6502 emulator on FPGA

6502 microprocessor was once used in almost all of the microcomputer in the 80s,
including the Apple II lines of computer, the Commodore PET, the Commodore 64,
the Atari 8-bit series and even on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) video
game console.
The objective of this project is to emulate the once famous 6502 microprocessor onto a
FPGA chip. The FPGA-based 6502 microprocessor had to emulate the functionality of
a real 6502 microprocessor. Accurate pinouts emulation is desired but not a must.
The 6502 assembly language is easy to learn and building a computer based on this
microprocessor requires very few parts, thus making this project a great experiential
learning process.
The scope of this project requires the student to have an in-depth understanding on
computer system architecture, especially on 6502 architecture; V erilog to understand
existing 6502 source code from Bird Computer and also FPGA development process
(synthesis tools) to transfer the Verilog code to the FPGA chip.
Thus far, the resources and information on 6502 microprocessor looks promising. The
student earlier scope was to come up with the 6502 code in Verilog HDL, but as there
is available code from Bird Computer (State Machine coded) so the student had
chanced his objectives to understand the existing code and implement it on FPGA
only. But as along the way, problems occur on hardware implementation, focus had
been switched again to simulate the existing code or ALU or simple processor to build
up student understanding and for documentation for future project expansion. To test
the functionality of the 6502 system, the student will either find existing application or
come up with simple program to run using the FPGA-based 6502 system.