( DAC 99 Item 35 ) ----------------------------------------------- [6/25/99]
SIAMESE TWINS EDA: The next two "synthesis-aware P&R" tools are so close
together, so similar, most users can't technically distinguish between
them: Magma Design Automation ( http://www.magma-da.com ) and Monterey
Design Systems ( http://www.montereydesign.com ). To better understand
where we're at, I've got to cite an illustration Richard Goering of
EE Times uses:
Extend Synthesis Post Synth Synthesis Between
Into Phys. Design Optimization Down To P&R Synth and P&R
(Synopsys Chip Into P&R (Avant! Jupiter, (Sapphire,
Architect) (Magma, Monterey) Cadence/Ambit) Silicon Perspec)
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
| SYNTHESIS | | SYNTHESIS | | SYNTHESIS | | SYNTHESIS |
|OPTIMIZATION | ---------------- | OPTIMIZATION | ================
| PLACEMENT | ---------------- | PLACEMENT | | OPTIMIZATION |
|BLOCK ROUTING| | OPTIMIZATION | | BLOCK ROUTE | | PLACEMENT |
--------------- | PLACEMENT | | CELL ROUTE | | BLOCK ROUTE |
--------------- | BLOCK ROUTE | ---------------- ================
| CELL ROUTE | | CELL ROUTING | | CELL ROUTING |
--------------- ---------------- ----------------
Verbally, Chip Architect does everything but the final Cell Route. Magma
and Monterey takes Design Compiler output and does the rest. Jupiter and
Ambit does it all. Sapphire and Silicon Perspective sandwitch between
Design Compiler output and other people's Routers. Now, here's what users
thought of Magma and Monterey at this year's DAC:
"The new guys, Magma and Monterey, are examples of the 'synthesis aware
layout' approach. Magma strips the synthesis-created netlist back to
equation level and are prepared to not only do buffer insertion and
sizing but also logic reorganisation and cloning to maintain timing at
P&R time. As far as I can tell, Magma is also the first company to
automate Ivan Sutherland's Logical Effort Paradigm for sizing circuits.
Monterey has an incremental refinement approach -- basically everything
is up for modification as the cells are being placed, globally routed
and detail routed. Both Magma and Monterey are "guaranteeing" a one
pass P&R that meets timing.
Don't know if its true, but it sure is an attractive story!"
- an anon engineer
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