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Transitioning to Large Block Synthesis in High-Performance VLSI Design at IBM

This paper explores the evolution from traditional custom circuit design to Large Block Synthesis (LBS) within IBM's VLSI processor design environment. It highlights the advantages of LBS, including flexibility, scalability, and reduced layout time, while providing insights into the conversion of custom designs into LBS formats. The study summarizes techniques involved in LBS design and discusses its potential impact on future design methodologies and time-to-market expectations, emphasizing its role as a modern alternative to full custom design.

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Transitioning to Large Block Synthesis in High-Performance VLSI Design at IBM

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  1. Jeff Brownscheidle, Maureen Delaney, Eric Fluhr, Pat McIlmoyle, Tien Tran – IBM Systems & Technology Group POWER™ SynthesisThe transition from custom circuit design to large block synthesis in a high performance environment

  2. Overview • VLSI Design: A Brief History of Recent Processor Design at IBM • Methodology Evolution: From Custom-driven to Synthesis-driven • A New Design Style: Large Block Synthesis (LBS) • Converting Custom Designs into LBS Designs • Advantages and Techniques of LBS

  3. A POWER™ Retrospective

  4. Mechanisms of Microprocessor Complexity

  5. The Conventional Approach: Less Synthesis, More Custom ISU Generation 1 ISU Generation 2 Custom Synthesized

  6. Trending Towards Synthesized Designs Synthesized Logic Percent of Unit ISU Generation 3

  7. Design Type Spectrum 5) Custom Design 4) Embedded, Fully Routed Custom Components New Design Techniques 3) Embedded, Un-Routed Custom Components Design Customization 2) Latch, Local Clock Buffer Preplacement 1) VHDL structuring &parm customization 0) Random Logic Module (“Flat” Synthesis) Design Effort

  8. A New Design Type—Large Block Synthesis (LBS) Sample Configurations Design Example Synthesized Random Logic

  9. The Power of LBS • “Structured” Flat Design • Flexibility & Incremental Customization • Scalability • Fast path to initial timing • Reduction in layout time

  10. Design Merging Individual Designs Merged LBS

  11. Migrating a Design to LBS Custom LBS

  12. VHDL Structuring Latches Latches Latches Latches

  13. Summary • Large Block Synthesis: A modern, versatile alternative to custom high-performance design • Potential power and area savings over full custom design • Ability to iteratively increase custom designer input to converge toward a circuit solution • Long-term outlook: Can LBS radically influence future time-to-market expectations?

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