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
6.9.8. Try A Different PCB
If you are using the same Altera FPGA IP on several different hardware platforms, determine whether the problem occurs on all platforms or just on one.
Multiple instances of the same PCB, or multiple instances of the same interface, on physically different hardware platforms may exhibit different behavior. You can determine if the configuration is fundamentally not working, or if some form of marginality is involved in the issue.
Issues are often reported on the alpha build of a development platform. These are produced in very limited numbers and often have received limited bare-board testing, or functional testing. These early boards are often more unreliable than production quality PCBs.
Additionally, if the IP is from a previous project to help save development resources, determine whether the specific IP configuration works on a previous platform.