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Altera_Forum
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8 years ago

QuartusII Prime Pro 16.1/17.1 EMIF(DDR4) Pin Constrain Problem

Hi all, I'm trying to use Quartus II 16.1/17.1 Prime Pro with EMIF to control DDR4. The configuration is descirbed below:

FPGA: 10AX066N1F40

DDR4 Config: Single-Rank, x64, Scheme 2

Number of EMIF: 2 individual controllers

I/O Bank Arrangement by BluePrint:

**Controller A:3C,3D and 3E

Controller B:3F, 3G and 3H

The condition I got is:

At the first time I did compliation and I/O fitting in Quartus II(using BluePrint I/O assignment), it all passed. Since I'm a newbie of DDR4, I'm trying to follow the design guidline provided by Intel, "Arria 10 External Memory Interface Handbook Vol. 1~3" and the step-by-step material in website:

https://www.altera.com/support/literature/lit-external-memory-interface.html

By comparing the I/O placement constrain, I found that in default BluePrint assignment, the RZQ pin position is conflicted to the pin placement sugestion.

**BluePrint Default of Controller A

RZQ is assigned at pin AT12, which is the No. 26 pin of bank 3A

**BluePrint Default of Controller B

RZQ is assigned at pin L2, which is the No. 26 pin of bank 3F

However, in the design guidline materials I read, the RZQ is suggested to be placed within the same I/O bank as Command/Address signal of EMIF, which in my case should be bank 3D and 3G of controller A and B, separately.

So I tried to re-assign these two pins to AD6 and D6 (No. 26 pin of bank D and G) and go through the complilation/fitting, but there's no luck. A pin constrain erro message appears both in BluePrint and QuartusII.

Is there any misunderstanding part I got? Otherwise the default RZQ pin is far away from control I/O groups, it might be troublesome in PCB routing.

Thanks!!!

https://alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14322&stc=1

https://alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14322&stc=1

2 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor

    Hi Alex,

    Your understanding is correct. Ideally we want to place RZQ pin in address IOBANK which is middle of 3 IOBANK so that the signal routing can be spread balance throughout 3 IOBANK.

    I am not sure what's wrong with your design but you can try place RZQ_A in pin 26 of Bank 3C or 3E and RZQ_B in pin 26 of Bank 3F,3H.

    Thanks.

    Regards,

    spdl2001

    (This message was posted on behalf of Intel Corporation)
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor

    Hi spdl2001,

    thanks for your reply, it's glad to know my understanding is correct!!

    However the project I created still having error message when I manually assign RZQ_A/B pins.

    But when I create a whole new project, looks like the Blueprint works normally and no similar error occurs. I'll see which step I did wrong in previous project and thanks again for your suggestions.