ModelSim-Altera Software

ModelSim-Altera Edition Software

• Recommended for simulating all FPGA designs (Arria^®, Cyclone^®, Stratix^® series FPGA designs and MAX^® series CPLDs)
• 33 percent faster simulation performance than ModelSim^®-Altera^® Starter Edition software
• No line limitations
• Buy today for $945

ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition Software

• Support for simulating small FPGA designs
• 10,000 executable line limitations
• Free, no license required

Table 1. ModelSim-Altera Software Products

Product Details	ModelSim- Altera Web Edition (1)	ModelSim- Altera Starter Edition	ModelSim- Altera Edition (2)
Price	Discontinued	FREE No license required	$945, includes software updates for one year Buy
Simulation performance	1X	1.5X	2X
Quartus® II software support	Quartus II Web Edition software	Quartus II Web Edition and Subscription Edition software
Device support	CPLDs and small FPGAs	All Altera devices (Including MAX CPLDs, Arria, Cyclone, and Stratix series FPGAs)
OS support	Windows XP	Windows, Linux (more details)
Design size support	Small designs 10,000 executable line limit	Small designs 10,000 executable line limit	All design sizes (3) No line limitations
Download	Discontinued. Download previous versions	Download	Download

Notes:

1. Starting with Quartus II software v9.0, ModelSim-Altera Web Edition software has been discontinued. Instead, you should use ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition software or purchase ModelSim-Altera Edition software for faster simulation performance.
2. The ModelSim-Altera Edition software requires a valid license. The ModelSim-Altera Edition software license expires 15 months after the date of purchase. Every 15 months you must regenerate your license file in the Self-Service Licensing Center to renew your license for the specific ModelSim-Altera Edition software version that you purchased.
3. ModelSim-Altera Edition software supports designs of up to 3,000 instances. Instances from Altera's pre-compiled libraries do not count towards the 3,000 instance limitation.
4. Altera licenses Mentor Graphics^® ModelSim^-Altera simulation software to customers with Altera Quartus II software. Both ModelSim-Altera Edition and ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition are available for Web Edition and Subscription Edition users.
   • ModelSim-Altera Edition—A license is required (paid)
   • ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition—No license is required (free)

Shorten your FPGA verification time by using the ModelSim-Altera software in your FPGA Design Flow. ModelSim-Altera software (view full size screenshot) supports behavioral and gate-level simulations, including VHDL or Verilog testbenches, for all Altera devices.

ModelSim-Altera Software Video Demo How to perform a functional and a timing simulation with the Mentor Graphics ModelSim-Altera software View video Training Support Handbook (PDF)

ModelSim-Altera Software Q & A

• Is the ModelSim-Altera Edition software the same as the ModelSim PE/DE software?
• How do I upgrade my version of the ModelSim-Altera Edition software?

Is the ModelSim-Altera Edition software the same as the ModelSim PE/DE software?

No, the ModelSim-Altera Edition software is licensed to support designs written in 100 percent VHDL and 100 percent Verilog language, and does not support designs that are written in a combination of VHDL and Verilog language, also known as mixed HDL. Mixed HDL support is available as options in the PE/DE version of ModelSim from Mentor Graphics. ModelSim-Altera Edition software only supports Altera gate-level libraries. The ModelSim-Altera Edition software includes the base features of ModelSim PE, including behavioral simulation, HDL testbenches, and Tcl scripting. However, ModelSim PE optional features are not supported in the ModelSim-Altera Edition software and the simulation performance of the ModelSim-Altera Edition software is slower than that of the ModelSim PE/DE software.

ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition software is the same as ModelSim-Altera Edition software except for two areas. ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition's simulation performance is lower than ModelSim-Altera Edition's, and has a line limit of 10,000 executable lines compared to the unlimited number of lines allowed in the ModelSim-Altera Edition software.

How do I upgrade my version of ModelSim-Altera software?

Contact your local Mentor Graphics sales office to upgrade your ModelSim-Altera software to ModelSim PE/DE software or Questa advanced simulator. Contact information is available on the Mentor Graphics website.