Stratix V Device Handbook: Volume 2: Transceivers

ID 683779
Date 11/23/2021
Public
Document Table of Contents

4.4.6. Transceiver Clocking for PCIe Gen3

This section describes the transceiver clocking topology for both the PCIe Gen3 Hard IP and PIPE configuration.

In a PCIe x1, x2, x4, and x8 Gen3 Mode, both a channel PLL (CMU PLL) from transceiver physical channel 1 or 4 of the transceiver bank and either the top or bottom ATX PLL are used to generate the high-speed serial clock and support ASN. The CMU PLL supports Gen1 and Gen2 data rates while the ATX PLL supports Gen3 data rates. To enable rapid switching between Gen1, Gen2, and Gen3 data rates, a multiplexer selects either the free running CMU PLL for Gen1 and Gen2 data rates or the free running ATX PLL for Gen3 data rates. PLL reconfiguration is not used to support ASN.

Gen3 x1 Configuration

Figure 123. Transceiver Clocking in a Gen1/Gen2/Gen3 PCIe x1 Hard IP and PIPE ConfigurationFor Gen1 and Gen2, use the CMU PLL. For Gen3, use the ATX PLL.


For PCIe x1 Gen3 using Hard IP configuration, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 1) and the bottom ATX PLL of the transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock for the transmitter datapath clock and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapath if rate matching is enabled for the data channel. Two transceiver channels are needed to implement PCIe x1 Gen3, one for the data channel and one for the CMU PLL. The local clock divider block in the data channel generates a parallel clock from this high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of the data channel.

For PCIe x1 Gen3 using PIPE configuration, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 1 or 4) and the top or bottom ATX PLL of the transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock for the transmitter datapath clock and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapath if rate matching is enabled for the data channel. Two transceiver channels are needed to implement PCIe x1 Gen3, one for the data channel and one for the CMU PLL. The local clock divider block in the data channel generates a parallel clock from this high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of the data channel.

Gen3 x2 Configuration

Figure 124. Transmitter Clocking in a Gen1/Gen2/Gen3 PCIe x2 Hard IP and PIPE ConfigurationUnlike the Hard IP configuration, the PIPE configuration has the additional flexibility of using the top four transceiver channels in a transceiver bank or spanning the four lanes across two banks.


For PCIe x2 Gen3 using Hard IP configuration, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 4) and the top ATX PLL of the transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock. A total of three transceiver channels are required to implement PCIe x2 Gen3, including two data channels and one channel for the CMU PLL. The Quartus II software automatically selects channel 1 in the transceiver bank as the master channel. Channel 1 bonds and drives all the transmitter datapath’s clocking and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapaths if rate matching is enabled for the two data channels. The local clock divider block in each data channel generates the parallel clock from the high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of that data channel.

For PCIe x2 Gen3 using PIPE configuration, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 1 or 4) and the top or bottom ATX PLL of the transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock. A total of three transceiver channels are required to implement PCIe x2 Gen3, including two data channels and one channel for the CMU PLL. The Quartus II software automatically selects either channel 1 or 4 in the transceiver bank as the master channel. Channel 1 or 4 bonds and drives all the transmitter datapath’s clocking and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapaths if rate matching is enabled for the two data channels. The local clock divider block in each data channel generates the parallel clock from the high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of that data channel.

Gen3 x4 Configuration

Figure 125. Transmitter Clocking in a Gen1/Gen2/Gen3 PCIe x4 Hard IP and PIPE ConfigurationUnlike the Hard IP configuration, the PIPE configuration has the additional flexibility of using the top four transceiver channels in a transceiver bank or spanning the four lanes across two banks.


Figure 126. Receiver Clocking in a Gen1/Gen2/Gen3 PCIe x4 Hard IP and PIPE Configuration


For PCIe x4 Gen3 using Hard IP configuration, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 4) and the top ATX PLL of the transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock. A total of five transceiver channels are required to implement PCIe x4 Gen3, including four data channels and one channel for the CMU PLL. The Quartus II software automatically selects channel 1 in the transceiver bank as the master channel. Channel 1 bonds and drives all the transmitter datapath’s clocking and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapaths if rate matching is enabled for the four data channels. The local clock divider block in each data channel generates the parallel clock from the high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of that data channel.

For PCIe x4 Gen3 using PIPE configuration, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 1 or 4) and the top or bottom ATX PLL of the transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock. A total of five transceiver channels are required to implement PCIe x4 Gen3, including four data channels and one channel for the CMU PLL. The Quartus II software automatically selects either channel 1 or 4 in the transceiver bank as the master channel. Channel 1 or 4 bonds and drives all the transmitter datapath’s clocking and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapaths if rate matching is enabled for the four data channels. The local clock divider block in each data channel generates the parallel clock from the high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of that data channel.

Gen3 x8 Configuration

For PCIe x8 Gen3, the CMU PLL (transceiver physical channel 4) and the top or bottom ATX PLL of the lower transceiver bank are configured to generate the high-speed serial clock. A total of nine transceiver channels are required to implement PCIe x8 Gen3, including eight data channels and one channel for the CMU PLL. The Quartus II software automatically selects channel 4 in the transceiver bank as the master channel. Channel 4 bonds and drives all the transmitter datapath’s clocking and the rate matcher side of the FIFO in the receiver datapaths if rate matching is enabled for the eight data channels. The local clock divider blocks in each data channel generates the parallel clock from this high-speed serial clock and distributes both clocks to the PMA and PCS of that data channel. The master channel in the x8 case is not a data channel.