Interfacing FPGA to on-board SRAM Stratix EP1S40F780C5

Hello All,

I am trying to interface the on-board SRAM (IDT71V416 256Kx16) to the
FPGA on the Stratix. It is not installed among the library components
in the SOPC builder so I cannot instantiate it automatically.

I have the datasheet for the SRAM but I need to know where the
address, data pins etc. are connected to the FPGA. The pin-out table
doesn't seem to specify that in the Stratix handbook.

Can anybody tell me where to look for information or an alternative
methodology? That would be really helpful.

Thanks a mil!
Ed

ang_edward@hotmail.com (Edward) wrote in message news:<21076d77.0406110229.55163e02@posting.google.com>...

> I am trying to interface the on-board SRAM 

which board?

> (IDT71V416 256Kx16) to the
> FPGA on the Stratix. It is not installed among the library components
> in the SOPC builder so I cannot instantiate it automatically.
> 
> I have the datasheet for the SRAM but I need to know where the
> address, data pins etc. are connected to the FPGA. The pin-out table
> doesn't seem to specify that in the Stratix handbook.

I would expect to find it in the circuit board docs.

> Can anybody tell me where to look for information or an alternative
> methodology? That would be really helpful.

http://groups.google.com/groups?&q=sram+controller+example

  -- Mike Treseler

ang_edward@hotmail.com (Edward) wrote in message news:<21076d77.0406110229.55163e02@posting.google.com>...
> Hello All,
> 
> I am trying to interface the on-board SRAM (IDT71V416 256Kx16) to the
> FPGA on the Stratix. It is not installed among the library components
> in the SOPC builder so I cannot instantiate it automatically.
> 
> I have the datasheet for the SRAM but I need to know where the
> address, data pins etc. are connected to the FPGA. The pin-out table
> doesn't seem to specify that in the Stratix handbook.
> 
> Can anybody tell me where to look for information or an alternative
> methodology? That would be really helpful.
> 
> Thanks a mil!
> Ed

Hi Ed,

Hmm, sounds awfully like you have the Nios dev kit ('pro' edition). 

The easy way to get your SRAM going is to locate your Nios kit
installation CD and make sure your install is up-to-date. That SRAM
chip *should* be included with SOPC Builder if you have Nios properly
installed. It will be listed under the components for the Nios 1S40
dev board.

For pin-outs, the various Nios/Nios II example designs (standard or
standard_32) will have this SRAM instantiated and will have all the
pins wired up and ready-to-go. This should save some time over
manually assigning the pins! (a human-error-prone process I have never
been fond of regardless of the tool).... so the ultra-easy way do use
this SRAM would be to simply copy one of these Nios exampled designs
off to a separate location, modify at-will to get the
peripherals/system choices you need, and keep the SRAM/pinouts/Avalon
connections the same.

Regards,

Jesse Kempa
Altera Corp.
jkempa at altera dot com

Thanks for the tip. Yes, I forgot to add that I have the Stratix Nios
Development Kit (Professional). I have another problem though. I can
add symbols in the .bdf files i.e. lpm_add, lpm_mult etc. However,
these basic components are not avialable in the MegaWizard Plugin. I
tried adding new IP blocks (SDRAM controller) to the wizard and this
does not show in the Wizard like the guide said it would. That's after
re-installation of the Quartus 2 (v4), service pack 1 and the Nios CD
(Installation did not produce any errors). I tried editing the
wizard.lst file and yes, it did show up on the Wizard interface but
the component is still not available. An exhaustive search of manuals
and online documentation didn't reveal anything. Any suggestions?

kempaj@yahoo.com (Jesse Kempa) wrote in message news:<95776079.0406111015.23670bca@posting.google.com>...
> ang_edward@hotmail.com (Edward) wrote in message news:<21076d77.0406110229.55163e02@posting.google.com>...
> > Hello All,
> > 
> > I am trying to interface the on-board SRAM (IDT71V416 256Kx16) to the
> > FPGA on the Stratix. It is not installed among the library components
> > in the SOPC builder so I cannot instantiate it automatically.
> > 
> > I have the datasheet for the SRAM but I need to know where the
> > address, data pins etc. are connected to the FPGA. The pin-out table
> > doesn't seem to specify that in the Stratix handbook.
> > 
> > Can anybody tell me where to look for information or an alternative
> > methodology? That would be really helpful.
> > 
> > Thanks a mil!
> > Ed
> 
> Hi Ed,
> 
> Hmm, sounds awfully like you have the Nios dev kit ('pro' edition). 
> 
> The easy way to get your SRAM going is to locate your Nios kit
> installation CD and make sure your install is up-to-date. That SRAM
> chip *should* be included with SOPC Builder if you have Nios properly
> installed. It will be listed under the components for the Nios 1S40
> dev board.
> 
> For pin-outs, the various Nios/Nios II example designs (standard or
> standard_32) will have this SRAM instantiated and will have all the
> pins wired up and ready-to-go. This should save some time over
> manually assigning the pins! (a human-error-prone process I have never
> been fond of regardless of the tool).... so the ultra-easy way do use
> this SRAM would be to simply copy one of these Nios exampled designs
> off to a separate location, modify at-will to get the
> peripherals/system choices you need, and keep the SRAM/pinouts/Avalon
> connections the same.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Jesse Kempa
> Altera Corp.
> jkempa at altera dot com

ang_edward@hotmail.com (Edward) wrote in message news:<21076d77.0406130250.6af19ab5@posting.google.com>...
> Thanks for the tip. Yes, I forgot to add that I have the Stratix Nios
> Development Kit (Professional). I have another problem though. I can
> add symbols in the .bdf files i.e. lpm_add, lpm_mult etc. However,
> these basic components are not avialable in the MegaWizard Plugin. I
> tried adding new IP blocks (SDRAM controller) to the wizard and this
> does not show in the Wizard like the guide said it would. That's after
> re-installation of the Quartus 2 (v4), service pack 1 and the Nios CD
> (Installation did not produce any errors). I tried editing the
> wizard.lst file and yes, it did show up on the Wizard interface but
> the component is still not available. An exhaustive search of manuals
> and online documentation didn't reveal anything. Any suggestions?
> 

Hi Edward,

I'm not sure about this -- you may want to give an FAE a call about
it. I myself just removed Quartus & installed a new version, and sure
enough, the basic lpm's are all included in the megawizard, so it is
definitely something that should be present with a proper
installation.

One note, however: the components available in the megawizard and
those in SOPC Builder are mutually exclusive; the SDRAM controller in
SOPC Builder that works with Nios (or any Avalon system) isn't the
same as the one you can download and put into the megawizard
independent of SOPC Builder... just wanted to address any confusion
there.

Jesse Kempa
Altera Corp.
jkempa at altera dot com