Nios II Classic Processor Reference Guide

ID 683620
Date 10/28/2016
Public
Document Table of Contents

4.2.2. Data Master Settings

The Data Master parameters provide the following options for the Nios II/f core:
  • Omit data master port—Removes the Avalon-MM data master port from the Nios II processor. The port is only successfully removed when Data cache is set to None and Number of tightly coupled data master port(s) is greater than zero.
Note: Although the Nios II processor can operate entirely out of tightly-coupled memory without the need for Avalon-MM instruction or data masters, software debug is not possible when either the Avalon-MM instruction or data master is omitted.
  • Data cache—Specifies the size of the data cache. Valid sizes are from 512 bytes to 64 KBytes, or None. Depending on the value specified for Data cache, the following options are available:
    • Data cache line size—Valid sizes are 4 bytes, 16 bytes, or 32 bytes.
    • Burst transfers —The Nios II processor can fill its data cache lines using burst transfers. Usually you enable bursts on the processor's data bus when processor data is stored in DRAM, and disable bursts when processor data is stored in SRAM.

      Bursting to DRAM typically improves memory bandwidth but might consume additional FPGA resources. Be aware that when bursts are enabled, accesses to slaves might go through additional hardware (called burst adapters) which might decrease your fMAX.

      Bursting is only enabled for data cache line sizes greater than 4 bytes. The burst length is 4 for a 16 byte line size and 8 for a 32 byte line size. Data cache bursts are always aligned on the cache line boundary. For example, with a 32-byte Nios II data cache line, a cache miss to the address 8 results in a burst with the following address sequence: 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28.

  • Number of tightly coupled data master port(s) (Include tightly coupled data master port(s))—Specifies one to four tightly-coupled data master ports for the Nios II processor. In Qsys, select the number from the Number of tightly coupled data master port(s) list. Tightly-coupled memory ports appear on the connection panel of the Nios II processor on the Qsys System Contents tab. You must connect each port to exactly one memory component in the system.