( ESNUG 203 Item 5 ) ---------------------------------------------- [12/2/94]
Subject: (ESNUG 201 #6) "Seeking User Wisdom On Floorplanning Tools
> I'm trying to decide the best approach to floorplanning, and I've never
> used the Synopsys floorplanner, though I've used vendor floorplanning
> tools before.
>
> Can anyone comment on the relative merits of Synopsys floorplanner vs.
> vendor supplied floorplanners? Which is the better route for timing
> analysis (Synopsys or vendor)? Is a combined approach (both tools) best,
> or are they redundant or incompatible?
From: landman@hal.com (Howard Landman)
There is at least one other alternative in some cases, which is the software
from High Level Design Systems. I haven't actually used their stuff, but
they have floorplanning and placement tools with hooks both into Synopsys
and into several P&R packages, and I liked their demo/presentation at ICCAD.
Their interface works at several levels, from early floorplan -> estimated
loads, to building custom wire load models for each block, to Synopsys
IPO -> P&R ECO.
Even if you don't buy their stuff, it's worth seeing their foils, because
they've thought through a lot of the timing integration issues very carefully.
My sense is that I'll either end up buying it, or reimplementing it. :-)
- Howard A. Landman
HaL Computer Systems
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From: matahari@netcom.com (paul chai)
In my some 5 years of painful Synopsys experience, I have found it best to
only rely on Synopsys for what it does best which is synthesis ( even then,
it is rather painful to expect too much from the tool). When it comes to
floorplanning, you are definitely better off using the vendor's tools!!!
- Paul Chai
VLSI/ASIC design Consultant
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