MAXimator PROMO

[rsjsouza]

I just found out about this promotion today. Opinions on the board and price?
http://kamami.com/boards/561438-maximator-promo-with-expander-shield-and-kamami-usb-blaster.html

[ebclr]

https://www.amazon.com/Altera-CPLD-Development-System-MegaProLogic/dp/B00FAQSLPK/ref=lp_7935068011_1_2?srs=7935068011&ie=UTF8&qid=1509777051&sr=8-2

[jefflieu]

I also wanted to try the MAXIMATOR but was not quite happy because it doesn't have SDRAM and have no way for extension.
Then I found out this.
https://www.arrow.com/en/campaigns/max1000
I think the deal is pretty sweet:
- On board JTAG
- On board SDRAM
- On board Accelerometer.
- Arduino MKR form factor
By the way, Arrow is having free international shipping at the moment, no minimum amount!
I already ordered one! It's coming to Down under on the 8th.   
Here's the brochure: http://static6.arrow.com/aropdfconversion/dc103f58e35c46a122b277e5ecedb4659560ebbe/arrow_fpga_iot_maker_board_max1000.pdf

[asmi]

I also wanted to try the MAXIMATOR but was not quite happy because it doesn't have SDRAM and have no way for extension.
Then I found out this.
https://www.arrow.com/en/campaigns/max1000
I think the deal is pretty sweet:
- On board JTAG
- On board SDRAM
- On board Accelerometer.
- Arduino MKR form factor
By the way, Arrow is having free international shipping at the moment, no minimum amount!
I already ordered one! It's coming to Down under on the 8th.   
Here's the brochure: http://static6.arrow.com/aropdfconversion/dc103f58e35c46a122b277e5ecedb4659560ebbe/arrow_fpga_iot_maker_board_max1000.pdf

SDRAM? What it is - 1997?

[rsjsouza]

Thank you for the replies. I can tell each kit has details on every.

The Amazon board is a MAX II device, while the other boards are MAX10, although without SDRAM I can see how the Kamami board becomes a bit more limited. The Arrow board, however, has a built-in Blaster programmer, although a standalone one is not expensive.

asmi, SDRAM is an encompassing term for everything Synchronous Dynamic RAM, including their newest incarnations DDR3/4.

[asmi]

asmi, SDRAM is an encompassing term for everything Synchronous Dynamic RAM, including their newest incarnations DDR3/4.

I know this, but Max1000 has actual SDRAM chip on board (now obsolete). And I suspect the reason is that Antel for some reason doesn't want to offer free DDR3 controller (like Xilinx is doing). So... yeah. 1997 it is.

[jefflieu]

I'm not sure SDRAM is obsolete.
But SDRAM is good when you need to run embedded on small FPGA.
DDR controller is too much for such a small chip.

[marcopolo]

Arrow DECA MAX10 50K Cell with 512MB DDR3 for $65

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/deca/arrow-development-tools

[rsjsouza]

Wow, that certainly is quite impressive - I wonder if the DDR3 controller is available as a "binary blob", buried inside a soft core IP or available as plain source...

At any rate, despite the Winbond device used by the MAX1000 is discontinued (the industrial temp grade is still on), SDRAM is not obsolete by any means. It is the layman's dog slow memory of choice.