External Memory Interface Handbook Volume 2: Design Guidelines: For UniPHY-based Device Families

ID 683385
Date 3/06/2023
Public
Document Table of Contents

8. Simulating Memory IP

To simulate your design you require the following components:
  • A simulator—The simulator must be an Intel-supported VHDL or Verilog HDL simulator:
    • Aldec Riviera-Pro
    • Cadence NC Sim
    • Mentor Graphics* ModelSim
    • Synopsys* VCS/VCS-MX
  • A design using Intel’s External Memory Interface (EMIF) IP
  • An example driver or traffic generator (to initiate read and write transactions)
  • A testbench and a suitable memory simulation model

The Intel External Memory Interface IP is not compatible with the Platform Designer Testbench System. Instead, use the simulation example design from your generated IP to validate memory interface operation, or as a reference to create a full simulatable design, containing a memory interface, a memory model, and a traffic generator.

Memory Simulation Models

There are two types of memory simulation models that you can use:

  • An Intel-provided generic memory model. The Intel® Quartus® Prime software generates this model with the simulation example design. The model adheres to all the memory protocol specifications, and can be parameterized.
  • A vendor-specific memory model. Memory vendors such as Micron and Samsung provide simulation models for specific memory components that you can download from their websites.
Note: Intel does not provide support for vendor-specific memory models.