CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
20 June 2007
Implementation Investments
Solarflare Communications Tapes Out 10-Gigabit Ethernet Controller Chip Using Synopsys IC Compiler
Synopsys, Inc. announced that Solarflare Communications, Inc . has taped out its new 90-nanometer (nm) 10-gigabit (Gb) Ethernet controller using the Synopsys IC Compiler place-and-route solution. Earlier this year, Solarflare announced SolarstormT, the lowest-power 10-Gb Ethernet controller chip. Aiming to continue to strengthen its leadership position, Solarflare turned to Synopsys' IC Compiler for this new chip. IC Compiler helped Solarflare significantly reduce design time and improve results by delivering smaller overall area as well as 10 to 20 percent power reduction in several critical blocks.
"Synopsys physical design tools have been a key enabler of our drive to stay ahead of the curve with high throughput and low power. Synopsys' IC Compiler has helped us take this to an even higher level on our new 90-nanometer designs," said Brad Masters, vice president of Engineering at Solarflare. "Continuing on this strategy, we have already begun deploying IC Compiler advanced low-power capabilities, like automated multi-voltage, on our next-generation 65-nanometer designs."
Solarflare designed the Solarstorm 10-Gb Ethernet controller to deliver the lowest-power, highest-performance solution and to enable the host CPU to operate as efficiently as possible. Solarstorm server adapter reference designs (10GBASE-T, 10GBASE-CX4, and XFP optical) are available now. In addition to aggressive timing optimizations enabling high clock frequencies, IC Compiler provided a comprehensive set of low-power techniques. These advanced techniques included physical clock-gating optimizations, power-aware placement optimization, low-power clock tree synthesis, multi-threshold, MTCMOS and multi-voltage support.
"IC Compiler's optimization technology was instrumental in helping Solarflare meet its area and power design constraints and complete the Solarstorm product tapeout quickly," said Antun Domic, senior vice president and general manager of Synopsys' Implementation Group. "As Solarflare designs move to smaller silicon technologies, it can leverage more of the advanced capabilities in IC Compiler for further product differentiation."
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