OpenCore Simulation-Only Evaluation and OpenCore Plus hardware evaluation features Definition

Altera's free OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation feature allows you to simulate the behavior of MegaCore functions and AMPP megafunctions within your system, verify the functionality of your design, evaluate its size and speed, generate programming files, and program a device to test your design in hardware.

The OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation feature supports team-based, or distributed, workflows. This feature allows multiple designers to simulate and hardware test portions of your design containing MegaCore functions without requiring the entire team to possess a full license for the IP. However, you must ultimately produce the production-ready FPGA configuration file on a machine with an available production license for all IP in the design.

If your design uses an advanced device that does not have OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation programming file support, OpenCore Plus reverts to OpenCore simulation-only evaluation. OpenCore simulation-only evaluation does not generate a programming file, but you can parameterize your megafunction, instantiate it in your design, and compile and simulate it.

MegaCore functions that support the OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation feature are automatically installed when you install the Quartus® Prime Standard Edition software.

When you are completely satisfied with the MegaCore function or AMPP megafunction and you are ready to take the design into production, you can purchase a license that allows you to generate non-time-limited programming files.

Many AMPP partners also support the OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation flow. For information on current AMPP vendors, available megafunctions, and obtaining additional license file support, contact Altera Customer Service.

Note: You can use OpenCore Plus MegaCore functions in top-down incremental compilation flows beginning with the Quartus® Prime Standard Edition software version 7.1. Because you cannot export partitions containing OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation MegaCore functions, you cannot use OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation functions in a bottom-up design flow. Include any OpenCore Simulation-Only Evaluation IP functions in your top-level Quartus® Prime Standard Edition project.
Note: For more information on OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation features, refer to Application Note 320: OpenCore Plus Evaluation of Megafunctions available from the Literature section of the Altera website. For more information on AMPP megafunctions, refer to Application Note 343: OpenCore Evaluation of AMPP Megafunctions available from the Literature section of the Altera website.
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