Integrated Implementation and Signoff Flow Enables 3Dlabs to Reduce Design Turnaround Time While Adding More Features and Increasing Performance
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Feb. 15, 2006— Magma(R) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq: LAVA), a provider of semiconductor design software, today announced that 3Dlabs, a leading innovator in professional visual processing, has successfully taped out its next-generation 90-nanometer (nm), 300-million-plus transistor 3D Visual Processing Unit using Quartz(TM) RC, Blast Fusion(R) and Blast Noise(R), key components of Magma's Sign-off in the Loop Technology(TM). 3Dlabs also used Blast Rail(TM) and SiliconSmart(R) to successfully address power & signal integrity and hierarchical design challenges in this complex design."With performance demands increasing and design processes shrinking to 90 nm and below, maintaining design integrity becomes more difficult," said Matt Buckelew, vice president of ASIC Development at 3Dlabs. "Magma's Sign-off in the Loop technology allowed us to achieve timing closure faster. With the combination of Magma's accurate sign-off technology and advanced signal integrity and hierarchical design capabilities, we were able to quickly and efficiently add more features and increase the performance of our leading-edge, high-performance graphics flip-chip device."
"As a provider of a broad range of industry-leading graphics accelerators to computer-aided design (CAD), digital content creation (DCC) and visual simulation professionals, 3Dlabs demands advanced design capabilities, smaller die sizes and fast turnaround," said Suk Lee, general manager of Magma's Silicon Sign-off Business Unit. "By making sign-off-level analysis directly available during implementation, Magma provides a correct-by-construction flow for timing and noise. We are extremely pleased that 3Dlabs has chosen Magma's Sign-off in the Loop technology to bring its newest graphics design to tape-out."
Sign-off in the Loop Delivers Increased Performance and Faster Turnaround Time
Quartz RC, Quartz Time, Blast Fusion QT and Blast Noise comprise the Sign-off in the Loop technology and provide a self-contained IC design sign-off system for timing and noise. Developed to address customers' needs for faster design flows at advanced geometries of 90 nm and 65 nm, Quartz RC and Quartz Time provide sign-off-quality parasitic extraction and timing and noise analysis, respectively. Blast Fusion QT is the sign-off timer integrated with the Blast Fusion physical design system for advanced timing methodologies and nanometer process technologies. Blast Noise, Blast Rail and Blast Plan(TM) Pro work concurrently with Blast Fusion to maintain signal and power integrity, and enable hierarchical design. SiliconSmart is the proven and practical signal integrity characterization and modeling solution that provides the accuracy and throughput required to produce advanced noise libraries.
The Magma flow provided 3Dlabs with key capabilities that helped improve performance, including full-chip analysis, block hierarchy management, channel place and route, and router control for shielded clocks. In addition, the flow enabled source-synchronous placement and routing in the IO gap, and applied the correct place-and-route algorithm for various IO clocks.
About 3Dlabs
3Dlabs, a leading innovator in professional visual processing, supplies a broad range of graphics accelerators to Computer Aided Design (CAD), Digital Content Creation (DCC), and visual simulation professionals. Its award-winning Wildcat graphics solutions are available in industry-leading OEM workstations, in the channel through an international distributor/reseller network, and directly to end users at 3Dlabs' online store. For more information on 3Dlabs products, visit www.3Dlabs.com. 3Dlabs is a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd.
About Magma
Magma's software for integrated circuit (IC) design is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology. The world's top chip companies use Magma's EDA software to design and verify complex, high-performance ICs for communications, computing, consumer electronics and networking applications, while at the same time reducing design time and costs. Magma provides software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, characterization and programmable logic design, and the company's integrated RTL-to-GDSII design flow offers "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon"(TM). Magma is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. with offices around the world. Magma's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.
Blast Fusion, Magma and SiliconSmart are registered trademarks, and Blast Rail, Blast Plan, Quartz and "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon" are trademarks, of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Magma software achieves design closure faster and achieves timing, noise and power sign-off without additional point tools, and generally about the performance of Magma software are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology; and its products' abilities to produce desired results. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( www.sec.gov). Magma undertakes no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Magma Design Automation Inc. Monica Marmie, 408-565-7689 Email Contact