Using the Altera UP 1 board for prototyping and VGA video display generation

This paper describes current work utilizing a rapid prototyping approach to simulate, synthesize and implement prototype digital systems and computer architectures. PCs are used with student versions of commercial VHDL based CAD tools along with a low cost CPLD development board. VGA video output generated directly by the CPLD chip is used to display graphics or textual data eliminating the need for a logic analyzer. This low cost methodology is utilized in the design laboratory sequence of required courses for computer engineering students at Georgia Tech.