My PCIe design was working properly in ISE software 11.2, but fails in 11.3 with trimming issues related to some GTXE1 components. I am using Synplify Pro.
Is there a known problem in 11.3 that leads to this trimming?
This problem is related to the way the ISE tools handle IBUFDS_GTXE1 inputs that are connected directly to input ports. In 11.2, NGDBuild would automatically connect PADs to these IBUFDS_GTXE1inputs and thenMAP would automatically insert IBUFs between the PAD and IBUFDS_GTXE1 inputs. This behavior was changed for 11.3 because XST is now inserting IBUFs on the IBUFDS_GTXE1 inputs. This behavioral change overlooked the fact that Synplify Pro still passes IBUFDS_GTXE1s withinput port connections,and sothe new tool behavior does not work for these netlists.
This problem is scheduled to be fixed by Synplicity in their December release (D--2009.12).
Meanwhile, to work around the issue, instantiate IBUFs between the input port and IBUFDS_GTXE1 inputs.