A comparison of mixed gate array and custom IC design methods

Abstract

This paper will present a comparison of gate-array, mixed gate-array-custom and full custom implementations of a 32b NMOS microprocessor. Use of 5V and 3.4V on-chip supply voltages and automated gate-array design for parts of the chip has resulted in a speed and power dissipation of 230ns/2.8W, comparable to the full-custom approach (170ns/3W) in half the design time.