Specifications

CHAPTER 2: DESIGN ENTRY
USING ALTERA MEGAFUNCTIONS
ALTERA CORPORATION INTRODUCTION TO QUARTUS II ■ 49
You can install MegaCore functions from the MegaCore IP Library
CD-ROM either during or after installation of the Quartus II software.
You can also download individual IP MegaCore functions from the
Altera web site, via the IP MegaStore, and install them separately. You
can also access MegaCore functions though the MegaWizard Portal
Extension to the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager.
■ OpenCore Evaluation Feature: The OpenCore
®
evaluation feature
allows you to evaluate AMPP functions before purchase. You can use
the OpenCore feature to compile, simulate, and verify the performance
of a design, but it does not support programming file generation.
■ OpenCore Plus Hardware Evaluation Feature: The free OpenCore
Plus hardware evaluation feature allows you to simulate the behavior
of a MegaCore function within your system, verify the functionality of
the design, and evaluate its size and speed quickly and easily. In
addition, the Quartus II software generates time-limited programming
files for designs containing MegaCore functions, allowing you to
program devices and verify your design in hardware before purchasing
a license for the IP megafunction.
When the OpenCore Plus hardware feature is turned on in the
Compilation Process page of the Settings dialog box (Assignments
menu), the Quartus II software inserts a small amount of control logic.
This logic can have an adverse effect on fitting, especially with small
devices. You can turn off the OpenCore Plus hardware evaluation
feature to direct the Quartus II software to omit the additional logic.
Using the MegaWizard Plug-In
Manager
The MegaWizard Plug-In Manager helps you create or modify design files
that contain custom megafunction variations, which you can then instantiate
in a design file. These custom megafunction variations are based on Altera-
provided megafunctions, including LPM, MegaCore, and AMPP functions.
The MegaWizard Plug-In Manager runs a wizard that helps you easily
specify options for the custom megafunction variations. The wizard allows
you to set values for parameters and optional ports. You can open the
MegaWizard Plug-In Manager from the Tools menu or from within a Block
Design File, or you can run it as a stand-alone utility. Table 4 lists the files
generated by the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager for each custom
megafunction variation you generate.