Custom Vivado Parts/Board Creation

Question

Hello all!

I am starting down the path of designing circuits utilizing the FPGA! So far my experience with every piece of documentation on how to use Vivado has been an absolute nightmare. (I am having a horrible time! )

Well, I needed a cheap board w/ HDMI in order to complete a project of mine. This one right here: https://allaboutfpga.com/product/edge-artix-7-fpga-development-board/

It even comes with this beautiful set of well put together documentation: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tswx9k0ji9l5isn/AACQUIi-R-VHQyKrbYxgAbjIa?dl=0

However, the Artix 7 chip it comes with is not listed in Vivado, like at all. I even tried to just find one that fits this chips specs but there are none listed in Vivado. I don't even know if that would have worked anyway. (Everything about this is terrible! )

So my questions;
Here is the Artix 7 chip I am using: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/xilinx-inc/XC7A35T-1FTG256C/122-1910-ND/5039074
Is there a way to create my own part number in Vivado with these^^^ specifications?
And then, using the provided dev board documentation, set all the I/O for my newly created part?

In essence, creating my own board to use for each of my projects?

Other questions relevant to my end project;

What are some good sources to learn Verilog that are not suicide inducing 500+ page documents?
What are some good sources for learning how to use Vivado that do not make one want to change professions to that of a party clown?

Regards,

-Matt G.

michaelkellett · Accepted Answer

Are you using the latest version of Vivado ? I had a quick look at the latest I'm running (2017-4) and got this: The lack of a precise match would worry me for a production job but this gets you a good start up option. What do the demo projects look like - the device shows up on the front page project summary. (Make sure you use the same version of Vivado as the demo projects if you want them to work without pain.) You can't create your own part - you wouldn't be able to make all the files that describes its characteristics. The best way to start to make your own projects is to copy and modify a working project. Once you can do that (ie blink a different LED or whatever) try and create one of the examples from scratch yourself. There is a step by step guide (actually lots of them) on the web. I don't know your background but if you are new to HDL and FPGA there is no quick route - 500 pages it not enough - you need to learn about logic, FPGA and an HDL (Verilog or VHDL). Then you need to learn the tool. I did not (and would not) start with Vivado. (Vivado is a great tool - but an overwhelming place to start on your own.) If you have to stick with it and the Artix FPGA and can afford to go on a course (which usually means its part of your job and someone else is paying the £2k+ its going to cost.) then do that. If you have no option but self teach (and intend to do more than tweak pre-baked examples) then expect it to take a LOT of effort. You can see from reviews in Road Tests on E14 just how big a job it is. From your post I think that you are at this last option - if so then explain what your required end result is (eg learn FPGA, make and HDMI to XXX converter for paid work, etc etc) and we'll try and help. @Gene, Vivado is the current tool for series 7 FPGAs - ISE is not an option. MK

genebren · Answer

Tough questions.

I have not used Vivado software at all, but I have used the ISE WebPACK software (which does cover the XC7A100T and XC7A200T parts of the Artix 7 family). Is it an easier to use environment? I started from scratch in this environment and became sufficient in very little time. Will the allowed parts be useful to your project? That will require some digging on your behalf (these seem to be quite large devices).

I have found that there are a lot of good books and tutorials to get you going. There are also quite a lot of examples out there of VHDL designs. I found all of these sources very helpful in my learning of VHDL.

Good luck!

Gene

gecoz · Answer

Hi Matthew, I believe the Artix7 you have is supported in Vivado. The part number for it should be xc7a35tftg256. Performing a seach against the part list in Vivado (I have the 2018.1 version installed), you should get something like shown in the picture below: Then you will have to pick the correct one, according to the speed grade of your fpga (which I believe is -1). I hope this helps, Fabio

