( SNUG 05 Item 11 ) ---------------------------------------------- [12/20/05]
Subject: Sequence Power Theatre vs. Synopsys Power Compiler
SEQUENCE WINS (SORT OF) -- If you're looking at the percentage of customers
using Synopsys vs. Sequence power optimization tools, Synopsys wins:
"Do you use 'power tools' like Synopsys Power Compiler and PrimePower?"
don't use power tools: ######################## 61%
Synopsys Power Compiler: ################## 46%
Synopsys PrimePower: ########### 27%
Sequence Power Theatre: ##### 12%
Cadence Get2chip Power: ## 6%
But if you believe that "quality" beats "quantity", Sequence easily wins:
"How do they fare vs. Sequence Power Theatre?"
Synopsys fares better: ############# 32%
Synopsys fares worst: ########################### 68%
Still, I was surprised to see that 46% of users used Power Compiler. That's
an awful lot when you consider there are an estimated 10,000 to 16,000 DC
licenses being used worldwide. (5K to 7K Power Compiler licenses roughly.)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Sequence tools must be better. We have not got any good results from
the Synopsys power tools.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We occasionally use Synopsys Power Compiler. Works well for most part
since it is well integrated in our DC flow.
- Sunil Malkani of Broadcom
Power Compiler is adequate. Power Theatre is far superior to PrimePower.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We are using Power Compiler and PrimePower. We don't have plan to
switch even though Sequence tool might be considered more advanced.
- Wanhao Li of Zoran
We used Power Compiler on our latest design. It reduced the power by
27% over a previous version of the same part - very effective and exceeded
all predictions. PrimePower took several sessions with the FAE/apps
engineers to truly be able to understand and predict results but resulted
in good correlation with actual silicon.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Power Compiler is a great tool. Get about 40% reduction with clock
gating, another 10-20% with power aware PhysOpt, sometimes up to 50%
less leakage. PrimePower is okay, too.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Power (uW) DC Get2chip delta
Leakage..............127 ........... 81 ....... 36%
Dynamic..............178 ...........166 ...... 6.7%
clk period 4.5 nsec, 130 nm, post-layout
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Currently using Cadence Get2chip for low-power synthesis.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
PrimePower and Power Compiler are fair tools, the results are based on
the .lib thus garbage in->garbage out.
Power Theatre might have improved since last time I looked at it but
back then, too much $$$ for the capabilities it offered.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We use Power Compiler. We never tried Power Theater.
- Joe Xu of Huawei Technologies
Power Compiler and PrimePower are good. Still like RTL analysis in
Sequence Power Theatre better.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We are a primary user of Power Compiler and Get2chip power optimization
features. We haven't used Sequence Power Theatre so I can't comment.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Power Compiler is more useful than the near-useless Power Theatre.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Sequence Power Theatre is good.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We are using Power Theater for power estimation because of accuracy.
We are using Power Compiler for low power implementation.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We use Power Compiler for gate-level optimization and analysis.
RTL analysis in Power Compiler needs improvement.
We use Sequence Power Theater for RTL-level analysis.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Sequence Power Theatre > Synopsys Power Compiler and PrimePower
- Benjamin Chen of Socle Tech.
We are presently comparing PrimePower with Power Theatre and power
results appear equivalent, with PrimePower being a little easier to
use at the onset since the use model is similar to PT. I believe
we are leaning towards Power Theatre, however.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
The Sequence tools are more accurate, but a pain in the #@! to setup
and get running. If you are a PT user you can be running w/ PrimePower
very quickly.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We do use Power Compiler but mostly for reporting.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We use Power Compiler, don't know Power Theatre.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I'm eager to try out PrimePower on a tapeout; it's dynamic analysis
capabilities in particular.
- Neel Das of Tallika Corp.
Interested, but can't afford.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I only use Power Compiler under the hood inside DC or PhysOpt.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We use Power Compiler for clock gating. It mostly does the right thing,
but could do more and also have better awareness of physical design.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Used Power Compiler once a long time ago. Plan to use it again for our
0.13 micron designs.
- Tom Mannos of Sandia National Laboratories
Yes we use Power Compiler. Better than than Power Theatre because of
ease to use and fit with our current DC.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Power Compiler yes. PrimePower evaluating. Traditional user of the
Sequence analysis tools. Besides performance, important aspects are
correlation as well as price. SNPS behind on these points.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Yes use Power Compiler. Comparable to Sequence.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Package deal. Didn't get a chance to evaluate Power Theatre.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We're starting to use Power Compiler and PrimePower to a lesser extent.
Power Compiler seems to work OK, although getting Formality to agree with
some of its optimisations (clock gating in particular) can be a real PITA.
I don't have any experience with Sequence Power Theatre.
- David Smith of STmicroelectronics
Yes, I use Synopsys Power Compiler and PrimePower.
They do their their job. Can't compare to any other tool.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
We use Power Compiler, although mostly for assessment, not to manipulate
the clock domains.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Power Compiler, PrimePower used a bit. When we last looked at Power
Theatre, I think I remember that its biggest selling point was the
ability to assess and adjust for power at the RTL level, pre-synthesis.
At the time, we weren't ready to pay for that capability.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Use Synopsys Power Compiler and PrimePower. No eval was ever done. So
far we are happy with the results we are seeing.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Use Power Compiler, but for better results use Azuro Powercentric.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Can't compare, but PrimePower is a good tool IMO. Runtimes is an issue
though.
- Are Arseth of Atmel
Have used Power Compiler for dynamic and leakage optimization. Have some
good results. I have not used Sequence tools though.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
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