Electronics Introduction

  Implementing a PCIe interface on an FPGA is a complex task that leverages specialized hard IP blocks within the FPGA. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the components, steps, and considerations involved. Core Concept: The PHY and the Hard IP Unlike simpler protocols (like UART or SPI), you cannot implement PCI Express efficiently using just FPGA logic fabric (the "soft" programmable logic). This is because the PCIe physical layer (PHY) requires: High-Speed SerDes (Serializer/Deserializer):  Operating at multi-gigabit rates (e.g., 2.5 GT/s for Gen1, 5.0 GT/s for Gen2, 8.0 GT/s for Gen3). Complex Analog Circuits:  For clock data recovery (CDR), impedance matching, and pre-emphasis. Therefore, all modern FPGAs capable of PCIe contain  dedicated hard IP blocks  for the PHY and the controller logic. Your job is to  configure  this hard IP and  connect  it to your user logic within the FPGA fabric. Key Components of a PCIe Implementation PCIe Hard ...