Yes, EPCQA serial configuration devices can be programmed with old programming files targeting specific End Of Life (EOL) EPCS/EPCQ serial configuration flash devices. For designs with JIC files created for EPCS/EPCQ devices, a regeneration of Active Serial (AS) programming files in Quartus® Prime Standard version 17. 1 is not needed under the following conditions :
- If the target serial flash was an EPCS/EPCQ device of density <= 64Mb.
- If the EPCS/EPCQ device was only used for FPGA configuration and the design did not have any instances of ASMI Parallel IP / Serial Flash Loader (SFL) IP or any other serial flash controller IPs.
- If the designs target pre 28nm Intel® FPGAs, i.e. devices prior to Arria® V, Cyclone® V, or Stratix®V.
Programming EPCQA devices with JIC files targeting EPCS/EPCQ <= 64 Mb may not require migrating to Quartus Prime Standard 17.1 Programmer. Earlier versions of Quartus Programmer which have been used to program EOL EPCS/EPCQ devices can be used to program the EPCQA devices successfully.
However, the backward compatibility applies only to designs which meet the above criteria. For designs targeting EOL EPCS/EPCQ128density devices, please refer to AN822 : Intel® Configuration Device Migration Guideline.