Why does JIC programming fail when using QSPI flash devices of 128Mb density with Intel Agilex® 7 devices in Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 20.3?

Due to a problem in Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 20.3, QSPI flash configuration devices of density 128Mb cannot be successfully programmed with JIC files when used with Intel Agilex® 7 devices.

This applies to the 3rd party QSPI flash configuration devices shown below.

1: Micron MT25QU128

2: Macronix MX25U128

 JIC programming of these devices is successful when using earlier Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software versions.

To work around this problem, use Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 20.2.

This problem is fixed starting with Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 20.4.