GMII to RMII Converter usage restrictions

[TSchu3]

Hello,

I am interested in using the GMII to RGMII converter core on an Arria 10 without using the HPS.

In the Embedded Peripherals guide section 49 it has a note stating this IP is only supported in Cyclone V SOC devices.  Yet I am able to generate it for an Arria 10.  So is this IP supported in Arria 10?

Secondly, the IP is specifically designed to work with the HPS and is call the HPS GMII to RGMII Converter in the IP generator.  I don't see why this would need an HPS, can it be used on its own to interface the Triple Speed Ethernet IP with an external RGMII PHY?
The Triple Speed Ethernet IP only supports GMII/MII in the Arria 10.

Thanks!

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi,

The GMII to RGMII converter core is supported in Arria 10 check this link https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683130/24-3/device-support.html

However, cannot use the GMII to RGMII Converter with the Triple-Speed Ethernet. Check internal message below:

Our internal team replied that RGMII is supported for our Arria 10 SoC HPS EMAC.

However, to use the Triple-Speed Ethernet IP, the RGMII interface is not supported in Intel Arria 10.

So the answer is no, you cannot use the HPS GMII to RGMII Converter with the Triple-Speed Ethernet, since the RGMII interface is not supported for Arria 10.

Check this KDB as well: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/programmable/articles/000077033.html

Thanks,

Regards,

Sheng

[TSchu3]

Hi thanks for confirming that the IP is supported in the Arria 10. 
However, I am confused on the second part of the answer.
Based on the KDB link.  RGMII should not work at all for Arria 10 because it fails timing.
So how can the IP work with the HPS but not the Triple Speed Ethernet?

Thank you

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi,

The timing fails only for RGMII with Triple Speed Ethernet. So the RGMII interface is not supported in Stratix® 10, Arria® 10, and Cyclone® 10 GX devices from Quartus® Prime software version 17.1 onwards check this link https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683402/24-3/core-configuration.html

There's no problem with the HPS IO.

Thanks,

Regards,

Sheng