Is there only one version of BlackIce Mx but more cells & RAM if using Yosys?

[Roy]

Hello,

I am only starting to learn FPGA, so I may well be asking 'stupid' questions re FPGA. I am compiling a list of all FPGA Dev boards that are well supported and/or recommended for FPGA training courses. Came across BlackIce today.

There seems to be only one version of BlackIce Mx

Its description states "..Ice40 FPGA with 3520 logic cells (7680 cells with Yosys), 80Kb (128K-Yosys) internal block RAM..."

Is it 3520 logic cells available if using IceStorm toolchain and 7680 cells available if using Yosys toolchain?

Roy

[electrified]

You are correct, there is only one version of the BlackIce MX which has the ICE40HX4K.

3520 LCs is the value you'll see in Lattice's official marketing and documents, and what you will be limited to if you use their proprietary tools (IceCube2). These limits are only enforced in software - the ICE40HX4K actually shares the same die as the ICE40HX8K so really has 7680 LCs too.

This means the open source toolchain has been able to allow access to the full resources of the more expensive chip.

[Roy]

Thanks very much for the explanation.