EPCS flash problem @ DE0-Nano board

This is the correct forum.

I tried it on my DE0-Nano, and your myTest.sof file loaded OK into the FPGA. I'm using 12.1, so I rebuilt the project using that. The resultant file was OK, as well.

I can't think of a reason for the problem with that board of yours, but you should be able to return it for a replacement.

Today, I received my third DE0-Nano board.

BUT !

It is also not working, same problem. Now, I have one working board and two failing boards.

All 3 orders were placed by Digi-Key. The order from the good working board is about 1 year ago.

Now I have no more idea. Manufactoring/revision problem ?

Schould I contact now Altera or Terasic ?

Check the flash memory chips, Terasic recently changed to a Spansion device. That might be relevant.

I'd contact Terasic.

Good input and I agrree, they have changed the EPC Chip vendor.

I checked the EPC-Chip, see attachment.

A SR is already open by Altera.

Additional, I will contact Terasic

There's an app note from Spansion on using their devices as EPCS replacements:

http://www.spansion.com/support/application%20notes/configuring_altera_fpgas_via_spi_flash_an.pdf

The app shows how to “Disable EPCS ID Check".

Cheers,

Dave

Dave,

that's a very interesting info. THANKS !

I will check it out tomorrow and give you feedback a.s.a.p .

(In Germany it's already very late.)

Regards, Reinhard

I checked the notes from the Spansion dokument. For me, there was nothing special news included.

The problem is still the same and I agree, it seems to be that this problem is related to the Spansion

EPCS-16 chip integrated on some DE0-Nano boards.

I have already opened a SR at Altera and did contact Terasic direct via E-Mail and I hope to receive

a fix or at least a workaround.

Reinhard

Hi Reinhard,

--- Quote Start ---

I checked the notes from the Spansion dokument. For me, there was nothing special news included.

The problem is still the same and I agree, it seems to be that this problem is related to the Spansion

EPCS-16 chip integrated on some DE0-Nano boards.

--- Quote End ---

This is something that you can figure out yourself fairly easily.

1) Create a Qsys system according to this tutorial:

http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/using_the_usb-blaster_as_an_sopc/qsys_avalon-mm_master_tutorial

2) Connect the PIO component to the Flash pins

3) Write some Tcl to toggle the SPI signals to the serial flash, write routines to read the serial number, manufacturer details, and read and write flash.

That will tell you whether or not the flash is actually working. If it is, then its a problem with the Altera tools.

Cheers,

Dave