Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or
EPCS64 to program the
Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
leaning that direction.

Thanks,
joe

On 2007-07-02, j...@hotmail.com
<j...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or EPCS64 to program the
> Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
> better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
> leaning that direction.

If you like the EPCS64 ($32), you'll love the ST M25P64 ($10).

-- 
Ben Jackson AD7GD
<b...@ben.com>
http://www.ben.com/

The EPCS (serial configuration) devices are
Altera's "low cost" alternative 
to the EPC (enhanced config) devices.  Not only are the devices considerably 
less expensive they are also much smaller in size.  So, typically, board 
costs and/or real estate drive which device you would choose.  Keep in mind 
that you don't need to purchase either device to configure your FPGA.  You 
can always buy some flash and have a micorprocessor perform the 
configuration.

On speed:  the enhanced devices have the ability to connect to the FPGA via 
a parallel bus which allows for a faster configuration option; the serial 
configuration devices are just that, serial data stream only.




<j...@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
news:1...@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or EPCS64 to program the
> Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
> better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
> leaning that direction.
>
> Thanks,
> joe
> 

> Keep in mind
> that you don't need to purchase either device to configure your FPGA.  You
> can always buy some flash and have a micorprocessor perform the
> configuration.
>

Joe,
Here's a solution that dedicates a small (4mmx4mm) low cost ($2),
microcontroller to implement the suggested scheme. If you want to use
SPI flash, then you can use the free open source version.
http://www.opencores.org/projects.cgi/web/fpgaconfig/overview
Or if you want to use SD/MMC flash memory cards, you can use the
commercial version.
http://www.base2designs.com/fpgaConfig.htm

Steve

On Jul 2, 2:05 pm,
"jjlind...@hotmail.com" <jjlind...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or EPCS64 to program the
> Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
> better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
> leaning that direction.
>
> Thanks,
> joe

The better methode looks M25P64 without any compressed code inside and
fastest serial solution.
Using another microcontroller just for configuration (and not other
purposes)
seems to me a weird option even if harware cost less than $2 and
programming/debugging/PCB design another $20.

Vasile

On Jul 6, 11:49 pm, vasile
<picli...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 2, 2:05 pm, "jjlind...@hotmail.com" <jjlind...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or EPCS64 to program the
> > Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
> > better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
> > leaning that direction.
>
> > Thanks,
> > joe
>
> The better methode looks M25P64 without any compressed code inside and
> fastest serial solution.
> Using another microcontroller just for configuration (and not other
> purposes)
> seems to me a weird option even if harware cost less than $2 and
> programming/debugging/PCB design another $20.
>
> Vasile

No more weird than using a dedicated CPLD, which is a popular option
for configuring an FPGA from parallel NOR flash memory. There is no
way to directly configure an Altera FPGA from an M25P64 (unlike some
Xilinx FPGAs), so I assume that the proposed solution assumes a
microprocessor with a spare SPI port, or having the microprocessor bit
bang the flash SPI port.
Steve

On Jul 8, 10:02 pm, sfield...@base2designs.com
wrote:
> On Jul 6, 11:49 pm, vasile <picli...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 2, 2:05 pm, "jjlind...@hotmail.com"
<jjlind...@hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > > Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or EPCS64 to program the
> > > Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
> > > better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
> > > leaning that direction.
>
> > > Thanks,
> > > joe
>
> > The better methode looks M25P64 without any compressed code inside and
> > fastest serial solution.
> > Using another microcontroller just for configuration (and not other
> > purposes)
> > seems to me a weird option even if harware cost less than $2 and
> > programming/debugging/PCB design another $20.
>
> > Vasile
>
> No more weird than using a dedicated CPLD, which is a popular option
> for configuring an FPGA from parallel NOR flash memory. There is no
> way to directly configure an Altera FPGA from an M25P64

Strange. I believed the EPCS64 and M25P64 are pin to pin and
programming algorithm compatible...


(unlike some
> Xilinx FPGAs), so I assume that the proposed solution assumes a
> microprocessor with a spare SPI port, or having the microprocessor bit
> bang the flash SPI port.
> Steve- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

On Jul 9, 3:28 am, vasile
<picli...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 8, 10:02 pm, sfield...@base2designs.com wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jul 6, 11:49 pm, vasile <picli...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Jul 2, 2:05 pm, "jjlind...@hotmail.com"
<jjlind...@hotmail.com>
> > > wrote:
>
> > > > Hello, I'm trying to decide to use an EPC16 or EPCS64 to program the
> > > > Stratix II EP2S601020C3 on my board. Can any comment which method is
> > > > better/faster? Altera's development kits are using the EPCS64 so I
> > > > leaning that direction.
>
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > joe
>
> > > The better methode looks M25P64 without any compressed code inside and
> > > fastest serial solution.
> > > Using another microcontroller just for configuration (and not other
> > > purposes)
> > > seems to me a weird option even if harware cost less than $2 and
> > > programming/debugging/PCB design another $20.
>
> > > Vasile
>
> > No more weird than using a dedicated CPLD, which is a popular option
> > for configuring an FPGA from parallel NOR flash memory. There is no
> > way to directly configure an Altera FPGA from an M25P64
>
> Strange. I believed the EPCS64 and M25P64 are pin to pin and
> programming algorithm compatible...
>
> (unlike some
>
> > Xilinx FPGAs), so I assume that the proposed solution assumes a
> > microprocessor with a spare SPI port, or having the microprocessor bit
> > bang the flash SPI port.
> > Steve- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -

So now I understand Ben's posting. The EPCS64 and M25P64 are claimed
to be entirely compatible. Does anybody have any references for this
claim? Why is Altera selling an identical part for 3 times the price?
Are other parts in the EPCS series also compatible with ST SPI flash
components? Maybe somebody from Altera could comment?