Article: ISSCC 2008 Cell Processor Update
By: Peter (not.delete@this.likely.com), March 1, 2008 12:03 pm
Room: Moderated Discussions
>Originally, I didn't grasp that there was only ten work-years worth of effort put
>in to the shrink. When I consider that, all inefficiencies in layout are explained.
>I don't even know how you could shrink a chip of this magnitude with such little
>time investment. The automation required would be phenomenal.
Note that any area removed from an SPE pays you back eightfold. Therefore a reasonable shrink of the processor can be achieved with less man-years of effort than expected (and 10 is still quite a lot for a shrink that is as simple as this).
>in to the shrink. When I consider that, all inefficiencies in layout are explained.
>I don't even know how you could shrink a chip of this magnitude with such little
>time investment. The automation required would be phenomenal.
Note that any area removed from an SPE pays you back eightfold. Therefore a reasonable shrink of the processor can be achieved with less man-years of effort than expected (and 10 is still quite a lot for a shrink that is as simple as this).
