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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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18 years ago

how to automate device family change in megacores?

Is there a way to update device family selection in megacores and megafunctions in a batch mode?

I have a large projects with many megacores and megafunctions instantiated for SII family. Now I would like to upgrade to SIII family. Is there a quicker way to do it other than re-instantiating each and every core?

If I keep my old files and simply set device selection in Quartus compilation to SIII, will the megafunctions be optimzed for SIII instead of SII? I think it does not work for megacores...but not sure about megafunctions.

1 Reply

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    18 years ago

    Hi nemo:

    I know from past experience moving between family's, typically you are not required to modify the mega-cores from one family to another, however, the block utilizations may not be as efficient in the different families: (IE the DSP (Multiplier) blocks are different between Cyclone Families and Stratix Families, so it may not produced the most efficient logic in the move for that particular family).

    Unless someone else says it's absolutely necessary, I would just target the new family and compile the design, and see where you stand. If you aren't meeting timing, and or run out of LE's, then start looking at converting the mega-functions, but otherwise leave them be.

    The one limit to this, is if you have to switch versions of Quartus to access the new family. The old core may not know about the new family of device, and will through an error until you re-generate it.

    Pete