Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Power Analysis and Optimization

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ID 683174
Date 5/28/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
Answers to Top FAQs 1. Power Analysis 2. Power Optimization 3. Power Analysis and Optimization Document Archive A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
1. Power Analysis x
1.1. Power Analysis Tools 1.2. Running the Power Analyzer 1.3. Specifying Power Analyzer Input 1.4. Viewing Power Analysis Reports 1.5. Power Analysis in Modular Design Flows 1.6. Scripting Support 1.7. Power Analysis Revision History
1.3. Specifying Power Analyzer Input x
1.3.1. Settings for Power Analysis 1.3.2. Specifying Signal Activity Data 1.3.3. Specifying the Default Toggle Rate 1.3.4. Specifying Toggle Rates for Specific Nodes 1.3.5. Avoiding Simulation Node Name Match
1.3.2. Specifying Signal Activity Data x
1.3.2.1. Using Simulation Signal Activity Data in Power Analysis 1.3.2.2. Signal Activities from RTL (Functional) Simulation, Supplemented by Vectorless Estimation 1.3.2.3. Signal Activities from Vectorless Estimation and User-Supplied Input Pin Activities 1.3.2.4. Signal Activities from User Defaults Only
1.3.2.1. Using Simulation Signal Activity Data in Power Analysis x
1.3.2.1.1. Generating Signal Activity Data for Power Analysis 1.3.2.1.2. Generating Standard Delay Output for Power Analysis 1.3.2.1.3. Simulation Glitch Filtering
1.3.2.2. Signal Activities from RTL (Functional) Simulation, Supplemented by Vectorless Estimation x
1.3.2.2.1. RTL Simulation Limitation
1.3.4. Specifying Toggle Rates for Specific Nodes x
1.3.4.1. Clock Node Toggle Rates
1.5. Power Analysis in Modular Design Flows x
1.5.1. Complete Design Simulation Power Analysis Flow 1.5.2. Modular Design Simulation Power Analysis Flow 1.5.3. Multiple Simulation Power Analysis Flow 1.5.4. Overlapping Simulation Power Analysis Flow 1.5.5. Partial Design Simulation Power Analysis Flow 1.5.6. Vectorless Estimation Power Analysis Flow
1.5.5. Partial Design Simulation Power Analysis Flow x
1.5.5.1. Specifying Start and End Time for Signal Activity Calculations
1.6. Scripting Support x
1.6.1. Running the Power Analyzer from the Command–Line
2. Power Optimization x
2.1. Factors Affecting Power Consumption 2.2. Design Space Explorer II for Power-Driven Optimization 2.3. Power-Driven Compilation 2.4. Design Guidelines 2.5. Power Optimization Advisor 2.6. Power Optimization Revision History
2.1. Factors Affecting Power Consumption x
2.1.1. Design Activity and Power Analysis 2.1.2. Device Selection 2.1.3. Environmental Conditions 2.1.4. Device Resource Usage 2.1.5. Signal Activity
2.1.4. Device Resource Usage x
2.1.4.1. Number, Type, and Loading of I/O Pins 2.1.4.2. Number and Type of Hard Logic Blocks 2.1.4.3. Number and Type of Global Signals
2.1.5. Signal Activity x
2.1.5.1. Toggle Rate 2.1.5.2. Static Probability
2.3. Power-Driven Compilation x
2.3.1. Power-Driven Synthesis 2.3.2. Power-Driven Fitter 2.3.3. Area-Driven Synthesis 2.3.4. Gate-Level Register Retiming 2.3.5. Quartus® Prime Compiler Settings 2.3.6. Assignment Editor Options
2.3.1. Power-Driven Synthesis x
2.3.1.1. Memory Block Optimization 2.3.1.2. Power-Aware Logic Mapping 2.3.1.3. Power-Aware Memory Balancing
2.4. Design Guidelines x
2.4.1. Clock Power Management 2.4.2. Pipelining and Retiming 2.4.3. Architectural Optimization 2.4.4. I/O Power Guidelines 2.4.5. Dynamically Controlled On-Chip Terminations (OCT) 2.4.6. Memory Optimization (M20K/MLAB) 2.4.7. DDR Memory Controller Settings 2.4.8. DSP Implementation 2.4.9. Reducing High-Speed Tile (HST) Usage 2.4.10. Unused Transceiver Channels 2.4.11. Periphery Power reduction XCVR Settings
2.4.1. Clock Power Management x
2.4.1.1. Clock Gating 2.4.1.2. Clock Enable in Memory Blocks 2.4.1.3. LAB Clock Power 2.4.1.4. Clock Enables 2.4.1.5. Global Signals 2.4.1.6. Merge Clocks
2.4.1.1. Clock Gating x
2.4.1.1.1. Root Clock Gate 2.4.1.1.2. Sector Clock Gate 2.4.1.1.3. I/O PLL Clock Gate
2.4.1.3. LAB Clock Power x
2.4.1.3.1. LAB-Wide Clock Enable Example
2.4.1.5. Global Signals x
2.4.1.5.1. Viewing Clock Details in the Chip Planner
2.4.6. Memory Optimization (M20K/MLAB) x
2.4.6.1. Implementation 2.4.6.2. Rd/Wr Enables
2.4.11. Periphery Power reduction XCVR Settings x
2.4.11.1. Transceiver Settings 2.4.11.2. I/O Current Strength
2.5. Power Optimization Advisor x
2.5.1. Set Realistic Timing Constraints 2.5.2. Appropriate Device Family 2.5.3. Dynamic Power 2.5.4. Static Power 2.5.5. Appropriate I/O Standards 2.5.6. Use RAM Blocks 2.5.7. Shut Down RAM Blocks 2.5.8. Clock Enables on Logic 2.5.9. Pipeline Logic to Reduce Glitching
2.5.1. Set Realistic Timing Constraints x
2.5.1.1. Find Timing Information
Answers to Top FAQs
1. Power Analysis
2. Power Optimization
3. Power Analysis and Optimization Document Archive
A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

2.3.1. Power-Driven Synthesis

Synthesis netlist optimization occurs during the synthesis stage of the compilation flow. You can apply these settings on a project or entity level.

The Power Optimization During Synthesis logic option determines how aggressively Analysis & Synthesis optimizes the design for power. To access this option at a project level, click Assignments > Settings > Compiler Settings > Advanced Settings (Synthesis).

Table 9.  Power Optimization During Synthesis Options
Settings Description Optimization Techniques Included
Off The Compiler does not perform netlist, placement, or routing optimizations to minimize power. -
Normal compilation (Default) The Compiler applies low compute effort algorithms to minimize power through netlist optimizations that do not reduce design performance.
  • Memory block optimization
  • Power-aware logic mapping
Extra effort Besides the techniques in the Normal compilation setting, the Compiler applies high-compute-effort algorithms to minimize power through netlist optimizations. Selecting this option might impact performance.
  • Memory block optimization
  • Power-aware logic mapping
  • Power-aware memory balance

You can also control memory optimization options from the Quartus® Prime Settings dialog box. The Default Parameters page allows you to edit the Low_Power_Mode parameter. The settings for this parameter are equivalent to the values of the Power Optimization During Synthesis logic options. The Low_Power_Mode parameter always takes precedence over the Optimize Power for Synthesis option for power optimization on memory.

Table 10.  Low Power Mode Parameter Options
Parameter Value Equivalent Setting in Power Optimization During Synthesis Logic Option
None Off
Auto Normal compilation
All Extra effort

Section Content
Memory Block Optimization
Power-Aware Logic Mapping
Power-Aware Memory Balancing

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