Designing with the Versal Adaptive SoC: Memory Interfaces

COURSE CODE: ACAP-MEM

This course provides a system-level understanding of AMD Versal adaptive SoC memory interfaces. Memory controller architecture, IP generation, simulation, and implementation are covered. Additional information on PCB design issues is also covered.

The focus is on:

  • Constructing a system using Versal adaptive SoC external memory interfaces by:
  • Selecting the appropriate IP for an application
  • Configuring the memory controller IPs
  • Using the memory controllers in test benches and applications
  • Simulating and implementing the memory controller IPs
  • Exploring traffic pattern generation
  • Performance tuning for the hardened DDRMC
  • Accessing the appropriate reference material for board design issues involving signal integrity, the power supply, reference clocking, and trace design

See Course Outline

2-Day Instructor-led CoursePrice USDTraining Credits
Hosted Online - $600/day$120012
In-Person Public Registration - $600/day$120012
Private TrainingLearn MoreLearn More
CoachingLearn MoreLearn More
Printed Course Book (A PDF book is included in the course fee)$2002

Scheduled Classes

No Scheduled Sessions - Contact Us to ask about setting one up!

Training Duration:

2 Days

Elie was an exceptional instructor

Elie was an exceptional instructor, and I would welcome the opportunity to take another class from him and BLT in the future.

– Student from Designing with Verilog

Can quickly and concisely answer technical questions

I really like the expertise of the presenters and that they can quickly and concisely answer technical questions, Tom did great!

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 3

This one was definitely one of the best

I have attended a bunch of training courses over the years. This one was definitely one of the best I have attended. Erich did a great job, and the material is very well done. Thanks for a great class!

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 1

I would endorse him to teach a friend

Cole was a fantastic instructor and was very proactive in answering any questions that came up. I would endorse him to teach if a friend had to learn from this course.

– Student from Designing with Verilog

Thanks for a great class!

I have attended a bunch of training courses over the years. This one was definitely one of the best I have attended. Erich did a great job, and the material is very well done. Thanks for a great class!

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 1

Knowledgeable instructor

Elie was a knowledgeable instructor, and did a really good job of making sure students were comfortable interrupting for questions. He answered questions well and communicated very clearly.

– Student from Designing with VHDL

College course fit into 3 days

The instructor certainly knew the material and could explain the concepts as well as answer questions. Even the instructor said that this is a college course fit into 3 days.

Student from Designing with VDHL

Labs were great

The labs were great and really reinforced the topics.

– Student from Designing with Versal AI Engine 1: Architecture and Design Flow

My instructor took time

My instructor took time during some of the breaks to look up and distribute information about questions that he didn’t happen to know direct answers to, and I always appreciate when instructors take the time to do that.

Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 3

My instructor was very capable

My instructor was very capable of answering any of my questions even when they were an extension of the material being presented. If he wasn’t sure of an answer, he made sure to verify his thoughts before answering my question

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 1

Impressed with the effort

Glenn is a good instructor – I’m impressed with the effort he put into the presentation.
I hope I didn’t annoy him with too many questions.

– Student from Designing with Versal AI Engine 3: Kernel Programming and Optimization

My instructor was very professional

My instructor was very professional and answered all of my questions thoroughly. I enjoyed hearing about his professional experience with certain aspects of the course / labs as we went through the course.

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 1

Erich was engaging

Erich was engaging and had good pacing during the course. Although the course was all day for 3 days I didn’t feel exhausted at the end of sessions.

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 1

All in all a great experience

Tom was a great instructor, very knowledgeable and polite throughout the course. All in all a great experience.

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 2

I gained a lot of information

The class was pretty great and I gained a lot of information from it that I will certainly be applying at my job going forward!!

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 1

I have a great grasp of HLS and how to use Vitis effectively

I really enjoyed this class and feel like I have a great grasp of HLS and how to use Vitis effectively. Cole was a great instructor, and I
would easily take another class with him. Thank you very much for running this class!

– Student from High-Level Synthesis with the Vitis HLS Tool

Expert tidbits

I liked the expert tidbits my instructor threw in to keep in mind when working on projects in the future regarding best practices. I also appreciated the questions the more experienced students asked, and how he was knowledgeable in order to address them.

