simply because the 40 hours solution is you making something from scratch instead of just throwing out the old and buying new. And I believe that such stories do have a place on /.

I'm just not impressed with this one.

Sorry to be a curmudgeon....

[SN74S181]

Sorry for being such a curmudgeon, but this seems like the equivalent of collecting recordings of the Antique Road Show in lieu of collecting real antiques.

FPGA technology is cool and all that, and there's a limited supply of vintage hardware that makes it a hobby with limited growth potential for marketers and banner advertising on enthusiast websites, but I can't think of a reason why it's cool to emulate a C64 with an FPGA, at least not for more than a few minutes. Do something new and cool with your new stuff.

Pffft

[freeweed]

If you're gonna be a complete jackass, why not ask: why not just buy an original c64? You can pick them up for $5 at the local junk shop here. Disk drive, another $2. I'm pretty sure your mini-itx boards cost more than $7.

Yeesh, why is it that every time someone does something neat/cool/original, we have to moderate up the 'BUT THERE'S ALREADY ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT' trolls?

Re:FPGA as standard PC Hardware?

[orangesquid]

Ah, but we're going to have to wait for the push for "bigger, faster, less efficient, home mini-iron" to finally fizzle out so we can start engineering some *real* modern CPU designs (instead of just shrinking and cooling).

A reconfigurable CPU like that would let computers do all sorts of things amazingly quickly; you can do almost anything in logic and asynchronous calculations run as fast as the signals can move across the chip.

Re:Any point?

[dual_base_33]

Configurable computing is the future. These little projects bring us one step closer to what I see as 'The Final Platform' :)

FPGAs are starting to be put into into mainstream graphics cards after being the commercial high end graphics world for many years.. ... Next stop will be replacing the desktop CPU...

One day all machines will just be a big lump of FPGA's and a cooling system... :)

Now if someone will write a netlist that lets be play flash files in hardware and play mpegs and divxs, we will have the ultimate set-top box and gaming platform.. New streaming video format? Just upgrade the netlist and the format is supported in hardware. One minute a Pintendo64, the next a Playstation.

Its the last step before nanotech...

Resistance is useless... :)