( SNUG 99 Item 37 ) ----------------------------------------------- [3/31/99]
AN UNEXPECTED POWER SURGE: Tools for power analysis and even optimization
are coming of age in the EDA world. Power Compiler, Design Power, PowerGate
(all from Synopsys) and WattWatcher (Sente') are some of the gate level
power tools. Go to transisters and you can find EPIC's PowerMill and
ACE or Simplex's 'Fire & Ice' tools. Power is no longer a quirky, back
door problem -- it's become mainstream.
"I have used Power Compiler and saw substantial power reduction.
Briefly, one could get 15% power reduction but at substantial area
cost. By manipulating the cost function one could limit area penalty
for a lower power saving. For my test cases, I was able to get 10%
power reduction for 2% area penalty."
- Zia Khan of Intel in ESNUG 306
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