Hello, the following I have posted on another Forum but haven't receive many responses. So, I am going to post it here. I've been reading about the new Cyclone V and it's integrated ARM processor and wanted to ask if anyone would share their comments about the device. I would like to know how easy is it to get things going on the processor and about the tools you must use. Is it just easier to stick with a traditional microprocessor or DSP? Thanks and I appreciate all comments. Respectfully, joe

Hi. The SOC C5 devices arnt out yet, so you wont get any feedback on that front yet. But there are similar xilinx parts. Whether its better will depend how you want to use it. The FPGA version allows you to heavily customise the interface, and add custom co-processors, but with the added cost of power and money.

SoC devices are out, they have been populated on various boards including the CV SoC dev kit.

--- Quote Start --- SoC devices are out, they have been populated on various boards including the CV SoC dev kit. --- Quote End --- Thanks! I'll wait a few months and ask again.

To answer your question in the original post, the tools should be similar to other microprocessors. For example ARM's DS-5 is offered to software developers so that they can stick to tools that they are most likely famiilar with. The biggest difference really is that unlike an ASIC you have an FPGA fabric at your disposal to build any SoC system you like. So various hardware and software tools are offered to make designing towards these devices possible to cope with the flexible hardware at their disposal. I would take a look at this site to see some of the early work already accomplished with these SoC devices: http://www.rocketboards.org/

I have used both the Cyclone V SOC kit we received several months ago through an Arrow SOC class (made by terASIC) and the Zynq platform. In General, I like them better than the standard, DSP/FPGA through EMIF or some similar bus structure. You have direct access to the AXI/APB bus, so you bus interface may be much faster. The speed of the bus becomes less of an issue if you use PCIe. but it has more overhead requirement then AXI/APB That being said, what they lack is a good graphics solution, so if you have a a high resolution screen, (or multiple displays), you are using a lot of your FPGA fabric just for the video out. If high quality video is a requirement, then I still prefer the external solution. We have many IT OMAP w/FPGA designs under our belt, and currently have a iMX6 + Cyclone V design nearing completion, and a Zynq-> ASIC design nearing completion. (I'm a consulting working with multiple companies). The OMAP is nice, since you can have a dedicated DSP doing the real time number crunching and the ARM doing OS stuff. But TI is currently a little behind the times on performance..(At least for chips non Tier 1's can get) The IMX6 is a good part, especially for graphics and have 1-4 ARM A9 cores. so you can scale into the part that fits your requirements. Pete

Fun or no fun with Cyclone V Integrated ARM processors?

12 Replies

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
12 years ago
nrasheed,

Hi, thanks for your comments on the Cyclone V. I have not used that device but some of my co-worker intend to. A few questions for you. Are you using an OS on the Cyclone? Second, can you configure the Cyclone to only use one core and power down the other core, I'm just curious if it is possible? Last, how are the Altera tools for development?

thanks,
joe
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
12 years ago
Hi Joe:

No it is not "Required" to use an OS, but highly recommended to get the full capabilities of the SMP system.

You can definitely us just one of the 2 CPU's. I'm not positive is the second core in this case can be totally powered down. It's can be held in reset however.

The tools are ok, probably not the best, but much better than they were a few years back. I'm an FPGA guy however, so the CPU is not my main area of focus.

For the FPGA tools, I like the Altera tools much better than the Xilinx tools as far as system integration.

Pete

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Fun or no fun with Cyclone V Integrated ARM processors?

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