3.3.2 Quad SPI Serial Flash Memory

The SAMA7D65 Curiosity Pro board features one Quad Serial Peripheral Interface (QSPI) memory: SST26VF064BEUI-104I/MF.

The QSPI is a synchronous serial data link that provides communication with external devices in Host mode.

The QSPI can be used in SPI mode to interface with serial peripherals (such as ADCs, DACs, LCD controllers, CAN controllers and sensors), or in Serial Memory mode to interface with serial Flash memories.

Using the QSPI, the system executes code directly from a serial Flash memory (XIP) without code shadowing to RAM. The serial Flash memory mapping is seen in the system as other memories such as ROM, SRAM, DRAM, embedded Flash memory, etc.

With the support of the Quad SPI protocol, the system can use high-performance serial Flash memories, which are small and inexpensive compared to parallel Flash memories.

The QSPI memory device embeds one EUI-48 address, which can be used to assign a MAC address to one of the GMAC interfaces.

Keep the JP12 jumper on the J78 header to enable booting from (or using) QSPI Flash memory.

Remove the JP12 jumper to prevent the system from booting from QSPI Flash memory.