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Code optimisation

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Hello, 

 

I am beggining to use the NIOS II development kit, Cyclone II edition. The examples are working well. 

 

Now I am trying to make a design with the UART link, the LCD and one led. First, I used the reduced C library in order to optimise code (I am only using ON-chip memory). But now, I want to use the fopen() function and this is not supported under the small C library. 

 

I have done all what is preconised in the SW developpers Handbook 4-23 and later. 

 

Now, when I compile the code, I do not have enough memory (44 kbytes on-chip memory). 

But if I try to increase the on-chip memory. The hardware design does not fit anymore. 

 

I have then some questions : 

 

- What is the size of the cells in bits when Quartus II returns :" 246 RAM cells cannot be placed" ? 

 

- In the NIOS II SW developpers Handbook 4-27, there's a paragraph explaining that we can remove device drivers if we don't want it. But I don't understand how to remove the UART driver for example. Does anybody knows ? 

 

- Are there other tips in order to optimise code or do I have to had external memory ? 

 

Thank you for any help, 

 

Jean LEE
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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44kB is approximately the most onchip memory you will get with a 2c35. 

 

If I were you I'd just take one of the example designs and rip it apart (just remove components you don't want in SOPC builder, remove unused pins, and recompile).
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