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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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11 years ago

CYCLON V + DDR3 RAM reset/clock problems within BeMicro CV board

Hello everyone,

I am using the BeMicro CV Development Kit board which is based on a Cyclone V

Device 5CEFA2F23C8N. I am using Quartus II 64-Bit Version 13.1.0 Build 162

( problem also occurs with Version 14.0 ) and I am hanging in 2 problems:

1) sometimes after downloading the elf file: Note: The problem occurs always

if an external PLL is used:

Verifying 08000000 ( 0%)

Verify failed between address 0x8000000 and 0x800D71F

Leaving target processor paused

2) Reset problem: the reset does not work at all even though I followed the instructions

http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/solutions/rd07072011_71.html

The board will be dead if I press the reset button.

Enclosed, please find all the referece files. The myload.sh script in the flash directory

will load and start the test programm to the BeMicro CV board. I have testet 5 boards already

with the same result. Can anyone confirm that there is a problem in the CYCLONE V which is

clock/PLL related. If yes, is there a fix available ? or did I make a mistake in my qsys design?

Many thanks in advance

Reinhard

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    11 years ago

    Start with my DDR3 example ...

    http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43992

    The reset on the Hard IP core does not work correctly

    --- Quote Start ---

    Service Request#11062538

    Cyclone V DDR3 UniPHY HMC Avalon-MM wait-request lockup after soft-reset

    The uploaded zip file contains an example design for the BeMicro-CV device. While testing the DDR3 UniPHY controller, it was determined that pulsing soft-reset caused the Avalon-MM interface to lock-up. A Modelsim simulation was created that reproduces the problem, i.e., for some reason the DDR controller forces wait-request to be asserted after the soft-reset signal has been pulsed. The simulation shows that if the global-reset signal is pulsed, the testbench works fine.

    Altera's Knowledgebase article

    http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/solutions/rd05212013_358.html

    has the comments that

    "Altera strongly recommends using only soft_reset_n at all times.

    Use global_reset_n only for Power on reset."

    So, what is wrong with the Cyclone V Hard-memory controller?

    The file altera_service_request.txt has details on how to synthesize and simulate the design example.

    --- Quote End ---

    This has yet to be resolved, but the example I have referred you to works fine.

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    11 years ago

    Dave, thank you very much for your info but the "bemicro_cv_basic" does not realy help me. I will try to implement the fix from the Altera's Knowledgebase

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    11 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Dave, thank you very much for your info but the "bemicro_cv_basic" does not realy help me. I will try to implement the fix from the Altera's Knowledgebase

    --- Quote End ---

    You didn't scroll down far enough in the other thread. Go all the way to the bottom and download bemicro_cv_examples.zip.

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    11 years ago

    I followed the instructions from you but the problem still exists.

    Enclosed, find the Qsys-file. I also figured out, that there is a

    CYCLON V PLL bug in the first silicon version and it is also described

    in the ALTERA Errata Sheet for Cyclone V Devices.

    http://www.altera.com/literature/es/es_cyclone_v.pdf

    All my BeMicro CV boards are equipped with known bad CYCLON V silicon.

    Too bad for me. My question: Is there a solution available and not only a Workaround ?

    Can I get my BeMicroCV boards replaced from ALTERA? Any Any idea is welcome.

    Regards, Reinhard
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    11 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    All my BeMicro CV boards are equipped with known bad CYCLON V silicon.

    --- Quote End ---

    Weird. I ordered several when they first came out from Arrow USA and they have production silicon. I wonder if the European distributors had ES parts.

    You could contact the distributor and see if they'll replace them ... or give you a discount :)

    Cheers,

    Dave