• DocumentCode
    1237763
  • Title

    Case Study on Speed Failure Causes in a Microprocessor

  • Author

    Killpack, Kip ; Natarajan, Suriyaprakash ; Krishnamachary, Arun ; Bastani, Pouria

  • Author_Institution
    Intel Corp., Hillsboro, OR
  • Volume
    25
  • Issue
    3
  • fYear
    2008
  • Firstpage
    224
  • Lastpage
    230
  • Abstract
    In this article, we identify the underlying speed paths and perform a detailed analysis on the effects of multiple input switching, cross-coupling noise, and localized voltage drop on microprocessor. We employ cycle-wise clock shrinks on a tester combined with a CAD methodology to unintrusively identify and analyze these speed paths. Understanding the causes of speed failures can help designers make better power and performance tradeoffs.
  • Keywords
    logic CAD; logic testing; microprocessor chips; cross-coupling noise; cycle-wise clock; localized voltage drop; logic CAD; logic testing; microprocessor; multiple input switching; speed failure; Clocks; Design automation; Failure analysis; Frequency; Microprocessors; Performance analysis; Silicon; Testing; Time to market; Voltage; critical path; cross-coupling noise; diagnosis; marginality; microprocessor; multiple-input switching; silicon debug; voltage droop;
  • fLanguage
    English
  • Journal_Title
    Design & Test of Computers, IEEE
  • Publisher
    ieee
  • ISSN
    0740-7475
  • Type

    jour

  • DOI
    10.1109/MDT.2008.61
  • Filename
    4534161