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PCI Express, PCI, PCIe, PCI-XP, and PCI-SIG Solutions

Altera provides a range of complete PCI-SIG-compliant FPGA solutions for a variety of x1, x4, and x8 PCI Express applications. The solutions include configurable PCI Express intellectual property (IP) cores and development boards for endpoint, bridge, switch, and root complex functionality. The solutions enable simple and fast protocol implementation, thereby reducing design risk, shortening development times, and allowing you to concentrate on the core functions of the system design.

PCI Express hard IP that implements PHY-MAC, data link, and transaction layer functionality is also available in Stratix® IV GX FPGAs and HardCopy® IV GX ASICs.

Integrated PCI Express Solutions

Utilizing built-in transceivers to implement the protocol in a single device, Stratix II GX and Arria®  GX FPGAs provide a fully integrated PCI Express-compliant solution for multi-lane (x1, x4, and x8), high-performance applications. Table 1 provides an overview of the complete PCI Express solution for Stratix IV GX FPGAs, HardCopy IV GX ASICs, Stratix II GX FPGAs, and Arria GX FPGAs.

Table 1. Complete PCI Express Solution
Solution Description
Device Stratix IV GX FPGAs, HardCopy IV GX ASICs, Stratix II GX FPGAs, or Arria GX FPGAs (x1 and x4 only)
Transceiver Integrated PCI Express PIPE-compliant PHY
Altera® PCI Express IP MegaCore® Functions PCI Express Compiler—x1, x4, and x8 MegaCore functions
Partner PCI Express IP Core PLD Application PCI Express x1, x4, and x8 IP core
Development Boards

PCI Express Development Kit, Stratix II GX Edition

Arria GX FPGA Development Kit

PCI-SIG Compliance Testing Passed
PCI Express Characterization Report Contact your local Altera sales representative.
Reference Designs

PCI Express to DDR2 SDRAM Reference Design

PCI Express High-Performance Reference Design

Training Implementing PCI Express Solutions in Transceiver-Based FPGAs

External Transceiver PCI Express Solutions

For low-cost applications, you can use Cyclone® III and Cyclone II FPGAs with an external transceiver (or PHY device). Use high-density Stratix IV E FPGAs, HardCopy IV E ASICs, Stratix III FPGAs, HardCopy III ASICs, Stratix II FPGAs, and HardCopy II ASICs in applications requiring the highest density and performance. Table 2 shows the Altera FPGA with external PHY solutions for PCI Express.

Table 2. External PHY Solutions for PCI Express
Solution Description
Devices Stratix IV E FPGAs, HardCopy IV E ASICs, Stratix III FPGAs, HardCopy III ASICs, Stratix II FPGAs, HardCopy II ASICs, Cyclone III FPGAs, Cyclone II FPGAs
Transceiver

(x1) implementation Texas Instruments XIO1100

(x1) implementation NXP PX1011A
Altera PCI Express IP MegaCore Functions PCI Express Compiler—x1, x4, and x8 MegaCore functions
Partner PCI Express IP Core PLD Application PCI Express x1, x4, and x8 IP core
Development Boards Cyclone II EP2C35 PCI Express Development Board
from Knott Systems featuring a TI XIO1100 transceiver
PCI-SIG Compliance Testing Passed

PCI Express Hardware Testing

To ensure the highest reliability, Altera’s PCI Express solutions are fully tested in hardware at PCI-SIG-sponsored PCI Express compliance workshops. Tested hardware includes the following:

Related Links

Devices

PCI Express Protocol Standards

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