Project Overview

    Many modern graphics processing units (GPUs) are complex devices. For our project, we have elected to design and test a small footprint educational GPU through the Iowa State Chip Forge organization’s toolflow. This organization’s focus is to give students an opportunity to experience application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design, and the toolflow is an open-source solution to design ASICs. The μGPU provides a simple and relevant method for students to enter the world of GPU and ASIC design.

    The μGPU will be used to help students explore GPU design in a more consumable way than self-research and exploration. Our documentation and weekly reports can be used by students to help them understand the architecture choices we made and to help them consume the design in modularized pieces. Additionally, at Iowa State University there is a lack of formal instruction on hardware design for graphics. Students at other universities may not even have a course on GPU design offered and could use this document to help themselves learn key concepts for a relatively simple GPU design.