Chapter 16
Chapter 16
5.Less energy efficient, requires more power for 4. Suited for very high-volume mass production.
same function which ASIC can achieve at lower
power. 5. Much more power efficient than FPGAs. Power
consumption of ASICs can be very minutely
controlled and optimized.
FPGA vs ASIC
FPGA
6. Limited in operating frequency compared to
ASIC of similar process node. The routing and ASIC
configurable logic eat up timing margin in 6. ASIC fabricated using the same process node can
FPGAs. run at much higher frequency than FPGAs since its
circuit is optimized for its specific function.
7. Analog designs are not possible with FPGAs.
Although FPGAs may contain specific analog
7. ASICs can have complete analog circuitry, for
hardware such as PLLs, ADC etc, they are not
example WiFi transceiver, on the same die along
much flexible to create for example RF
with microprocessor cores. This is the advantage
transceivers.
which FPGAs lack.
8. FPGAs are highly suited for applications such
as Radars, Cell Phone Base Stations etc where
the current design might need to be upgraded 8. ASICs are definitely not suited for application areas
to use better algorithm or to a better design. where the design might need to be upgraded
In these applications, the high-cost of FPGAs frequently or once-in-a-while.
is not the deciding factor. Instead,
programmability is the deciding factor. 9. It is not recommended to prototype a design using
9. Preferred for prototyping and validating a ASICs unless it has been absolutely validated. Once
design or concept. Many ASICs are the silicon has been taped out, almost nothing can
prototyped using FPGAs themselves! Major be done to fix a design bug (exceptions apply).
processor manufacturers themselves use
FPGAs to validate their System-on-Chips
(SoCs). It is easier to make sure design is
working correctly as intended using FPGA
prototyping.
ASIC Design
• Design is fully automated –there are EDA tools are available for
each and every stage.
• List of inputs, outputs and a function which maps between the two
Models for expressing Functionality of circuit
Behavioral Model
Behavioral Modeling:
then Q <= D;
end if;
end process;
Semantic Checks:
1. Design Entry needs to be checked for
language correctness
2. This phase can also be used to check the
synthesizability of code i.e. whether the
code can lead to practical hardware
3. It is important to check synthesizability, as
RTL should be mapped to standard cells
using synthesis tools
Design Verification:
Verification is the process where the design is
tested against specification