Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture High-Performance Design Handbook

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Date 10/04/2021
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Intel® Hyperflex™ FPGA Architecture Introduction 2. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture RTL Design Guidelines 3. Compiling Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Designs 4. Design Example Walk-Through 5. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds 6. Optimization Example 7. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Porting Guidelines 8. Appendices 9. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture High-Performance Design Handbook Archive 10. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture High-Performance Design Handbook Revision History
1. Intel® Hyperflex™ FPGA Architecture Introduction x
1.1. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Design Concepts
2. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture RTL Design Guidelines x
2.1. High-Speed Design Methodology 2.2. Hyper-Retiming (Facilitate Register Movement) 2.3. Hyper-Pipelining (Add Pipeline Registers) 2.4. Hyper-Optimization (Optimize RTL)
2.1. High-Speed Design Methodology x
2.1.1. Set a High-Speed Target 2.1.2. Experiment and Iterate 2.1.3. Compile Components Independently 2.1.4. Optimize Sub-Modules 2.1.5. Avoid Broadcast Signals
2.1.1. Set a High-Speed Target x
2.1.1.1. Speed and Timing Closure 2.1.1.2. Speed and Latency
2.2. Hyper-Retiming (Facilitate Register Movement) x
2.2.1. Reset Strategies 2.2.2. Clock Enable Strategies 2.2.3. Preserving Registers During Synthesis 2.2.4. Timing Constraint Considerations 2.2.5. Clock Synchronization Strategies 2.2.6. Metastability Synchronizers 2.2.7. Initial Power-Up Conditions 2.2.8. Retiming through RAMs and DSPs
2.2.1. Reset Strategies x
2.2.1.1. Removing Asynchronous Resets 2.2.1.2. Synchronous Resets on Global Clock Trees 2.2.1.3. Synchronous Resets on I/O Ports 2.2.1.4. Duplicate and Pipeline Synchronous Resets
2.2.2. Clock Enable Strategies x
2.2.2.1. Localized Clock Enable 2.2.2.2. High Fan-Out Clock Enable 2.2.2.3. Clock Enable with Timing Exceptions
2.2.4. Timing Constraint Considerations x
2.2.4.1. Optimize Multicycle Paths 2.2.4.2. Overconstraints
2.2.5. Clock Synchronization Strategies x
2.2.5.1. Clock Domain Crossing Constraint Guidelines
2.2.7. Initial Power-Up Conditions x
2.2.7.1. Specifying Initial Memory Conditions 2.2.7.2. Initial Conditions and Retiming 2.2.7.3. Initial Conditions and Hyper-Registers 2.2.7.4. Retiming Reset Sequences
2.2.7.3. Initial Conditions and Hyper-Registers x
2.2.7.3.1. Implementing Clock Gating 2.2.7.3.2. Intel® Quartus® Prime Settings for Initial Conditions
2.3. Hyper-Pipelining (Add Pipeline Registers) x
2.3.1. Conventional Versus Hyper-Pipelining 2.3.2. Pipelining and Latency 2.3.3. Use Registers Instead of Multicycle Exceptions
2.3.2. Pipelining and Latency x
2.3.2.1. Pipelining at Variable Latency Locations 2.3.2.2. Automatic Pipeline Insertion
2.3.2.1. Pipelining at Variable Latency Locations x
2.3.2.1.1. Specifying a Latency-Insensitive False Path
2.3.2.2. Automatic Pipeline Insertion x
2.3.2.2.1. Step 1: Create the Variable Latency Module 2.3.2.2.2. Step 2: Instantiate the Variable Latency Module 2.3.2.2.3. Step 3: Verify Automatic Pipeline Insertion Option 2.3.2.2.4. (Optional) Auto-Pipeline Insertion without a Variable Latency Module
2.4. Hyper-Optimization (Optimize RTL) x
2.4.1. General Optimization Techniques 2.4.2. Optimizing Specific Design Structures
2.4.1. General Optimization Techniques x
2.4.1.1. Shannon’s Decomposition 2.4.1.2. Time Domain Multiplexing 2.4.1.3. Loop Unrolling 2.4.1.4. Loop Pipelining 2.4.1.5. Precomputation
2.4.1.1. Shannon’s Decomposition x
2.4.1.1.1. Shannon’s Decomposition Example 2.4.1.1.2. Identifying Circuits for Shannon’s Decomposition
2.4.1.4. Loop Pipelining x
2.4.1.4.1. Loop Pipelining Theory 2.4.1.4.2. Loop Pipelining Demonstration 2.4.1.4.3. Loop Pipelining and Synthesis Optimization
2.4.2. Optimizing Specific Design Structures x
