Alternative Embedded Processors

[Altera_Forum]

Hi. 

 I am currently building a small system as a school project on the DE2 board. I have been playing around with the NIOS II processor and everything is good. However, I am limited to using the NIOS II on the DE2 while the usb is plugged in. I do not have a licence for the NIOS II processor and I can not afford to buy a licence just for this project. Is there a free embedded processor alternative to the NIOS II that i can use in the SOPC builder?   How do I use an alternative processor in the SOPC builder?   I read this article: http://www.altera.com/corporate/news_room/releases/releases_archive/2002/products/nr-epp.html But I guess all that is way out of date.   Thanks for any help!   -Stian

[Altera_Forum]

there is a coldfire uP that has no license.  

 --dalon

[Altera_Forum]

i would try having a professor contact the University Program for a full Nios license.

[Altera_Forum]

I'll contact a professor and see if they can do something. 

 Now if I wanted to use the coldfire uP, where do i find the core/source/code to import to quartus? Once implemented, Can I Just choose it inside the SOPC builder like the NIOS II core and use all the IP's and avalon switch fabric and so fourth? Or do I have to implement a lot of new stuff?   Thanks!   -Stian

[Altera_Forum]

Hi stianhh, 

   --- Quote Start ---  Now if I wanted to use the coldfire uP, where do i find the core/source/code to import to quartus?   --- Quote End ---   There are several processor cores available in the public domain as Verilog or VHDL designs. The opencores site http://www.opencores.org has several finished and ongoing projects.   leon (http://www.gaisler.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&itemid=53) is a GNU licensed 32-bit Risc arhitecture of the SUN Sparc processor.   The opensparc (http://www.opensparc.net/) is an other alternative.     --- Quote Start ---  Once implemented, Can I Just choose it inside the SOPC builder like the NIOS II core and use all the IP's and avalon switch fabric and so fourth? Or do I have to implement a lot of new stuff?  --- Quote End ---     SOPC Builder is not particularly limited to NIOS-II. So you can also leave out the Nios-II or add own processors to it. You will however have to adhere to the Avalon bus used in SOPC. Many opencores designs also support the Wishbone bus. It should not be too big a problem to update a design from a Wishbone bus to an Avalon bus.   Hope this helps...