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REngel's avatar
REngel
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2 years ago
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Development Tool EPM7256AETC

Hello, we have an old design with a Altera EPM7256AES. As we learned now, we have to support this design for extended periods. The original design was made with Max+Plus II V6.0 and was untouched fo...
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Programmable Logic Device
JMACDUDE's avatar
JMACDUDE
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2 years ago

I have a similar issue. I must support older designs using the EPM7256. We bought EPM7256ATC100-7 I.C.s and installed them into our circuit boards. We are using Quartus 13.01 and select EPM7256AETC100-10 device (3.3v) since that's the closed to the ATC device we installed. Since I can't find ANY information on the EPM7256ATC device I hope that works.

So how compatible is the AETC and the ATC series?

I have selected the EPM7256AETC -100, since its the closes I can find to the EMP7256ATC-100 we are using. It builds fine.

So assuming that they are compatible that brings up my biggest issue - programming the device.

The problem is that the Quartus II Programmer has no selection for the ATC device and when I select an AE is fails the blank check.

If I perform an Auto Detect t it shows up as a EPM7256S (5volt) device. But then my build using the AETC is not compatible with to 7256S and there is no EPM7256xxx-100 device available to compile for.

Do I need to update the programmer or get device support for the 7256ATC device?

_AK6DN_'s avatar
_AK6DN_
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2 years ago

I have nothing but negative news re: the EPM7256A vs EPM7256AE.

I have QuartusII 13.0sp1 installed and it supports the AE series, not the A series.

I have QuartusII 6.1 and 9.1sp2 also available, and they both support both the A and AE series for DEVELOPMENT.

With respect to programming, however, the A series is NOT selectable. Just the AE series.

From the Altera MAX7000A/AE datasheet Sept 2003 v4.5, this comment on p.16:

The JTAG ID's for the EPM7128A vs EPM7128AE are different. Same difference applies to EPM7256A vs EPM7256AE.

So altho you can select the A series for development in QuartusII 6.1 or 9.1sp2, you CANNOT select the A series for programming.

Only the AE series parts show up in the programmer device selector.

My suggestion at this point would be to dump the A series parts and look for AE series equivalents.
Possibly the EPM3256A might be an alternative. The EPM7256AE certainly is.

There may be other versions of Quartus between 6.1, 9.1sp2, and 13.0sp1 (like 11.0 or 12.0) that handle the A series,
but I can't say as I don't have those versions installed and available. The release notes for QuartusII 2.1 mention support
for the 7xxxAE and 3xxxA series but nothing for the 7xxxA series. This is going all the way back to 2002.

  • JMACDUDE's avatar
    JMACDUDE
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    2 years ago

    Thanks AK6DN,

    You are correct sir, that is bad news.

    I guess I can buy the ICs, build programs, but not actually use them.

    I'm going to try using one of my old Max PlusII programs but my USB Blaster won't work so I'm buying a ByteBlaster(MV) and may yet save my boards.

    I wonder if Intel/Altera would have a solution to using the EPM7256ATC100 in 2024?

    Thanks for the info

    John

    • _AK6DN_'s avatar
      _AK6DN_
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      2 years ago

      "I wonder if Intel/Altera would have a solution to using the EPM7256ATC100 in 2024? "

      As a direct fit/form/function compatible device? I highly doubt it. They are moving upscale and not interested in the low end.

      There are lower end devices in the MAX5/MAX10 family that would probably be acceptable alternatives.

      But they will all require a board/footprint redesign. No devices that would just drop in.

      • JMACDUDE's avatar
        JMACDUDE
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        2 years ago

        I guess that brings me to the next issue. I actually designed the PCB for EPM7256AETC100, but was only able to buy ATC chips from my normal vendors.

        The Compiler supports EPM7256 AETC, AETI chips and it seems I can buy these and replace the ones on the PCB

        However the programmer only supports EPM7256AE and EPM7256AET100

        I can't find the difference between these suffixes in the 7000A data sheets.

        If I replace the ATC chips with either AETI or AETC chips will I be able to program them with using the quartus programmer set to AE or AET?

        Thanks