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Virtex 4 SATA redux

I've read some of the heated discussions regarding Virtex 4 and SATA, but I'm still not sure what the answers are. My understanding is that with a modest amount of external circuitry (NOT an external phy) I can build a SATA interface. Some of the Xilinx answer database links regarding SATA are dead. Hopefully someone here can give me some pointers.

1) What about V4 fails to work for SATA? 2) Has anyone made it work, and willing to explain how it was done? 3) Can 3Gbps speeds be used? 4) Is there another programable device that would be easier (V5 still needs to age a bit).

Thanks

Sam

Reply to
sam
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Hi Sam,

unfortunatly V-5 is the only Xilinx device that is claimed to be SATA compliant.

V-4 has several issues, some have workarounds some not. the OOB signalling has workaround, the CDR lock range limitation has not.

But why are you so sceptic about the V-5 use? I have ML505 on my desk and it has SATA connectors on it.

besides V-5 Lattice has promised to verify if the SC/ECP2M is fully SATA compliant it maybe but it is not officially confirmed by Lattice.

Antti PS please feel to contact me in private, i have and SATA project underway.

Reply to
Antti

Hi,

We released an Embedded SATA Storage appnote (XAPP716) and reference system last year. I recommend you to take a look at it. Basically it is an embedded Linux system with SATA and Gigabit Ethernet connection targetting ML405 demoboard. It is true there were some SATA support issues with V4 MGT in particular the OOB detector. However it has been addressed in the design. The release provides a time-limited evaluation bitfile for anyone with a ML405 to try out. This release does not support SATA Gen2 (3Gbps) mainly because we did not have time to implement. V5 GTP has improved and functional OOB support. It works fine in SATA Gen1/2 in my testcase. Feel free to ask if you need more info.

Regards,

Simon

Reply to
Simon Tam

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