Variable Precision DSP Blocks User Guide: Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs

ID 813968
Date 9/20/2024
Public
Document Table of Contents

3.3. Operational Modes for Tensor Mode

There are three operational modes:
  • Tensor Floating-Point Mode
  • Tensor Fixed-Point Mode
  • Tensor Accumulation Mode

In Tensor Floating-point and Tensor Fixed-point modes, a DOT engine feeds an ALU. In Tensor Accumulation mode, the ALU is fed directly by a 32-bit floating-point data input.

In the modes where the DOT engine is used, weights are preloaded into two sets of ping-pong buffers that can be selected during computation using the load buf_sel signal. There are two different methods for pre-loading the weights.

  • Data Input Feed Preloading Method
    • Fastest method to update ping-pong buffers but computation must stop during update.
  • Side Input Feed Preloading Method
    • Slower method to update but computation can continue with one set of ping-pong buffers whilst the other set is updated.