Specifying PLIO Frequency - 2022.1 English

Vitis Model Composer User Guide (UG1483)

Document ID
UG1483
Release Date
2022-05-26
Version
2022.1 English

The AI Engine always run at 1 GHz and can write (at most) two streams with a 32-bit data width per cycle. In contrast, an IP implemented in the PL can run at up to 500 MHz, while consuming a larger bit-width. In order to balance the throughput between the AI Engine and PL, and also ensure the processes do not create a bottleneck with respect to the total performance, it is required to match the rates between the two. Vitis Model Composer supports specifying the frequency of PL from Platform I/O tab in AIE Signal Spec block.

You can either adjust the PLIO frequency or the Width to match the rate between the AI Engine and PL. Consider an example of a 32-bit channel written to each cycle by the AI Engine at 1 GHz. In order for PL to match the rate of AI Engine, it has to consume twice the data at half the frequency or four times the data at a quarter of the frequency.

AI Engine PL
Frequency Data per Cycle Frequency Data per Cycle
1 GHz 32 bit 500 MHz 64 bit
    256 MHz 128 bit