Early Power Estimator User Guide

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ID 683272
Date 7/16/2021
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Early Power Estimator Overview 2. Setting Up the Early Power Estimator 3. Early Power Estimator Worksheets 4. Factors Affecting the Early Power Estimator Spreadsheet Accuracy A. Additional Information for Early Power Estimator User Guide
1. Early Power Estimator Overview x
1.1. Release Information 1.2. Power Model Status for Supported Device Families
2. Setting Up the Early Power Estimator x
2.1. System Requirements 2.2. Download and Install the Early Power Estimator 2.3. Estimating Power Consumption
2.2. Download and Install the Early Power Estimator x
2.2.1. Changing the Macro Security Level in Microsoft Excel 2003 2.2.2. Changing the Macro Security Level in Microsoft Excel 2007 2.2.3. Changing the Macro Security Level in Microsoft Excel 2010
2.3. Estimating Power Consumption x
2.3.1. Estimating Power Consumption Before Starting the FPGA Design 2.3.2. Estimating Power Consumption While Creating the FPGA Design 2.3.3. Estimating Power Consumption After Completing the FPGA Design
2.3.1. Estimating Power Consumption Before Starting the FPGA Design x
2.3.1.1. Entering Information into the Early Power Estimator
2.3.1.1. Entering Information into the Early Power Estimator x
2.3.1.1.1. Manually Entering Values
2.3.2. Estimating Power Consumption While Creating the FPGA Design x
2.3.2.1. Importing a File
2.3.2.1. Importing a File x
2.3.2.1.1. Generate the EPE File 2.3.2.1.2. Import Data into the EPE Spreadsheet
3. Early Power Estimator Worksheets x
3.1. Main Worksheet 3.2. Logic Worksheet 3.3. RAM Worksheet 3.4. DSP Worksheet 3.5. I/O Worksheet 3.6. PLL Worksheet 3.7. Clock Worksheet 3.8. HSDI Worksheet 3.9. XCVR Worksheet 3.10. HMC Worksheet 3.11. IP Worksheet 3.12. HPS Worksheet 3.13. Report Worksheet 3.14. Enpirion Worksheet
3.1. Main Worksheet x
3.1.1. Input Parameter 3.1.2. Thermal Power 3.1.3. Power Tree Design 3.1.4. Thermal Analysis
3.1.4. Thermal Analysis x
3.1.4.1. Not Using a Heat Sink 3.1.4.2. Using a Heat Sink
3.13. Report Worksheet x
3.13.1. Static Power and Dynamic Current per Voltage Rail 3.13.2. Power Up Current 3.13.3. Power Breakout for Multiple Voltage Supplies 3.13.4. Power Regulator Settings
4. Factors Affecting the Early Power Estimator Spreadsheet Accuracy x
4.1. Toggle Rate 4.2. Airflow 4.3. Temperature 4.4. Heat Sink
A. Additional Information for Early Power Estimator User Guide x
A.1. Document Revision History for Early Power Estimator User Guide
1. Early Power Estimator Overview
2. Setting Up the Early Power Estimator
3. Early Power Estimator Worksheets
4. Factors Affecting the Early Power Estimator Spreadsheet Accuracy
A. Additional Information for Early Power Estimator User Guide

4.1. Toggle Rate

The toggle rates specified in the EPE spreadsheet can have a large impact on the dynamic power consumption displayed. To obtain an accurate estimate, you must input toggle rates that are realistic. Determining realistic toggle rates requires knowing what kind of input the FPGA is receiving and how often it toggles.

To get an accurate estimate if the design is not complete, isolate the separate modules in the design by functionality and estimate the resource usage along with the toggle rates of the resources. The easiest way to accomplish this is to leverage previous designs to estimate the toggle rates for modules with similar functionality.

The input data in the following figure is encoded for data transmission and has a roughly 50% toggle rate.

Figure 29. Decoder and Encoder Block Diagram
In this case, you must estimate the following:
  • Data toggle rate
  • Mod input toggle rate
  • Resource estimate for the Decoder module, RAM, Filter, Modulator, and Encoder
  • Toggle rate for the Decoder module, RAM, Filter, Modulator, and Encoder

You can generate these estimates in many ways. If you used similar modules in the past with data inputs of roughly the same toggle rate, you can leverage that information. If MATLAB simulations are available for some blocks, you can obtain the toggle rate information. If the HDL is available for some of the modules, you can simulate them.

If the HDL is complete, the best way to determine toggle rate is to simulate the design. The accuracy of toggle rate estimates depends on the accuracy of the input vectors. Therefore, determining whether or not the simulation coverage is high gives you a good estimate of how accurate the toggle rate information is.

The Intel® Quartus® Prime software can determine toggle rates of each resource used in the design if you provide information from simulation tools. Designs can be simulated in many different tools and the information provided to the Intel® Quartus® Prime software through a Signal Activity File (.saf). The Intel® Quartus® PrimePower Analyzer provides the most accurate power estimate. You can import the Comma-separated Value file (.csv) from the Intel® Quartus® Prime software into the EPE spreadsheet for estimating power after your design is complete.

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