GOWIN FPGA

I'm always looking for easy to use components. As far as FPGAs are concerned, their implementation is not always easy nor always cheap (multi-voltage, external EEPROM, etc.)

As a result, I had noticed that the series of FPGAs from the GoWin brand, seemed relatively simpler to implement than the major standards such as Altera or Xilinx.

So I decided to make a prototype board. I chose the module format offered by QMTECH because I have some developments that use them. This way, I can eventually place the GoWin module instead of the QMTECH modules.

The result looks like this:

To be able to program these FPGAs, it is absolutely necessary to obtain the programming dongle. I chose the 'GoWin USB cable' (GWU2X). It's inexpensive and easy to install. The procedure of installation is described in the dongle documentation.

Once these elements have been purchased and made, all that remains is to connect them. The detection of the FPGA is done without problem. 

I had obviously made a mistake by setting up a resistance of bad value, subsequently replaced by one of good value (red circles).

If I publish this little post, it is obviously because the functional test has passed. The 'Hello World' works without problems. The user LED is flashing correctly.

I just got an example from GoWin and modified the output pins according to the characteristics of my module. 

Most of the work is done, ie the discovery and implementation of the entire development and programming chain. It now remains to really take control of this FPGA. This is a 4 000 gates model. I'll see if I can implement a minimum Z80 system there...

For this, I will use my µPF2 compatible board in which was currently inserted a QMETCH module equipped with Altera FPGA:

My GoWin FPGA-based module fits perfectly in place of the Qmtech module:

For the moment I absolutely do not know if I will be able to place a minimum system in this GoWin FPGA. I know that the number of gates used in the original design is less than 4000 gates so it should be fine but on the one hand I have no experience on the GoWin development tool, and I don't know if I can transpose the number of gates used on this new FPGA. I hope that my experiments will allow me to answer these questions...

Drumulator Clone...

That's it, I've pretty much placed all of my ideas regarding my recreation of the Drumulator. I obviously added some goodies compared to the original machine.

Now I have all these components to place on a PCB:

Hmm, that's not my favorite part of the job...

[06/09] After a few hours of work, here is the general idea of ​​the front panel:

You will have understood, it's new, but old style version, because... I like that too.

[06/15] There's always a moment when you wonder if you're going to make it!

Anyway, I continue to place the components. It only remains for me to place those dedicated to the 'simple' output filters and as well as those dedicated to the commands/display of the machine :

Like that, it seems clear and well arranged, but what will be the routing with all these signals!!!

[06/16] After a few more hours of work, it becomes clearer...

3D visualization, even if it is not perfect, still allows you to get a fairly close idea of ​​what the printed circuit board will look like:

All you have to do is try to route all the connections. It might be 'sporty'!