Implementing a PCI Express interface for the Arria GX Development Kit

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

 I'm a grad student using an Arria GX development kit to see if I can speed up short DNA sequence alignment to the human genome at the Genome Sciences Centre in Vancouver.   I have a lot of experience with FPGA's before but I've never used the PCI Express bus before.   I'd like to implement a simple PCIe interface. I'm using the PCI Express Compiler v7.2 and Quartus II v7.2. I've managed to successfully build and run the "chaining_dma" design supplied with the Arria GX development kit. I'm also familiar with the PCI-Express Compiler from reading the documentation.   Does anybody know of any good tutorials that will walk me through the process? Preferably they would also include driver development. I am having trouble doing this from the documentation alone.   Alternatively, does anyone know of any simple example designs I can adapt? Just something that will let me control the LEDs on the board over the PCI Express interface would be useful, I could adapt it for my application myself.   Adam

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Adam, 

 I am also looking for a very simple sample project to be a starting point for a PCIe project. Has anyone replied to your post?   Thanks Ernie

[Altera_Forum]

I suggest you use the PCI Express Altera Core with Avalon MM Interface. Look at the AN532 (http://www.altera.com/literature/an/an532.pdf?gsa_pos=3&wt.oss_r=1&wt.oss=sopc%20pci%20express (http://www.altera.com/literature/an/an532.pdf?gsa_pos=3&wt.oss_r=1&wt.oss=sopc%20pci%20express)).  

It's interesting to use the Jungo Driver.  With SOPC Builder + PCI Express Core + Avalon MM + Dma Controller or SGDMA + Jungo Driver is the fast way of build a good system with good performance.