Altera Stratix FPGA Architecture Overview

atomar — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:20:57 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by atomar on 6/27/2012 12:20:57 AM

Stratix FPGA Architecture

The Stratix® series of high-density, high-performance FPGAs leverages Altera's innovative adaptive logic module (ALM) logic structure to provide the most efficient logic fabric ever in any FPGA. Stratix V FPGAs leverage an enhanced adaptive logic module and MultiTrack interconnect to provide a highly efficient, high-performance FPGA. Enhanced Adaptive Logic Module

Stratix V devices use an enhanced ALM to implement logic functions more efficiently. The enhanced ALM has eight inputs with a fracturable look-up table (LUT), two dedicated embedded adders, and four dedicated registers, as shown below:

The Enhanced ALM - Packs six percent more logic compared to the previous-generation ALM found in Stratix IV devices. Implements select 7-input LUT-based functions, all 6-input logic functions, and two independent functions consisting of smaller LUT sizes (such as two independent 4-input LUTs) to optimize core utilization. Provides 4 registers per 8-input fracturable LUT. This enables Stratix V devices to maximize core performance at higher core logic utilization and provide easier timing closure for register-rich and heavily pipelined designs. Quartus® II software leverages the Stratix V ALM logic structure to deliver the highest performance, optimal logic utilization, and lowest compile times. Quartus II software simplifies design reuse as it automatically maps legacy Stratix designs into the new ALM architecture. The ALMs are routed with the MultiTrack interconnect architecture, enabling a Stratix series FPGA to implement high-speed logic, arithmetic, and register functions.

Available Resources Per ALM	Advantages
8-Input Fracturable LUT	Can implement any 6-input logic function and certain 7-input functions and be fractured into independent smaller LUTs, such as two independent 4-input LUTs Quartus II software design suite integrates this fracturability and optimizes it for performance, efficiency, power, and area
Two Embedded Adders	Allows for two two-bit additions or two three-bit additions without any additional resources Operands can be generated from the same ALM and do not require any additional logic
Four Registers	Optimal register-to-logic ratio to ensure device is not register-limited Abundance in registers for register-rich applications or pipeline designs for performance
Four Outputs	Inputs of a single ALM can be divided between the two output functions, allowing wide input functions to run fast and narrow input functions to efficiently use remaining resources
MLAB	The core of a Stratix series FPGA includes a logic array block (LAB), comprised of regular ALMs or configured as a simple, 640-bit dual-port SRAM block (known as a MLAB) MLABs can be configured as 64 x 10 or 32 x 20 simple dual-port SRAM blocks. The MLABs are optimized to implement filter delay lines, small FIFO buffers, and shift registers with maximum performance of 600-MHz clock speeds

MultiTrack Interconnect

High-performance Stratix series FPGAs leverage the MultiTrack interconnect technology. This technology consists of continuous, performance-optimized routing lines of different lengths used for communication within and between distinct design blocks.

The MultiTrack interconnect technology, shown in Figure 2, is used in Altera's Stratix series FPGAs to:

Provide the industry's best connectivity with up to five times the logic in a single hop (compared to the competition).
Provide more accessibility to any surrounding LAB with much fewer connections, thus improving performance and reducing power.
Avoid area congestion to provide better logic packing.

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