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amildm's avatar
amildm
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3 years ago
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[NIOS] New CPU Memory HEX file -> should all NIOS system be regenerated?

Hello, When the NIOS Memory HEX file is replaced with a new one -> should all NIOS subsystem be regenerated (new RTL file will be created)? Can not I leave the whole NIOS system untouched and jus...
  • RProesel's avatar
    RProesel
    3 years ago

    You do not have to regenerate the NIOS sub-system if you change the .hex file that you are using to initialize the memory.

    You only have to do 2 steps in Quartus:

    1) Run 'Update Memory Initialization File' in the Processing menu.

    2) Run 'Start Assembler' under 'Start' in the Processing menu.

    This will create a new SOF file using the new .HEX file.

RProesel's avatar
RProesel
Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
3 years ago

It will not recompile the FPGA logic and will leave it the same as before updating the memory files. It will update all the memories, but it the only thing you changed was the NIOS code, any other memory contents will be the same as it was from the compile.

I have been using this technique for many years for exactly the reason you explained.