User's Experience using the Cyclone V ARM HPS?

[Altera_Forum]

Hello, I would like to know the experience designers are having when using the new Cyclone V FPGA's with the ARM HPS? Is it alot of work to get things working? I'm anxious to hear what people are saying about the ARM processor and what designs is it best suited for and how powerful is it?  

 Respectfully, joe

[Altera_Forum]

A FPGA part of Cyclone V is simple, as other Altera-s FPGAs. 

And ARMs side is very coplex for beginners and Altera itself -- SoC is new direction, will need search a ready specialists.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for responding to my post. I'm guessing that if it is too complex most people will simply avoid the System-on-Chip approach and add in a microprocessor or pick a DSP. I do agree that the direction which Altera (Soc) is moving and also how complex the big FPGA's are getting these days will require specialists in this one area. Some design houses will be able to handle this and others won't have the resources. But maybe the future is a merge of the FPGA and the microprocessor? 

  Please keep the comments coming.  joe

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

 I have been working with the Cyclone V SOC for the last 6 months. Both the fpga part but also very much the HPS. In my opinion the SOC has huge potential. But there is a lot to learn and the tools are not quite there yet. It is obvious that the tools for SOC are under very active development so i am sure you will encounter problems as we have. But that is ok if you have good support from Altera so they can quickly help you solve the issues. If you don't have access to that I probably wouldn't risk it right now, but maybe in a year when the tools are more mature.  Nikolaj.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks again for responding to my post. Everyone in my small design group is anxious to start a design using the Cyclone V SOC. Do you think the tools will be improved with the release of the Stratix 10? Also, do you think there is a big market for these types of devices? In our case using the SOC will allow easy implementation of the high-speed interface links such as PCIe, Ethernet, Rapid Serial IO, and the Interlaken IP.  

 Please keep sharing the comments.  joe

[Altera_Forum]

Happy to share my experiences. I have no idea the Stratix 10 or how that will impact the tools. Yes I think there is a big market for these devices. If you need enough of them i guess it is probably better to make an ASIC but assumming that is not the case then I think the SOCs main advantages are: 

 1. You can implement custom or exotic ip and connect that to hps. This is probably the most powerful feature. 2. You can use the fpga to make your design really flexible. Here I am thinking of io. On the cyclone V you can even use the HPS pins from the fpga part. This feature saved us when prototyping. 3. You can use the fpga to make accelerate functions for the hps. I have no experience with this though.  There are probably more.  Regarding your high-speed interface links. I am only familiar with ethernet but I agree that the SOC is an ideal platform for something like that.

[Altera_Forum]

May anybody give to my one Internet resource, which contain all necessary knowledges for SoC developing on Altera SoC on HPS side and was be simple, short and not waterly ? No manuals and good books is found ! 

SoC is very perspective solution, and may be simplified -- not overblown !