AN 903: Accelerating Timing Closure: in Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition

Download PDF
ID 683664
Date 2/25/2021
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. AN 903: Accelerating Timing Closure in Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition
1. AN 903: Accelerating Timing Closure in Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition x
1.1. Step 1: Analyze and Optimize Design RTL 1.2. Step 2: Apply Compiler Optimization Techniques 1.3. Step 3: Preserve Satisfactory Results 1.4. AN 903 Document Revision History
1.1. Step 1: Analyze and Optimize Design RTL x
1.1.1. Correct Design Assistant Violations 1.1.2. Reduce Logic Levels 1.1.3. Reduce High Fan-Out Nets
1.2. Step 2: Apply Compiler Optimization Techniques x
1.2.1. Apply Compiler Optimization Modes and Strategies 1.2.2. Reduce Congestion for High Utilization
1.2.2. Reduce Congestion for High Utilization x
1.2.2.1. Experiment with Area and Routability Options 1.2.2.2. Consider Fractal Synthesis for Arithmetic-Intensive Designs Multiplier Regularization and Retiming Continuous Arithmetic Packing
1.2.2.2. Consider Fractal Synthesis for Arithmetic-Intensive Designs x
Multiplier Regularization and Retiming Continuous Arithmetic Packing 1.2.2.2.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
1.3. Step 3: Preserve Satisfactory Results x
1.3.1. Lock Down Clocks, RAMs, and DSPs 1.3.2. Preserve Design Partition Results
1.3.2. Preserve Design Partition Results x
1.3.2.1. Design Partition Settings
1. AN 903: Accelerating Timing Closure in Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition

1.2.2.2. Consider Fractal Synthesis for Arithmetic-Intensive Designs

For high-throughput, arithmetic-intensive designs, you can enable automatic fractal synthesis optimizations to improve use of device resources. Fractal synthesis optimizations include multiplier regularization and retiming, as well as continuous arithmetic packing. The optimizations target designs with large numbers of low-precision arithmetic operations (such as additions and multiplications). You can enable fractal synthesis globally or for only specific multipliers. Under ideal conditions, fractal synthesis optimization can achieve 20-45% area reduction.

Multiplier Regularization and Retiming

Multiplier regularization and retiming performs inference of highly optimized soft multiplier implementations. The Compiler may apply backward retiming to two or more pipeline stages if required. When you enable fractal synthesis, the Compiler applies multiplier regularization and retiming to signed and unsigned multipliers.

Figure 15. Multiplier Retiming
Note:
  • Multiplier regularization uses only logic resources, and does not use DSP blocks.
  • Multiplier regularization and retiming is applied to both signed and unsigned multipliers in modules where the FRACTAL_SYNTHESIS QSF assignment is set.

Continuous Arithmetic Packing

Continuous arithmetic packing re-synthesizes arithmetic gates into logic blocks optimally sized to fit into Intel® FPGA LABs. This optimization allows up to 100% utilization of LAB resources for the arithmetic blocks.

When you enable fractal synthesis, the Compiler applies this optimization to all carry chains and two-input logic gates. This optimization can pack adder trees, multipliers, and any other arithmetic-related logic.

Figure 16. Continuous Arithmetic Packing

Note that continuous arithmetic packing works independently of multiplier regularization. So, if you are using a multiplier that is not regularized (such as writing your own multiplier) then continuous arithmetic packing can still operate.

Note: Fractal synthesis optimization is most suitable for designs with deep-learning accelerators or other high-throughput, arithmetic-intensive functions that exceed all DSP resources. Enabling fractal synthesis project-wide can cause unnecessary bloat on modules that are not suitable for fractal optimizations.
Level Two Title