Student from Designing with VHDL

One of the best experiences for AMD Xilinx training that I’ve had

Bill was a great instructor and answered all of our questions. He went above and beyond to make this course a great experience. If/When I use BLT for Xilinx training in the future I will be on the lookout to see if he’s leading the lecture. One of the best experiences for AMD Xilinx training that I’ve had.

– Student from Designing with VHDL

They had answers for just about every question

Erich and Nathaniel were great, they had answers for just about every question/issue and linked relevant Xilinx/Vivado user manuals for further explanation/documentation.

– Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 2

I had a wonderful instructor

I had a wonderful instructor. His pacing throughout the course was good and made sure to allow for student questions and have conversations about related topics and experiences. I think the atmosphere was great for everyone to both learn and to share experiences, tips, and tricks about using the tool and the features discussed throughout the course.

Student from Vivado Boot Camp for the FPGA User Phase 3

The instructor was excellent

The instructor for this class, Glenn, was excellent. He presented the material with great examples and encouraged students to ask questions at any point in the course. Whenever there was a question he could not answer, he mentioned that he would bring it to his colleagues for answers, and after we came back from lunch, he had the answer.

– Student from Embedded Design with PetaLinux Tools

A lot of insights beyond the course

Glenn was a great instructor and provided us with a lot of insights beyond the course material

– Student from Embedded Design with PetaLinux Tools

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Who should attend:

  • Hardware designers who want to create applications using external memory devices or modules
  • System architects who want to leverage the key advantages of external memory interfaces

Software Tools

  • Vivado Design Suite 2023.2
  • Vitis Unified IDE 2023.2

Hardware

  • Architecture: All Versal adaptive SoC devices
  • Evaluation board: Versal adaptive SoC VCK190 Evaluation Platform

Skills Gained

After completing this comprehensive training, you will have the necessary skills to:

  • Describe and utilize the building blocks of the DDRMC in AMD Versal devices
  • Describe and utilize the ports and attributes of the DDRMC
  • Design, simulate, and implement designs using the hardened memory controller
  • Utilize DDR4/LPDDR4 debugging options
  • Apply performance tuning options for linear and random traffic
  • Describe memory interface board design requirements

Course Outline

Day 1Day 2
Versal Adaptive SoC: Architecture Overview for Existing Users
Provides an introduction to the Versal architecture. {Lecture}

Memory Solutions Overview
Identifies the external memory interfaces options for the Versal adaptive SoC and describes the main features of the hard and soft controllers. {Lecture}

DDR4 and LPDDR4 Memories
Discusses the DDR4 architectural and interface improvements and describes the LPDDR4 differences from DDR4. {Lecture}

DDRMC Hardened Memory Controller
Describes the architecture and functionality of the DDRMC and the PHY block. {Lecture}

Configuring the DDRMC Hard Controller
Covers how to perform DDRMC configuration and provides background information for selecting optimal parameters. {Lecture, Lab}

Simulating the DDRMC Hard Controller
Illustrates how to perform DDRMC simulation and describes the creation of test benches. {Lecture, Lab}
Implementing the DDRMC Hard Controller
Demonstrates how to perform DDRMC implementation with a brief discussion of the pin planning process. {Lecture, Lab}

DDRMC Performance Tuning
Discusses quality of service (QoS) and bandwidth aspects and provides a detailed description of performance tuning options. {Lecture, Lab}

Debugging Memory Interfaces
Outlines various options to debug memory interfaces. {Lecture, Lab}

DDR4 Soft Controller
Reviews the basic architecture and functionality of the DDR4 soft controller and describes the traditional design flow for all soft controllers. {Lecture}

Memory Interfaces PCB Design
Describes board design issues involving signal integrity, the power supply, reference clocking, and trace design. {Lecture}

Please note: The instructor may change the content order to provide a better learning experience.

Prerequisites:

  •  Knowledge of Verilog or VHDL
  • Familiarity with logic design (state machines and synchronous design)
  • Some experience with Vivado implementation
  • Some experience with a simulation tool (preferably the Vivado simulator)
  • Familiarity with DDR4 or LPDDR memories also helpful

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Updated 08-29-2025
©2025 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Xilinx, Inc. is now part of AMD. Xilinx, the Xilinx logo, AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Alveo, Artix, Kintex, Kria, Spartan, Versal, Vitis, Virtex, Vivado, Zynq, and other designated brands included herein are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.