MILPITAS, Calif., SUNNYVALE, Calif. and SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept.
21 /PRNewswire/ -- Open-Silicon, Inc., MIPS
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIPS), and Dolphin Technology today
announced the successful tapeout of a high-performance ASIC
processor at over 2.4GHz under typical conditions. This
achievement, as measured in timing closure against TSMC reference
flow signoff conditions, will make this one of the highest
frequency ASIC processors ever built, highlighting the companies'
industry-leading technologies for building high-performance
processor-based systems. This high-performance ASIC processor
is a follow-on test chip to the 65nm, 1.1GHz test chip announced by
Open-Silicon and MIPS Technologies at the end of last year.
The device contains a MIPS32® 74Kf™ processor core, a
superscalar, out-of-order (OoO) CPU with high-performance
integrated Floating-Point-Unit (FPU), DSP Extensions, 32K L1
Instruction & 32K L1 Data Cache memories and on-chip 8K
PDtrace™ memory buffer. The MIPS32 74K® core is a fully
synthesizable, licensable IP core with a 15-stage pipeline for
achieving maximum frequencies, and is widely used in high-end
digital consumer devices, set-top boxes, and home networking
solutions. As with the prior 65nm generation design, RTL design was
done by MIPS Technologies, and implementation using the Dolphin
memories was done by Open-Silicon. TSMC is fabricating the
device using its CyberShuttle™ prototyping program.
To maximize the performance, Open-Silicon utilized its CoreMAX™
technology for design-specific library augmentation. For this
design, 159 new LVt cells, 147 RVt, and 147 HVt cells were created
by Open-Silicon to specifically optimize the critical paths inside
the MIPS 74Kf core and FPU. Other advanced physical design
techniques included Open-Silicon's experienced processor
floorplanning, clock tree synthesis using useful skew, and
timing-driven placement optimization. Cadence® EDA layout tools
were used for physical design.
"The collaboration between Open-Silicon, MIPS Technologies and
Dolphin Technology to develop one of the fastest ASIC processors
ever built has proven our combined design capabilities and the
strength of the model," said Dr. Naveed
Sherwani, CEO and president of Open-Silicon.
"Processor performance optimization is a key requirement for
next generation derivative SoCs and ASICs. We continue to
invest in our processor design capabilities, including the MAX
Technologies, to provide customers with the best possible custom
silicon."
"Our 74K cores, which are widely licensed for applications in
the digital home, broadband, and wireless networking markets,
provide the only licensable CPU IP cores with a 15-stage pipeline,
and offer the highest single-core performance in our current
portfolio," said Sandeep Vij, CEO
and president of MIPS Technologies. "The 74K core was an ideal
candidate to demonstrate top-end performance on a 40nm test chip.
We're pleased that we were able to achieve over 2.4GHz in our joint
effort with Open-Silicon and Dolphin, and believe this achievement
compares favorably with frequency results seen on other IP in 40nm,
and even 28nm processes."
"Dolphin Technology, a leading provider of Silicon IP for over
16 years, continually strives to help our partners and customers
surpass their design targets," said Mo
Tamjidi, CEO, Dolphin Technology. "Achieving breakthrough
performance at over 2.4GHz in 40nm demonstrates the extensive
experience of the teams at Dolphin, MIPS and Open-Silicon."
About Open-Silicon, Inc.
Open-Silicon, Inc. is a leading semiconductor company focused on
SoC realization for traditional ASIC, develop-to-spec, and
derivative ICs. Open-Silicon's OpenModel brings together
Open-Silicon's engineering technology and high-quality
manufacturing services with one of the broadest partner ecosystems
for IC development, spanning IC design, open market IP integration,
wafer fabrication, and assembly/test services. Open-Silicon
received the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) award for Most
Respected Private Semiconductor Company in 2008 and 2009. For more
information, visit Open-Silicon's website at www.open-silicon.com
or call 408-240-5700.
About MIPS Technologies, Inc.
MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS) is a leading provider of
industry-standard processor architectures and cores that power some
of the world's most popular products for the home entertainment,
communications, networking and portable multimedia markets. These
include broadband devices from Linksys, DTVs and digital consumer
devices from Sony, DVD recordable devices from Pioneer, digital
set-top boxes from Motorola, network routers from Cisco, 32-bit
microcontrollers from Microchip Technology and laser printers from
Hewlett-Packard. Founded in 1998, MIPS Technologies is
headquartered in Sunnyvale,
California, with offices worldwide. For more information,
contact (408) 530-5000 or visit www.mips.com.
About Dolphin Technology, Inc.
Dolphin Technology, Inc., is a leading provider of high
performance Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP) blocks that
include embedded memory and memory compiler products, high
performance and standard IOs and high performance standard cell
libraries.
Advanced design technology incorporated into Dolphin's SIP
blocks enable SoC (System on Chip) designs to achieve faster clock
rates, smaller die size and reduced manufacturing cost. For more
information about Dolphin and its products, please visit
(www.dolphin-ic.com).
CoreMAX is a trademark of Open-Silicon, Inc. MIPS, MIPS32 and
74K are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and other countries of MIPS
Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein
are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE MIPS Technologies, Inc.; Open-Silicon, Inc.
Copyright . 21 PR Newswire