Synopsys Broadens Hardware Verification Tools for Emerging Semiconductor Technologies

Synopsys Expands Its HAV Portfolio with AMD’s Latest Tech

Today, Synopsys, Inc. made waves in the tech world by announcing an exciting expansion of its already impressive hardware-assisted verification (HAV) portfolio. They’re introducing new HAPS prototyping and ZeBu emulation systems that harness the power of AMD’s Versal Premium VP1902 adaptive SoC. This next-gen equipment promises to deliver enhanced runtime performance, quicker compile times, and a boost in debug productivity. If you’re in the industry, you know how crucial these improvements are for keeping pace with the ever-growing complexity of SoC and multi-die designs.

Next-Level Performance and Flexibility

What’s particularly noteworthy is how these new systems are built on Synopsys’ Emulation and Prototyping (EP-Ready) Hardware. This innovative approach optimizes customer return on investment by allowing for flexible emulation and prototyping use cases through reconfiguration and optimized software. The ZeBu Server 5 is also stepping up its game, offering industry-leading scalability that exceeds 60 billion gates (BG). With designs approaching hundreds of billions of gates and millions of lines of software code, the challenges of verification are more daunting than ever.

Ravi Subramanian, Synopsys’ Chief Product Management Officer, emphasized the importance of this advancement, stating, “Continuing our strong partnership with AMD, our new systems deliver the highest HAV performance while offering the ultimate flexibility between prototyping and emulation.” It’s clear that industry leaders are taking notice and adopting Synopsys’ EP-Ready Hardware platforms for silicon-to-system verification and validation.

HAPS-200 and ZeBu-200: A Game Changer

Let’s dive into the specifics. The Synopsys HAPS-200 prototyping system is boasting some impressive stats: it offers up to 4X improved debug performance over its predecessor, HAPS-100. Plus, it supports mixed HAPS-200/100 setups, scaling from a single FPGA to multi-rack configurations with a whopping capacity of up to 10.8 BG. Talk about flexibility!

On the emulation side, the ZeBu-200 system is not to be outdone. It delivers up to 2X higher runtime performance compared to the previous ZeBu EP2, along with faster compile times that significantly cut down on turnaround time. This means enhanced development productivity, which is a win for engineers everywhere. With up to 200 GB of debug trace memory per module and improved job scheduling, the capabilities are truly next-level.

NVIDIA’s Take on Prototyping Speed

nVidia is already reaping the benefits of these advancements. Narendra Konda, NVIDIA’s VP of Hardware Engineering, highlighted how the HAPS-200 system has been crucial for their software development teams. “The 50 MHz performance we have been able to achieve with HAPS-200 has been key to boosting productivity,” he noted. With the need for rapid development cycles in AI systems, having a prototyping solution that keeps pace is essential.

Maximizing ROI with EP-Ready Hardware

What’s more, both the HAPS-200 and ZeBu-200 systems are built on Synopsys’ EP-Ready Hardware platform, which is designed to maximize ROI. This means users don’t have to choose between emulation and prototyping hardware upfront; they can adapt as needed. The platform supports various cables and hubs for direct and scalable connectivity, making it easier for teams to leverage a broad range of solutions and protocols.

Salil Raje, AMD’s Senior VP and General Manager, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “By integrating the AMD Versal Premium VP1902 adaptive SoC, we’re not only improving performance metrics, we’re also transforming how engineering teams can validate and optimize their most ambitious new ASIC and SoC designs.” It’s a partnership that’s clearly paying dividends in the quest for technology.

Addressing the Needs of Complex Designs

As the industry shifts towards more complex designs, Synopsys is extending its “Modular HAV” methodology to the ZeBu Server 5. This allows for scalability beyond 60 BG, which is crucial for meeting the growing demands for emulation capacity. By significantly reducing compile time and resource use, Synopsys is positioning itself as a leader in the market.

Additionally, their hybrid technology, which combines a virtual model running on a host server with an HAV system, is a real game changer. The Synopsys Virtualizer now supports multi-threading technology, drastically speeding up software bring-up processes. Imagine booting a full Android system in under 10 minutes—now that’s efficiency!

In a nutshell, Synopsys is not just keeping up with the rapid advancements in technology; they’re leading the charge. With their latest products, they are set to redefine how we approach hardware-assisted verification in an increasingly complex world. Are you ready to embrace the future?

Background Information

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About AMD:

AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

  

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About nVidia:

NVIDIA has firmly established itself as a leader in the realm of client computing, continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation in graphics and AI technologies. With a deep commitment to enhancing user experiences, NVIDIA's client computing business focuses on delivering solutions that power everything from gaming and creative workloads to enterprise applications. for its GeForce graphics cards, the company has redefined high-performance gaming, setting industry standards for realistic visuals, fluid frame rates, and immersive experiences. Complementing its gaming expertise, NVIDIA's Quadro and NVIDIA RTX graphics cards cater to professionals in design, content creation, and scientific fields, enabling real-time ray tracing and AI-driven workflows that elevate productivity and creativity to unprecedented heights. By seamlessly integrating graphics, AI, and software, NVIDIA continues to shape the landscape of client computing, fostering innovation and immersive interactions in a rapidly evolving digital world.

  

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About Synopsys:

Synopsys is a important American software company that specializes in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor intellectual property. Founded in 1986, Synopsys provides tools and solutions for designing and testing complex integrated circuits and electronic systems. Their software aids in the development of semiconductors, electronic products, and software applications, playing a crucial role in advancing technological innovation across various industries. For more detailed information about their products and contributions, you can visit their official website at

  

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Technology Explained

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FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are a type of technology used in the computer industry. They are integrated circuits that can be programmed to perform specific tasks. FPGAs are used in a variety of applications, including digital signal processing, networking, and embedded systems. They are also used in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. FPGAs are advantageous because they can be reprogrammed to perform different tasks, allowing for greater flexibility and faster development times. Additionally, FPGAs are more energy efficient than traditional processors, making them ideal for applications that require low power consumption.

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SoC: A System-on-Chip (SoC) is a highly integrated semiconductor device that encapsulates various electronic components, including processors, memory, input/output interfaces, and often specialized hardware components, all on a single chip. SoCs are designed to provide a complete computing system or subsystem within a single chip package, offering enhanced performance, power efficiency, and compactness. They are commonly used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to embedded systems and IoT devices, streamlining hardware complexity and facilitating efficient integration of multiple functions onto a single chip.

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