2.4.2.1. High-Speed Clock Domains 2.4.2.2. Restructuring Loops 2.4.2.3. Control Signal Backpressure 2.4.2.4. Flow Control with FIFO Status Signals 2.4.2.5. Flow Control with Skid Buffers 2.4.2.6. Read-Modify-Write Memory 2.4.2.7. Counters and Accumulators 2.4.2.8. State Machines 2.4.2.9. Memory 2.4.2.10. DSP Blocks 2.4.2.11. General Logic 2.4.2.12. Modulus and Division 2.4.2.13. Resets 2.4.2.14. Hardware Re-use 2.4.2.15. Algorithmic Requirements 2.4.2.16. FIFOs 2.4.2.17. Ternary Adders
2.4.2.1. High-Speed Clock Domains x
2.4.2.1.1. Visualizing Clock Networks 2.4.2.1.2. Viewing Clock Networks in the Fitter Report 2.4.2.1.3. Viewing Clocks in the Timing Analyzer
2.4.2.9. Memory x
2.4.2.9.1. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture True Dual-Port Memory 2.4.2.9.2. Use Simple Dual-Port Memories 2.4.2.9.3. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Simple Dual-Port Memory Example 2.4.2.9.4. Memory Mixed Port Width Ratio Limits 2.4.2.9.5. Unregistered RAM Outputs
3. Compiling Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Designs x
3.1. Compiling Submodules Independently 3.2. Design Assistant Design Rule Checking
3.2. Design Assistant Design Rule Checking x
3.2.1. Running Design Assistant During Compilation 3.2.2. Running Design Assistant in Analysis Mode
3.2.2. Running Design Assistant in Analysis Mode x
3.2.2.1. Cross-Probing from Design Assistant to Visualization Tools 3.2.2.2. Launching Design Assistant from Chip Planner 3.2.2.3. Launching Design Assistant from Timing Analyzer
4. Design Example Walk-Through x
4.1. Median Filter Design Example
4.1. Median Filter Design Example x
4.1.1. Step 1: Compile the Base Design 4.1.2. Step 2: Add Pipeline Stages and Remove Asynchronous Resets 4.1.3. Step 3: Add More Pipeline Stages and Remove All Asynchronous Resets 4.1.4. Step 4: Optimize Short Path and Long Path Conditions
5. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds x
5.1. Setting the dont_merge Synthesis Attribute 5.2. Interpreting Critical Chain Reports
5.2. Interpreting Critical Chain Reports x
5.2.1. Insufficient Registers 5.2.2. Short Path/Long Path 5.2.3. Fast Forward Limit 5.2.4. Loops 5.2.5. One Critical Chain per Clock Domain 5.2.6. Critical Chains in Related Clock Groups 5.2.7. Complex Critical Chains 5.2.8. Extend to locatable node 5.2.9. Domain Boundary Entry and Domain Boundary Exit 5.2.10. Critical Chains with Dual Clock Memories 5.2.11. Critical Chain Bits and Buses 5.2.12. Delay Lines
5.2.1. Insufficient Registers x
5.2.1.1. Insufficient Registers Example 5.2.1.2. Optimizing Insufficient Registers 5.2.1.3. Critical Chains with Dual Clock Memories
5.2.2. Short Path/Long Path x
5.2.2.1. Hyper-Register Locations Not Available 5.2.2.2. Example for Hold Optimization 5.2.2.3. Optimizing Short Path/Long Path 5.2.2.4. Add Registers 5.2.2.5. Duplicate Common Nodes 5.2.2.6. Data and Control Plane
5.2.3. Fast Forward Limit x
5.2.3.1. Optimizing Path Limit
5.2.4. Loops x
5.2.4.1. Example of Loops Limiting the Critical Chain
6. Optimization Example x
6.1. Round Robin Scheduler
7. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Porting Guidelines x
7.1. Design Migration and Performance Exploration 7.2. Top-Level Design Considerations
7.1. Design Migration and Performance Exploration x
7.1.1. Black-boxing Verilog HDL Modules 7.1.2. Black-boxing VHDL Modules 7.1.3. Clock Management 7.1.4. Pin Assignments 7.1.5. Transceiver Control Logic 7.1.6. Upgrade Outdated IP Cores
8. Appendices x
8.1. Appendix A: Parameterizable Pipeline Modules 8.2. Appendix B: Clock Enables and Resets
8.2. Appendix B: Clock Enables and Resets x
8.2.1. Synchronous Resets and Limitations 8.2.2. Retiming with Clock Enables 8.2.3. Resolving Short Paths
8.2.1. Synchronous Resets and Limitations x
8.2.1.1. Synchronous Resets Summary
8.2.2. Retiming with Clock Enables x
8.2.2.1. Example for Broadcast Control Signals
1. Intel® Hyperflex™ FPGA Architecture Introduction
2. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture RTL Design Guidelines
3. Compiling Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Designs
4. Design Example Walk-Through
5. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds
6. Optimization Example
7. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture Porting Guidelines
8. Appendices
9. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture High-Performance Design Handbook Archive
10. Intel® Hyperflex™ Architecture High-Performance Design Handbook Revision History

5. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds

The Compiler identifies the register chains in your design that limit further optimization through Hyper-Retiming. The Compiler refers to these related register-to-register paths as a critical chain. The fMAX of the critical chain and its associated clock domain is limited by the average delay of a register-to-register path, and quantization delays of indivisible circuit elements like routing wires. There are a variety of situations that cause retiming restrictions. Retiming restrictions exist because of hardware characteristics, software behavior, or are inherent to the design. The Retiming Limit Details report the limiting reasons preventing further retiming, and the registers and combinational nodes that comprise the chain. The Fast Forward recommendations list the steps you can take to remove critical chains and enable additional register retiming.

In the diagram of a simple critical chain that follows, the red line represents the same critical chain. Timing restrictions prevent register A from retiming forward. Timing restrictions also prevent register B from retiming backwards. A loop occurs when register A and register B are the same register.

Figure 101. Sample Critical Chain

Fast Forward recommendations for the critical chain include:

  • Reduce the delay of ‘Long Paths’ in the chain. Use standard timing closure techniques to reduce delay. Combinational logic, sub-optimal placement, and routing congestion, are among the reasons for path delay.
  • Insert more pipeline stages in ‘Long Paths’ in the chain. Long paths are the parts of the critical chain that have the most delay between registers.
  • Increase the delay (or add pipeline stages to ‘Short Paths’ in the chain).

Particular registers in critical chains can limit performance for many other reasons. The Compiler classifies the following types of reasons that limit further optimization by retiming:

  • Insufficient Registers
  • Loop
  • Short path/long path
  • Path limit

After understanding why a particular critical chain limits your design’s performance, you can then make RTL changes to eliminate that bottleneck and increase performance.

Table 10.  Hyper-Register Support for Various Design Conditions
Design Condition Hyper-Register Support
Initial conditions that cannot be preserved Hyper-Registers do have initial condition support. However, you cannot perform some retiming operations while preserving the initial condition stage of all registers (that is, the merging and duplicating of Hyper-Registers). If this condition occurs in the design, the Fitter does not retime those registers. This retiming limit ensures that the register retiming does not affect design functionality.
Register has an asynchronous clear Hyper-Registers support only data and clock inputs. Hyper-Registers do not have control signals such as asynchronous clears, presets, or enables. The Fitter cannot retime any register that has an asynchronous clear. Use asynchronous clears only when necessary, such as state machines or control logic. Often, you can avoid or remove asynchronous clears from large parts of a datapath.
Register drives an asynchronous signal This design condition is inherent to any design that uses asynchronous resets. Focus on reducing the number of registers that are reset with an asynchronous clear.
Register has don’t touch or preserve attributes The Compiler does not retime registers with these attributes. If you use the preserve attribute to manage register duplication for high fan-out signals, try removing the preserve attribute. The Compiler may be able to retime the high fan-out register along each of the routing paths to its destinations. Alternatively, use the dont_merge attribute. The Compiler retimes registers in ALMs, DDIOs, single port RAMs, and DSP blocks.
Register is a clock source This design condition is uncommon, especially for performance-critical parts of a design. If this retiming restriction prevents you from achieving the required performance, consider whether a PLL can generate the clock, rather than a register.
Register is a partition boundary This condition is inherent to any design that uses design partitions. If this retiming restriction prevents you from achieving the required performance, add additional registers inside the partition boundary for Hyper-Retiming.
Register is a block type modified by an ECO operation This restriction is uncommon. Avoid the restriction by making the functional change in the design source and recompiling, rather than performing an ECO.
Register location is an unknown block This restriction is uncommon. You can often work around this condition by adding extra registers adjacent to the specified block type.
Register is described in the RTL as a latch Hyper-Registers cannot implement latches. The Compiler infers latches because of RTL coding issues, such as incomplete assignments. If you do not intend to implement a latch, change the RTL.
Register location is at an I/O boundary All designs contain I/O, but you can add additional pipeline stages next to the I/O boundary for Hyper-Retiming.
Combinational node is fed by a special source This condition is uncommon, especially for performance-critical parts of a design.
Register is driven by a locally routed clock Only the dedicated clock network clocks Hyper-Registers. Using the routing fabric to distribute clock signals is uncommon, especially for performance-critical parts of a design. Consider implementing a small clock region instead.
Register is a timing exception end-point The Compiler does not retime registers that are sources or destinations of .sdc constraints.
Register with inverted input or output This condition is uncommon.
Register is part of a synchronizer chain The Fitter optimizes synchronizer chains to increase the mean time between failure (MTBF), and the Compiler does not retime registers that are detected or marked as part of a synchronizer chain. Add more pipeline stages at the clock domain boundary adjacent to the synchronizer chain to provide flexibility for the retiming. Alternatively, you can reduce the detection number for that particular synchronizer chain Synchronization Register Chain Length (default is 3). In some cases a synchronizer chain isn't necessary, and shouldn't be inferred.
Register with multiple period requirements for paths that start or end at the register (cross-clock boundary) This situation occurs at any cross-clock boundary, where a register latches data on a clock at one frequency, and fans out to registers running at another frequency. The Compiler does not retime registers at cross-clock boundaries. Consider adding additional pipeline stages at one side of the clock domain boundary, or the other, to provide flexibility for retiming.

Section Content
Setting the dont_merge Synthesis Attribute
Interpreting Critical Chain Reports

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