Ask HN: What does RISC-V custom chips for under $100K mean?

Re:Ask HN: What does RISC-V custom chips for under $100K mean? by JonChesterfield on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @12:35PM (#40729848)

Nice example, thank you. I have no interest in making a commercial product but some motivation to learn what lies below the ISA. Like you say, that's cheaper than some more common hobbies. I work in the software side of semiconductor companies so it's a reasonable spin on professional development too.

A friend recently discovered that PCBs can be ordered online for essentially zero cost and arrive in the mail and that surface mount soldering is an easy thing. Combined with a path for code to magic sand that's a whole world of dubious past times suddenly available.

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Re:Ask HN: What does RISC-V custom chips for under $100K mean? by wrs on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @01:44PM (#40730596)

Wait’ll you find out the same company that makes the PCBs will also source the parts and do the soldering for you, as well as 3D print the case — all in quantity 2 and up! All for incredibly cheap, and 6-day turnaround to your (west coast US) door. It’s a golden age for random hardware hacking. (Check out JLCPCB and PCBWay.)

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Re:Ask HN: What does RISC-V custom chips for under $100K mean? by IshKebab on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @03:41PM (#40731724)

If you just want to learn how CPUs are designed then get an FPGA. The process of running a chip on an FPGA is very similar to the process of getting a custom ASIC built.

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Re:Ask HN: What does RISC-V custom chips for under $100K mean? by dfgs234 on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @12:50PM (#40730003)

You might find this course helpful then. There is a huge amount of information you need to consume to make an IC so having it all organized for you is pretty valuable. It will save you many, many, hours. :)

https://zerotoasiccourse.com

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