4

I googled deeply but couldn't find any cpu constructor simulator. I'm specifically hoping to learn about the operation of the northbridge, but When I googled "bridge simulator" or "bridge (the construction game)" is the result.

I don't want to simulate existing architectures. İ need to create my own.

Question: Do you know any free project (ideally C++) with this flexibility:

  • Place ALUs, FPUs, etc arbitrarily
  • Make the instruction fetcher width 8 bytes
  • Allows operation with an arbitrary set of components (E.G, build a system that doesn't utilize L2/L3 cache)
  • Designate instruction pipeline length
  • Run the simulated hardware at various frequencies
  • Can simulate a GPU (or GPUs)

Is there a utility that would allow me to experiment with hardware design in a click-and-drag CAD manner? If there isn't, how complicated would it be to make such a simulator for 8-bit systems?

Brian Carlton
  • 13,252
  • 5
  • 43
  • 64
huseyin tugrul buyukisik
  • 225
  • 1
  • 7
  • 2
    I answered a [similar question](http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/37588/graphical-circuit-simulator-like-logisim?rq=1) a little while ago, have a read and see if it helps at all. – Oli Glaser Aug 17 '12 at 16:35
  • 2
    You want to learn an HDL (Hardware Description Language), like **VHDL** or **Verilog**. FPGA vendors have development tools for their products, often free up to a certain level, which includes simulation. Doing this in C++ is next to insane. – stevenvh Aug 17 '12 at 16:36
  • Okay, looking to these sources and questions – huseyin tugrul buyukisik Aug 17 '12 at 16:37
  • Trying to register verilog now – huseyin tugrul buyukisik Aug 17 '12 at 16:47
  • 2
    "northbridge" is a component of a specific system architecture which would likely be irrelevant to a custom CPU. You will likely have more luck starting small with a simple, unoptimized design. First write something in C or your favorite language which simulates the instruction set and which you can later use as a verification check, then implement it in an HDL such as Verilog or VHDL. – Chris Stratton Aug 17 '12 at 16:57
  • 3
    @tuğrul - "Trying to register verilog now". Don't tell us everything you do. This isn't twitter! – stevenvh Aug 17 '12 at 17:34

1 Answers1

4

Based on your question, I believe writing a simulator for 8-bit systems would be over your head.

Brian Carlton
  • 13,252
  • 5
  • 43
  • 64