External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs
ID
847458
Date
7/07/2025
Public
1. About the External Memory Interfaces Agilex™ 3 FPGA IP
2. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP – Introduction
3. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP - Configuring and Generating the IP
4. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP – Simulating Memory IP
5. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP - Validating the IP
6. Agilex 3 FPGA EMIF IP Debugging
7. Document Revision History for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP User Guide
A. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP – Product Architecture
B. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP – End-User Signals
3.1. Creating an EMIF Project
3.2. Generating and Configuring the EMIF IP
3.3. Generating HDL for Synthesis and Simulation
3.4. Generating the Synthesizable EMIF Design Example
3.5. EMIF IP LPDDR4 Parameter Descriptions
3.6. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP Pin and Resource Planning
3.7. Compiling the Agilex™ 3 EMIF Design Example
3.8. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP – Timing Closure
3.9. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP – Controller Optimization
3.5.5.1. Example: DQ Pin Swizzling Within DQS Group for a x32 LPDDR4 Interface
3.5.5.2. Example: Byte Swizzling for x32 LPDDR4 Interface
3.5.5.3. Example: Combining Pin and Byte Swizzling
3.5.5.4. Example: DQ Pin Swizzling Within DQS Group for 2 Channel x16 LPDDR4 Interface
3.5.5.5. Example: Byte Swizzling for 2 Channel x16 LPDDR4 Interface
6.1. Interface Configuration Performance Issues
6.2. Functional Issue Evaluation
6.3. Timing Issue Characteristics
6.4. Evaluating FPGA Timing Issues
6.5. Verifying Memory IP Using the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer
6.6. Guidelines for Developing HDL for Traffic Generator
6.7. Debugging with the External Memory Interface Debug Toolkit
6.8. Guidelines for Traffic Generator Status Check
6.9. Hardware Debugging Guidelines
6.10. Categorizing Hardware Issues
6.11. Agilex™ 3 FPGA EMIF IP - Mailbox Support
6.9.1. Create a Simplified Design that Demonstrates the Same Issue
6.9.2. Measure Power Distribution Network
6.9.3. Measure Signal Integrity and Setup and Hold Margin
6.9.4. Vary Voltage
6.9.5. Operate at a Lower Speed
6.9.6. Determine Whether the Issue Exists in Previous Versions of Software
6.9.7. Determine Whether the Issue Exists in the Current Version of Software
6.9.8. Try A Different PCB
6.9.9. Try Other Configurations
6.9.10. Debugging Checklist
6.10.1.1. Characteristics of Signal Integrity Issues
6.10.1.2. Evaluating Signal Integrity Issues
6.10.1.3. Skew
6.10.1.4. Crosstalk
6.10.1.5. Power System
6.10.1.6. Clock Signals
6.10.1.7. Address and Command Signals
6.10.1.8. Read Data Valid Window and Eye Diagram
6.10.1.9. Write Data Valid Window and Eye Diagram
A.1.1. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: I/O Subsystem
A.1.2. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: I/O SSM
A.1.3. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: HSIO Bank
A.1.4. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: I/O Lane
A.1.5. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: Input DQS Clock Tree
A.1.6. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: PHY Clock Tree
A.1.7. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: PLL Reference Clock Networks
A.1.8. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Architecture: Clock Phase Alignment
A.1.9. User Clock in Different Core Access Modes
A.1.10. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Sequencer
A.1.11. Agilex™ 3 EMIF Controller
A.1.12. Hard Memory Controller
A.1.13. Agilex™ 3 EMIF IP for Hard Processor Subsystem (HPS)
B.1. IP Interfaces for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.2. s0_axi4_clock_in for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.3. core_init_n for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.4. s0_axi4_clock_in for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.5. core_init_n for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.6. s0_axi4_ctrl_ready for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.7. s0_axi4_clock_out for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.8. s1_axi4_ctrl_ready for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.9. s0_axi4 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.10. s1_axi4 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.11. io96b0_to_hps for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.12. io96b1_to_hps for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.13. s0_axi4lite_clock for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.14. s0_axi4lite_reset_n for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.15. s0_axi4lite for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.16. mem_0 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.17. mem_ck_0 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.18. mem_1 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.19. mem_ck_1 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.20. mem_reset_n for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.21. oct_0 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.22. oct_1 for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
B.23. ref_clk for External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP - LPDDR4
6.9.7. Determine Whether the Issue Exists in the Current Version of Software
Designs are often tested using previous generations of Altera software or IP.
Projects may not be upgraded for various reasons:
- Multiple engineers are on the same project. To ensure compatibility, a common release of Altera software is used by all engineers for the duration of the product development. The design may be several releases behind the current Quartus® Prime software version.
- Many companies delay before adopting a new release of software so that they can first monitor Internet forums to get a feel for how successful other users say the software is.
- Many companies never use the latest version of any software, preferring to wait until the first service pack is released that fixes the primary issues.
- Some users may only have a license for the older version of the software and can only use that version until their company makes the financial decision to upgrade.
- The local interface specification from Altera FPGA IP to the customer's logic sometimes changes from software release to software release. If you have already spent resources designing interface logic, you may be reluctant to repeat this exercise. If a block of code is already signed off, you may be reluctant to modify it to upgrade to newer IP from Altera.
In all of the above scenarios, you must determine if the issue still exists in the latest version of the Altera software. Bug fixes and enhancements are added to the Altera FPGA IP every release. Depending on the nature of the bug or enhancement, it may not always be clearly documented in the release notes.
Finally, if the latest version of the software resolves the issue, it may be easier to debug the version of software that you are using.