Does Checksum differ for two SOF files generated with same RTL and same seed

Ok, so have to modify my answer a bit.

I am using Quartus Web 13.0sp1 on a Win10 platform.

So if I delete all the generated design files, and rerun the the compilation from scratch, a SOF with a different CRC32 is built each time.

If I just 'remake' the design by recompiling without deleting the existing design database files, a SOF with the same CRC32 is built each time.

But, in all instances, the final POF/JIC files I use, that are built from the SOF, ALWAYS have the same CRC32 value after each recompile.

And of course if I do a verify of an existing programmed part using the JIC file vs EEPROM contents, it matches 100%.

So it looks like there may be some data within a SOF that may vary from compile to compile, but it is not included when the JIC is built.

Just my observation, I have no inside knowledge other than being a user.

So comparing POF or JIC file CRC32s seems ok, but the CRC32 of the SOF is not.