Article ID: 000074255 Content Type: Troubleshooting Last Reviewed: 02/12/2023

Can I use higher PLL VCO frequency than the PLL specifications for Cyclone® V devices when the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software does not issue an error?

Environment

  • Intel® Quartus® Prime Standard Edition
  • BUILT IN - ARTICLE INTRO SECOND COMPONENT
    Description

    No.  Even if the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software does not issue an error, you cannot use higher PLL VCO frequency than the PLL specifications for Cyclone® V devices.

    Due to a problem with the Intel Quartus Prime Software, the fitter might issue no error even if the PLL VCO frequency is higher than the specifications.

    The maximum PLL VCO frequency for Cyclone V FPGA -7 and -8 speed grades is 1300 MHz.  When the VCO frequency is higher than 1300 MHz, but the output clock frequency is not higher than 1300 MHz in those devices, the fitter issues no error.  When the output clock frequency is higher than 1300 MHz in those devices, the fitter issues an error. 

    Example case 1
      Device : Cyclone V FPGA -7 or -8 grades
      Altera PLL IP parameter editor settings
        Reference : clock 8 MHz
        Output clocks
           outclk1 : 25 MHz
           outclk2 : 64 MHz
        M counter :  200
        N counter : 1
        C counter-0 64
        C counter-1 25
      The VCO frequency is 1600MHz for this parameters, but the fitter issue no error.

    Example case 2
      Device : Cyclone V -7 or -8 grades
      Altera PLL IP parameter editor settings
        Reference : clock 10 MHz
        Output clocks
          outclk0 : 400 MHz
          outclk1 : 1,600 MHz
       M counter :  160
       N counter : 1
       C counter-0 : 4
       C counter-1 : 1
     The VCO frequency is 1,600 MHz for this parameters and the outclk1 frequency is 1,600 MHz.  The fitter issues an error for the outclk1 frequency.

    Resolution

    When you use Cyclone® V FPGA -7 or -8 speed grade, check manually if the PLL VCO frequency is higher than the PLL specifications or not in the fitter report.  If the PLL VCO frequency is higher than the PLL specifications, change the parameters of the PLL to keep the PLL VCO frequency within the specifications. 

    You can see the PLL VCO frequency of the filter report in your design project using the following steps:

    1. Open menu Processing > Compilation Report.
    2. Open the Resource Section under the Fitter folder in the Table of Contents panel of the Compilation Report window.
    3. Choose PLL usage Summary under Resource Section.

    Related Products

    This article applies to 1 products

    Cyclone® V FPGAs and SoC FPGAs