Versal AI Core series devices include an AI Engine array with the following column categories.
- PL column
- provides PL stream access. Each column supports eight 64-bit slave channels for streaming data into the AI Engine and six 64-bit master channels for streaming data to the PL.
- NoC column
- provides connectivity between the AI Engine array and the NoC. These interfaces can also connect to the PL.
To instruct the AI Engine compiler to
select higher frequency interfaces, use the --pl-freq=<number>
to specify the clock frequency (in MHz) for the
PL kernels. The default value is one quarter of the AI Engine frequency and the maximum supported value is a half of the
AI Engine frequency, the values depending on the
speed grade. Following are examples:
- Option to enable an AI Engine-PL
frequency of 300 MHz for all AI Engine-PL
interfaces:
--pl-freq=300
- To set a different frequency for a specific PLIO interface use the
following code to set it in the ADF
graph.
adf::PLIO *<input>= new adf::PLIO(<logical_name>, <plio_width>, <file>, <FreqMHz>);
The AI Engine-PL AXI4-Stream channels use boundary logic interface (BLI) connections that include optional BLI registers with the exception of the slave channels 3 and 7. The two slave channels channel 3 and channel 7 are slower interfaces. The performance of the data transfer between the AI Engine and PL depends on whether the optional BLI registers are enabled or not.
For less timing-critical designs, all eight channels can be used without using the BLI registers. PL timing can still be met in this case. However, for higher frequency designs, only the six fast channels (0,1,2,4,5,6) can be used and the timing paths from the PL must be registered, using the BLI registers.
To control the use of BLI registers across the AI Engine-PL channels, use the --pl-register-threshold=<number>
compiler option, specified in MHz.
The default value is 1/8 of the AI Engine frequency
based on speed grade. Following is an example:
-
–pl-register-threshold=125
The compiler will map any PLIO interface with an AI Engine-PL frequency higher than this setting (125 MHz in this case) to high-speed channels with the BLI registers enabled. If the PLIO interface frequency is not higher than the
pl-register-threshold
value then any of the AI Engine-PL channels will be used.
In summary, if pl-freq
< pl-register-threshold
all eight channels can be used
unregistered. If pl-freq
> pl-register-threshold
only the six fast channels can be used, with
registering. pl-register-threshold
is a way to control
the threshold frequency beyond which only fast channels can be used (with registering).