Distributed On-chip Power Supply Noise Characterization of the Cell Broadband Engine

Abstract

Noise characterization of the 65 nm multicore Cell Broadband Enginetrade (Cell/B.E.)* processor was performed using highly configurable workloads and selective stimulation of identical cores to study noise distribution throughout the chip. On-chip power supply noise propagation velocity and attenuation were found to be influenced by chip/package resonance in the power distribution system. Hypothesis for this phenomenon is proposed.