DDR2 SDRAM Controller for UniPHY

Overview

The High-Performance Memory Controller II SDRAM MegaCore® function for Quartus® II design software v11.0 handles the complex aspects of using DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 SDRAM at speeds up to 933 MHz. The function initializes the memory devices, manages SDRAM banks, translates read and write requests from the local interface into all the necessary SDRAM command signals, and performs command and data reordering.

The High-Performance Memory Controller II core is a drop-in replacement for the existing SDRAM controller, with many new enhanced features. New features include a quarter rate controller, 2-T command timing to maintain command channel bandwidth, 50-percent higher random access efficiency with command and data reordering, power down and self-refresh support, and error correction code (ECC) with sub-word writes.

Whether you use the IP Toolbench in Qsys or Quartus II software, it generates an example design, an example driver, and the DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 SDRAM controller, and instantiates a phase-locked loop (PLL). This fully functional design example can be simulated, synthesized, and used in hardware. The example driver is a self-test module that issues read and write commands to the controller, and checks the read data to produce the pass and fail and test complete signals. Also included is an efficiency monitor which can determine the actual bandwidth of the memory bus based on the data patterns being used.

Included in the IP Base Suite?FREE with Quartus II Subscription Edition software

Key Features

  • Support for industry-standard DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 SDRAM devices and modules
    • Includes support for registered DIMMs
    • Supports efficient bank interleaving
  • Look-ahead bank management
    • Issue activate and precharge commands early
      • Use auto-precharge when possible
      • In-order read/writes (no re-ordering)
    • Bank management architecture, which minimizes latency
    • Read/write accesses with auto-precharge
      • Automatic cancellation of auto-precharge on page hits
    • Avalon® Memory Mapped interface
      • Adaptor for native interface
      • Avalon slave interface for access to CSR
    • Burst size adaptation for efficient DRAM accesses
      • Built-in burst adapter
      • Combines short local transactions into memory bursts
      • Split long local transactions into memory bursts
    • Integrated low-latency quarter-rate, half-rate, and full-rate system interface
      • Support an optional half-system interface speed
      • Maintain the controller in the faster clock domain to reduce latency
    • Flexible, robust design
      • 1, 2, 4, or 8 chip-select signals
      • Configurable data width including DQ strobe (DQS) read postamble control logic and optional non-DQS read mode for side banks (Stratix® series FPGAs)
      • Automatic or user-controlled refresh
      • Data mask signals for partial write operations
    • Quick and easy implementation
      • IP Toolbench-generated constraint script
      • Top-level example design shipped as a deliverable with the intellectual property (IP) MegaCore function
      • IP functional simulation models used in Altera® supported VHDL and Verilog HDL simulators
      • Available in clear-text for use with custom controller
    • Integrated command and data reordering to allow for improved memory bandwidth efficiency
    • Power down and self-refresh support
    • Well documented clear text RTL for ease of use
    • Qsys compliant to enable system-level design

Benefits

  • SOPC Builder Ready: Yes
  • Qsys Compliant: Yes

Technical Specifications

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Semiconductor IP