Altera PowerPlay Early Power Estimator for Altera CPLDs - Manual (Page 7)

Chapter 1: PowerPlay Early Power Estimator Overview 1–3
Setting Up the PowerPlay EPE
December 2010 Altera Corporation PowerPlay Early Power Estimator for Altera CPLDs User Guide
Estimating Power Consumption Before Starting the CPLD Design
Table 1–1 lists the advantage and disadvantages of using the PowerPlay EPE
spreadsheet before you begin your CPLD design.
To estimate power consumption using the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet before starting
your CPLD design, perform the following steps:
1. On the Main worksheet of the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet, select the target family,
device, and package from the Device and Package drop-down list.
2. Enter values for each worksheet in the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet. Different
worksheets in the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet display different power sections,
such as clocks and I/Os.
3. The calculator displays the estimated power consumption in the Total column.
Estimating Power Consumption While Creating the CPLD Design
If your CPLD design is partially complete, you can import the PowerPlay EPE file
(_early_pwr.csv) generated by the Quartus II software to the
PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet. After importing the information from the
_early_pwr.csv file into the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet, you can edit
the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet to reflect the device resource estimates for your final
design.
Table 1–2 lists the advantage and disadvantages if you use the PowerPlay EPE
spreadsheet for a CPLD design that is partially complete.
To estimate power consumption with the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet if your CPLD
design is partially complete, refer to
“Importing a File” on page 1–4 .
Table 1–1. Power Estimation Before Designing CPLD
Advantage Disadvantage
■ You can obtain power estimation before
starting your CPLD design. ■ Accuracy depends on your inputs and your
estimation of the device resources; where this
information may change (during or after your
design is complete), your power estimation
results may be less accurate.
■ Process can be time consuming.
Table 1–2. Power Estimation if Your CPLD Design is Partially Complete
Advantage Disadvantage
■ You can perform power estimation early in
the CPLD design cycle.
■ Provides the flexibility to automatically fill in
the PowerPlay EPE spreadsheet based on the
Quartus II software compilation results.
■ Accuracy depends on your inputs and your
estimation of the device resources; where this
information may change (during or after your
design is complete), your power estimation
results may be less accurate.
■ Process can be time consuming.