Hi Steve,

I use the CoolRunner from Xilinx.
In opposite to all others they are true CMOS and almost no current drawn, if no input change.

They can be direct used with 8051 derivates on 5V VCC, since 5V tolerant. Only a small 3.3V regulator was needed to power the CoolRunners.

I use Abel to write for it, since especially on bigger projects its easier to do some changes inside a source text file, than change the wiring on using a schematic entry.
Also I know not, how I can define big truth tables, macros, blocks, conditonal compiling and other powerful constructs inside a schematic entry form.

The Webpack Software can be downloaded free.

There is no special JTAG cable needed. Typically a 10-pin header was used on the pcb with the CoolRunner. The cable with the header and a SUB-D25 connector to the printer port can easy be self made.

The Coolrunners are named XCR3032XL (32 macro cells) ... XCR3384XL (384 macro cells).


Peter