External Sdram Memory in FPGA Based Design
Marek Kvas, Soběslav Valach, Ludek Cervinka · Annals of DAAAM for ... & proceedings of the ... International DAAAM Symposium · 2011
Even though amount of memory integrated on the FPGA chip grows, it is sufficient for rather low demanding applications only.Even smaller members of low-cost FPGA family, Spartan 6, have enough logical resources to perform relatively complex functionality, but memory is often the limiting factor.The only solution is to use external memories.From the reliability point of view the external memory introduces to the system new risks in the form of potential hardware malfunction, soft errors in external memory and necessary architectural changes.This paper evaluates additional risks, costs and gains specific for external memories.