muddpup64 · Answer

I am a computer engineering student. My end project is to convert raw N64 GPU data (and audio) to HDMI. It will require I design my own board and implement code for the FPGA. Of which I am in the process of developing on my new Edge board. The project takes direct inspiration from this project: UltraHDMI – RetroRGB Clearly, that is a lot. So please keep in mind that the project, starting about now, is meant to take at least a year to finish. Most importantly, this project envelops all the things I want in a project; 1. How to use and program an FPGA 2. Designing a PCB 3. The behavior of high speed signals 4. Micro soldering 5. Both hardware and software side of logic design 6. It is something I am interested in and am excited to work on. (This is very important to me.) I could go on... In the mean time, my short term goal is to utilize the Artix-7's integrated logic analyzer IP to analyze the signals coming off of the GPU and then design an algorithm that converts those GPU signals into an HDMI signal. Does that make sense? Of course this means I need to first learn a language in order to build the logic analyzer and converter. That's where I am at. I followed this little project here: https://alchitry.com/blogs/tutorials/your-first-fpga-project last night (by suggestion of a friend) and was able to edit code, load it to my board, and then execute said code. It worked but I am looking for more. Of course I could always continue this little course but two thoughts come to mind; 1. Could I be doing this in a language better suited to my style? or 2. Will this course be thorough enough for my needs? Is it the best use of my time? Honestly, I did not know Vivado could do both Verilog and VHDL until I started using it. I thought both languages were proprietary, one used for Xilinx products, the other for Altera products. Which language do you suggest? And what are some good resources to learn said language? Regards, -Matt G P.S. You have answered my initial questions. Should I re-post ^^this^^ with a more appropriate title?

michaelkellett · Answer

I'm not an expert on the Nintendo 64 but I just read the Wiki article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_technical_specifications and looked at the video on the Ultra HDMI link. You are embarking on a big hardware adventure here as well as the FPGA stuff. Just buy a kit to get that flexi pcb (unless there is someone at Uni who really has experience of doing that kind of thing - making your own is not trivial.) If you are going to make your own board you might want to consider using chips that don't lock you to BGA packages. The Ultra HDMI is using a Cyclone 3C10 which is not in the same league as the Artix FPGA you have chosen. Obviously the Artix can do the job but you don't really need it. Suppose you stick with the Artix, then you need to be sure that you can solder it to your board - it can be had in a 1mm pitch BGA package which would allow you to get away with a 4 layer board and 0.005" (0.125mm track and gap) Maybe 0.15mm track and gap if you are very careful. Soldering will be hard - you might get away with a hotplate, sticky flux and gold plated board - or maybe the Uni can support this. Re HDl to use - I would recommend VHDL but about half the FPGA peopel you speak to would recommend Verilog. Xilinx support for VHDL and Verilog is good and much more even handed than, for example, Lattice who are a bit half hearted about VHDL. In the end you'll need to learn both. But since your edge board has VHDL examples I would suggest that you start with that. The on FPGA logic analyzers are, in my experience, pretty useless at seeing what a real design is up to - take out all your spare pins to connectors for debug. You will need a real physical logic analyzer to get this going, lots of scopes now have MSO versions, a 4 channel scope with a 16 channel logic analyzer will be essential. (The Uni should be able to provide this - you need 250 MHz analogue bandwidth(minimum). Keysight, Lecroy, Rhode and Schwarz, Tektronix, are all OK, beware of cheap or old stuff. You just can't get a project like this to work without a decent scope and analyzer - if you can't get hold of one then come back and ask.) Re. the course - looks suspect and too low aiming for your project - if you are going to use an Artix and Vivado better get used to swimming with the sharks. Use VHDL and the Vivado IDE and Simulator. Load and run all the examples for your baord and then start hacking them. Look at the examples on Xilinx's website - (often scary) and trawl the web - bearing in mind that at least half the code and advice on VHDL you'll find will be poor, rubbish or misleading (possibly including mine ) You are aiming pretty high - unless you have some decent support from at least one tutor at Uni, access to some test gear and also a bit of cash for boards and bits then I don't think you can do it. Are you able to tell us which Uni you are at (because my advice might be modified a bit by knowing). Hope this helps - feel free to ask more things. You could do followup questions (Blog?) in the FPGA group. MK

Custom Vivado Parts/Board Creation

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