GOWIN GW1NSR-LV4CQN48P (Tang Nano 4K) - user flash

[up8051]

Hi,

I would like to use "User Flash" in my project.
I am not using the built-in Cortex M3 so the flash memory should be available for normal use.



But in IP Generator this option is grayed.


How to solve this problem?

BR JarekC

[mon2]

I believe the tool chain is a bit buggy as have seen quirks with the HyperRam IP.
Try a fresh project with this target and check if the USER FLASH is available or not.

[up8051]

I made new clean project, but without change.

[mon2]

This target has the hard MCU so very little overhead to enable the cpu. The cpu appears to be required to use the user flash. Can you enable the hard cpu and test if the user flash is then enabled in the IP generator?
This is what I am concluding from the ipug901e guide. Each example shows that the CPU is enabled.

[up8051]

Adding Hard CM3 core don't change state o User Flash IP.

[mc68000]

The device you chosen is the one with Cortex-M3. The one without should be something like GW1NSR-LV4QN48P. The "C" ,I believe, means with M3. But that one is what Tang Nano 4K has "C". You may generate bitstream but can not program it to Tang Nano 4K.

[mon2]

Which licence is active for your toolchain?

Is it the full version or the EDU version?

[up8051]

Full version 1.9.8 (build 54687) and 1.9.8.01 (build 55895)

[up8051]

In the document" Gowin Flash Controller Reference Design Release Note RN901-1.5E,11/09/2020"  I found this information:
Supported devices:
- GW1N-2
- GW1NZ-2
- GW1NS-2
- GW1NSR-2
- GW1N-4
- GW1N-4B
- GW1N-4C
- GW1NS-4
- GW1NSR-4
- GW1NR-4
- GW1NR-4B
- GW1NR-4C
- GW1NRF-4B
- GW1N-9
- GW1N-9C
- GW1NR-9
- GW1NR-9C

Looks there no GW1NSR-4C.

[mon2]

In the following document:

http://cdn.gowinsemi.com.cn/UG295E.pdf

The user flash IS supported inside the GW1NSR-4C.

From a quick but random other targets, the USER FLASH IP is present under HARD IP.

Can only assume that this is work in progress and will end up with a 'silent fix' in the future? We did report our findings with the HyperFlash issues and the factory has been silent. Not great to waste our time to learn from buggy IP. Somehow we are supposed to learn how to fix these bugs and deploy into high volume products so that the factory can support our account. Where do I sign up?

History keeps on repeating, just like Lattice, Silabs (6 years later - they are now reviewing the C2D bugs we raised in the Silabs docs), Dialog Semiconductor, Efinix, etc., etc.

[up8051]

I tried to use UserFlash IP imported from GW1N-LV4 and got this error:

ERROR  (PA2090) : 'FLASH256K'(flash_inst) must be used with 'EMCU' for current device

[mc68000]

I believe it means the Flash can only be used with MCU as MCU's storage. Can not be accessed from FPGA fabric. If you change to another device, it may pass.

[up8051]

Information from Gowin FAE:

If you have the GW1NSR-LV4C with ARM hardcore the User Flash is reserved for the processor and cannot be accessed by the User.

so the only solution is to use external EEPROM / Flash.

[mon2]

They should then update their documents to be accurate to reflect the same information.