An educational SystemVerilog project to learn and explore the fundamentals of GPU design through a simple, compact implementation.
nano-gpu is comprised of the following sub-modules:
- gpu_top: top level module, contains the following
- command_decoder: decodes a GPU instruction
- geometry_unit: converts high-level primitives into pixel coordinates
- rasterizer: converts x y coordinates into frame buffer writes
- frame_buffer: virtual frame buffer in lieu of a VGA adapter which will come in future implementations
The first and currently only supported instruction is to draw a line. Given an input command which encodes OPCODE (draw line), X1, Y1, X2, Y2 coordinates, and COLOR, the data and control flows as follows:
command -> command_decoder -> geometry_unit -> rasterizer -> frame_buffer
The Makefile targets require the following tools and has been tested on MacOS:
- Icarus Verilog for simulation
- GTKWave for waveform viewing
- Yosys for synthesis, place and route, etc
The following examples focus on the rasterizer block. Similar targets are available for the other blocks.
Simulating and viewing waveforms:
make rast
Viewing RTL diagram:
make rast_rtl_view
Synthesizing:
make rast_synth
A clean house is a happy house:
make clean
- frame_buffer_viz.py: Render frame buffer contents as a 320 by 240 grayscale image, such as
