Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Compilation

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ID 683236
Date 9/26/2022
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Answers to Top FAQs 2. Design Compilation 3. Reducing Compilation Time 4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
2. Design Compilation x
2.1. Compilation Overview 2.2. Using the Compilation Dashboard 2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta) 2.4. Design Synthesis 2.5. Design Place and Route 2.6. Incremental Optimization Flow 2.7. Fast Forward Compilation Flow 2.8. Full Compilation Flow 2.9. Exporting Compilation Results 2.10. Integrating Other EDA Tools 2.11. Synthesis Language Support 2.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques 2.13. Synthesis Settings Reference 2.14. Fitter Settings Reference 2.15. Design Compilation Revision History
2.1. Compilation Overview x
2.1.1. Compilation Flows 2.1.2. Compilation Hierarchy 2.1.3. Compilation Monitoring
2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta) x
2.3.1. Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta) 2.3.2. Early Timing Analysis (Beta) 2.3.3. DNI Use Case Examples
2.3.1. Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta) x
2.3.1.1. Sweep Hints Viewer 2.3.1.2. Connectivity Tracer 2.3.1.3. Object Set Console 2.3.1.4. Module Interfaces 2.3.1.5. Bundled Instances 2.3.1.6. Auto-hide Unconnected Pins
2.3.2. Early Timing Analysis (Beta) x
2.3.2.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL 2.3.2.2. Post-Synthesis Static Timing Analysis (STA) 2.3.2.3. Types of SDC Files Used in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software
2.3.2.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL x
2.3.2.1.1. Registering the SDC-on-RTL SDC File 2.3.2.1.2. Applying the SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.2.1.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.2.1.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files
2.3.3. DNI Use Case Examples x
2.3.3.1. Scripting Routine Tasks Using DNI Tcl Commands 2.3.3.2. Traversing the DNI Netlist Using Tcl Commands
2.4. Design Synthesis x
2.4.1. Running Synthesis 2.4.2. Viewing Synthesis Reports 2.4.3. Viewing Synthesis Dynamic Report
2.4.1. Running Synthesis x
2.4.1.1. Preserving Registers During Synthesis 2.4.1.2. Preserving Signals for Monitoring and Debugging
2.5. Design Place and Route x
2.5.1. Running the Fitter 2.5.2. Viewing Fitter Reports
2.5.1. Running the Fitter x
2.5.1.1. Fitter Commands 2.5.1.2. Disabling or Enabling Physical Synthesis Optimization
2.5.2. Viewing Fitter Reports x
2.5.2.1. Plan Stage Reports 2.5.2.2. Place Stage Reports 2.5.2.3. Route Stage Reports 2.5.2.4. Retime Stage Reports 2.5.2.5. Finalize Stage Reports
2.5.2.2. Place Stage Reports x
2.5.2.2.1. Global Signal Visualization Report
2.5.2.3. Route Stage Reports x
2.5.2.3.1. Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report 2.5.2.3.2. Global Router Wire Utilization Map Report
2.6. Incremental Optimization Flow x
2.6.1. Concurrent Analysis During Synthesis or Fitting 2.6.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots 2.6.3. Validating Periphery (I/O) after the Plan Stage
2.6.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots x
2.6.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer
2.6.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer x
2.6.2.1.1. Analyzing Failing Paths with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.2. Analyzing Clocking with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.3. Analyzing High Fan-out Nets with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.4. Validating Timing Constraints with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.5. Analyzing Congestion with Snapshot Viewer
2.7. Fast Forward Compilation Flow x
2.7.1. Step 1: Run Register Retiming 2.7.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results 2.7.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile 2.7.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results 2.7.5. Step 5: Implement Fast Forward Recommendations 2.7.6. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds
2.7.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results x
2.7.2.1. Locate Critical Chains
2.7.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile x
2.7.3.1. Fast Forward Compile By Hierarchy 2.7.3.2. HyperFlex Settings
2.7.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results x
2.7.4.1. Clock Fmax Summary Report 2.7.4.2. Fast Forward Details Report
2.8. Full Compilation Flow x
2.8.1. Full Compilation Flow with Temporary Optimization Mode
2.9. Exporting Compilation Results x
2.9.1. Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 2.9.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 2.9.3. Creating a Design Partition 2.9.4. Exporting a Design Partition 2.9.5. Reusing a Design Partition 2.9.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information 2.9.7. Clearing Compilation Results
2.9.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information x
2.9.6.1. QDB File Attribute Types
2.10. Integrating Other EDA Tools x
2.10.1. Generating a VQM Netlist for other EDA Tools
2.11. Synthesis Language Support x
2.11.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support 2.11.2. VHDL Synthesis Support
2.11.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support x
2.11.1.1. Verilog HDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.11.1.2. Design Libraries 2.11.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration 2.11.1.4. Initial Constructs and Memory System Tasks 2.11.1.5. Verilog HDL Macros
2.11.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration x
2.11.1.3.1. Hierarchical Design Configurations
2.11.2. VHDL Synthesis Support x
2.11.2.1. VHDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.11.2.2. VHDL Standard Libraries and Packages 2.11.2.3. VHDL wait Constructs 2.11.2.4. VHDL-2019 Conditional Analysis Tool Directives
2.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques x
2.12.1. Compiler Optimization Modes 2.12.2. Allow Register Retiming 2.12.3. Automatic Gated Clock Conversion 2.12.4. Enable Intermediate Fitter Snapshots 2.12.5. Fast Preserve Option 2.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization
2.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization x
2.12.6.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
2.13. Synthesis Settings Reference x
2.13.1. Advanced Synthesis Settings
3. Reducing Compilation Time x
3.1. Factors Affecting Compilation Results 3.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time 3.3. Reducing Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 3.4. Reducing Placement Time 3.5. Reducing Routing Time 3.6. Reducing Static Timing Analysis Time 3.7. Setting Process Priority 3.8. Reducing Compilation Time Revision History
3.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time x
3.2.1. Running the ECO Compilation Flow 3.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation 3.2.3. Using Block-Based Compilation
3.3. Reducing Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time x
3.3.1. Settings to Reduce Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 3.3.2. Use Appropriate Coding Style to Reduce Synthesis Time
3.4. Reducing Placement Time x
3.4.1. Placement Effort Multiplier Settings
3.5. Reducing Routing Time x
3.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner
3.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner x
3.5.1.1. Areas with Routing Congestion 3.5.1.2. Congestion due to HDL Coding style
1. Answers to Top FAQs
2. Design Compilation
3. Reducing Compilation Time
4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives
A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

