I am trying to estimate the power for my design using Power Play Power Analyzer, for that purpose I am using vcd files as input to the power tool to estimate the toggle rate. My error occured in the middle of the power estimation process and the error details are : Internal Error: Sub-system: PUTIL_EXTERNAL, File: /quartus/power/putil/putil_library.cpp, Line: 418 (percent >= 0) && (percent <= 100) Stack Trace: 0x2637 : putil_lib_update_progress_bar + 0x77 (POWER_PUTIL_EXTERNAL) End-trace Quartus II Version 8.0 Build 231 07/10/2008 SJ Full Version Service Pack Installed: 1 I dunno whats the cause of the error but I am assuming that since I am using large vcd file as the input (20GB) quartus is unable to parse the file. Any help would be much appreciated

I'm doing similar power estimates using Altera Power Analyzer. However I'm actually using a stand alone ModelSim to gather my VCD statistics. Are you using ModelSim or other tools through Altera simulation link? Also how did you add your list of signals to be collected? Maybe your list is too big and contain unless data. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the reply.. I am using Modelsim to generate the vcd file. For simulation purpose and to get power estimation confidence high I am using the vo (functional simulation) file of my design instead of rtl simulation, since I want to capture all the signals for my design and get good estimation of power. I also want all the toggle rate for the design to be estimated from the input file provided by me and not use any default toggle rates

Also I added all the signals in my design to be calculate the toggle rate by using the following command in Modelsim vcd add -r /top/DUT/*

In that case, try simulating for a shorter period of time, try it with a small amount data first. That way you can see if the file is just too big. I was able to feed in a file of size up to 5 GB. Good luck and please post how it turns out for you. By the way, I use the same command vcd add -r /top/dut/* during my simulation but didn't get a High confidence level. I'm still trying to figuring out why, but I do see that toggle and static rate from my simulation file is at about 60%.

I think if you use the vo file generated by Quartus for your simulation and not use the rtl (v/vhd) file and then generate the vcd file you might get the High confidence metric. I have tried doing the same for smaller designs and it had worked for me. I am attaching the comparison between the two designs , one using the rtl simulation and one using the gate level simulation (vo file)

Forum Discussion

Altera_Forum

Honored Contributor

16 years ago

Error : Powerplay Power Analyzer

I am trying to estimate the power for my design using Power Play Power Analyzer, for that purpose I am using vcd files as input to the power tool to estimate the toggle rate.

My error occured in the middle of the power estimation process and the error details are :

Internal Error: Sub-system: PUTIL_EXTERNAL, File: /quartus/power/putil/putil_library.cpp, Line: 418

(percent >= 0) && (percent <= 100)

Stack Trace:

0x2637 : putil_lib_update_progress_bar + 0x77 (POWER_PUTIL_EXTERNAL)

End-trace

Quartus II Version 8.0 Build 231 07/10/2008 SJ Full Version

Service Pack Installed: 1

I dunno whats the cause of the error but I am assuming that since I am using large vcd file as the input (20GB) quartus is unable to parse the file.

Any help would be much appreciated

22 Replies

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
15 years ago
I tried that and it still gave me a low confidence level. That is the reason why I think my testbench is not correct. I am attaching my test verilog code and the test bench, if someone could look at it and comment, I would really appreciate it. Thank you
Verilog test code.doc26 KB
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
13 years ago
That command did not work for me. i am using Modelsim Altera 10.0d version. I also have the trouble of having low confidence and 0% for signals read from simulation in Confidence metric report. Is it the right command - vcd add -r /top/dut/*?

--- Quote Start ---
In that case, try simulating for a shorter period of time, try it with a small amount data first. That way you can see if the file is just too big. I was able to feed in a file of size up to 5 GB.

Good luck and please post how it turns out for you.

By the way, I use the same command vcd add -r /top/dut/* during my simulation but didn't get a High confidence level. I'm still trying to figuring out why, but I do see that toggle and static rate from my simulation file is at about 60%.
--- Quote End ---

Forum Discussion

Error : Powerplay Power Analyzer

22 Replies

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