AN 978: Nios® V Processor Migration Guidelines

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ID 773196
Date 5/22/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Overview 2. Architecture Comparison 3. Processor Core Upgrade Paths 4. Design Flow Comparison 5. Processor Core Comparison 6. Feature Comparison 7. Assembly Language Comparison 8. Document Revision History for the AN 978: Nios® V Processor Migration Guidelines
2. Architecture Comparison x
2.1. Features Comparison 2.2. Ecosystem Comparison 2.3. Software Optimization
4. Design Flow Comparison x
4.1. Differences in the Design Flow 4.2. Design Upgrade from Nios® II Processor to Nios® V Processor
4.2. Design Upgrade from Nios® II Processor to Nios® V Processor x
4.2.1. Quartus® Prime Standard Edition 4.2.2. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition
4.2.1. Quartus® Prime Standard Edition x
4.2.1.1. Hardware Component 4.2.1.2. Software Component
4.2.2. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition x
4.2.2.1. Hardware Component 4.2.2.2. Software Component
5. Processor Core Comparison x
5.1. Upgrading Nios® II/e Processor to Nios® V/c Processor 5.2. Upgrading Nios® II Processor to Nios® V/m Processor 5.3. Upgrading Nios® II/f Processor to Nios® V/g Processor
5.1. Upgrading Nios® II/e Processor to Nios® V/c Processor x
5.1.1. Hardware Perspective 5.1.2. Software Perspective
5.1.1. Hardware Perspective x
5.1.1.1. Signal and Interface Mapping 5.1.1.2. IP Parameter Configuration 5.1.1.3. BSP Project Generation
5.1.2. Software Perspective x
5.1.2.1. Command-Line Build Flow 5.1.2.2. IDE Build Flow
5.2. Upgrading Nios® II Processor to Nios® V/m Processor x
5.2.1. Hardware Perspective 5.2.2. Software Perspective
5.2.1. Hardware Perspective x
5.2.1.1. Signal and Interface Mapping 5.2.1.2. IP Parameter Configuration 5.2.1.3. BSP Project Generation
5.2.2. Software Perspective x
5.2.2.1. Command-Line Build Flow 5.2.2.2. IDE Build Flow
5.3. Upgrading Nios® II/f Processor to Nios® V/g Processor x
5.3.1. Hardware Perspective 5.3.2. Software Perspective
5.3.1. Hardware Perspective x
5.3.1.1. Signal and Interface Mapping 5.3.1.2. IP Parameter Configuration 5.3.1.3. BSP Project Generation
5.3.2. Software Perspective x
5.3.2.1. Command-Line Build Flow 5.3.2.2. IDE Build Flow
6. Feature Comparison x
6.1. Timer 6.2. Interrupt 6.3. Shadow Register 6.4. Ethernet Stack 6.5. Bootloader 6.6. Data and Instruction Cache 6.7. Tightly Coupled Memory 6.8. Custom Instructions 6.9. Error Correction Code 6.10. Altera HAL Settings 6.11. Micrium MicroC/OS-II BSP Settings 6.12. Software Packages
7. Assembly Language Comparison x
7.1. Arithmetic and Logic Operations 7.2. Data Handling and Memory Operations 7.3. Control Flow Operations 7.4. Miscellaneous Operations
1. Overview
2. Architecture Comparison
3. Processor Core Upgrade Paths
4. Design Flow Comparison
5. Processor Core Comparison
6. Feature Comparison
7. Assembly Language Comparison
8. Document Revision History for the AN 978: Nios® V Processor Migration Guidelines

6.8. Custom Instructions

Nios® V/g and Nios® II/f processors support custom instruction.
Table 35.  Custom Instructions Comparison
Feature Nios® V/g Processor Nios® II/f Processor
Supported custom instruction types
  • Multicycle
  • Extended
  • External Interface
  • Combinational
  • Multicycle
  • Extended
  • Internal Register Files
  • External Interface
Combinational instructions Implemented in two cycles. Implemented in a single cycle.
Multicycle instructions Supports variable length multicycle instructions. Supports fixed length and variable length multicycle instructions.
Extended instructions Apply the signal ctrl[31:0] to select the appropriate instruction. Apply the signal n[7:0] to select the appropriate instruction.
Internal Register Files instructions Not Supported Supported
Manager Interface Nios® V Processor Custom Instruction Manager Nios® II Processor Custom Instruction Manager
Agent Interface Nios® V Processor Custom Instruction Subordinate Nios® II Processor Custom Instruction Subordinate
Signals and Interface
  • clk
  • reset
  • data0
  • data1
  • enable
  • result
  • done
  • alu_result 3
  • ctrl
  • clk
  • reset
  • dataa
  • datab
  • start
  • result
  • done
  • clk_en 4
Built-in functions (To use non-integer types with instructions) Not supported Supported
FPH2 Hardware Replaced with internal FPU Supported
3 alu_result is not equivalent to clk_en.
4 Nios® V Processor Custom Instruction does not support clk_en signal.
Level Two Title