3.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation

The Compiler can detect and use multiple processors to reduce total compilation time. You specify the number of processors the Compiler uses. The Intel® Quartus® Prime software can use up to 24 processors to run algorithms in parallel. The Compiler uses parallel compilation by default. To reserve some processors for other tasks, specify a maximum number of processors that the software uses.

This technique reduces the compilation time by up to 10% on systems with two processing cores, and by up to 20% on systems with four cores. When running timing analysis independently, two processors reduce the timing analysis time by an average of 10%. This reduction reaches an average of 15% when using four processors.

The Intel® Quartus® Prime software does not necessarily use all the processors that you specify during a given compilation. Additionally, the software never uses more than the specified number of processors. This fact enables you to work on other tasks without slowing down your computer. The use of multiple processors does not affect the quality of the fit. For a given Fitter seed, and given Maximum processors allowed setting on a specific design, the fit is exactly the same and deterministic. This remains true, regardless of the target machine, and the number of available processors. Different Maximum processors allowed specifications produce different results of the same quality. The impact is similar to changing the Fitter seed setting.

To enable multiprocessor compilation, follow these steps:

  1. Open or create an Intel® Quartus® Prime project.
  2. Click Assignments > Settings > Compilation Process Settings.
  3. Under Parallel compilation, specify options for the number of processors the Compiler uses.
  4. View detailed information about processor use in the Parallel Compilation report following compilation.

    To specify the number of processors for compilation at the command line, use the following Tcl command in your script: 

    set_global_assignment -name NUM_PARALLEL_PROCESSORS <value>

    In this case, <value> is an integer from 1 to 24.

    If you want the Intel® Quartus® Prime software to detect the number of processors and use all the processors for the compilation, include the following Tcl command in your script: 

    set_global_assignment -name NUM_PARALLEL_PROCESSORS ALL
    Note: The Compiler detects Intel® Hyper-Threading® Technology (Intel® HT Technology) as a single processor. If your system includes a single processor with Intel HT Technology, set the number of processors to one. Do not use the Intel® HT Technology for Intel® Quartus® Prime compilations.
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