Why does cpu design take so long?

[bullzz]

Design has its own set of complexities. if the simulator (which is a code on its own) does not like your coding style, good luck finding where the signal glitches

 

[videogames101]

Design has its own set of complexities. if the simulator (which is a code on its own) does not like your coding style, good luck finding where the signal glitches

Not to mention different simulators often have different interpretations of the same HDL!

 

[videogames101]

AMD did that, 'nuff said.

Everyone does that now, AMD just likes talking it up. Although even AMD has plenty of custom pieces of hand designed circuits, especially for memories.

 

[bullzz]

@kimmel - haha. atleast #1ps gets flagged by tools early. foo==1'bx can only be found until u hit that logic. verilog 101

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Everyone does that now, AMD just likes talking it up. Although even AMD has plenty of custom pieces of hand designed circuits, especially for memories.

Had a design group try to synthesize and place-and-route a ROM core once.
Was doable, but utilization and routability sucked.

 

[2is]

Everyone does that now, AMD just likes talking it up. Although even AMD has plenty of custom pieces of hand designed circuits, especially for memories.

Perhaps, but from what I've read, AMD relied too much on it and not enough on actual engineers (can't afford them)

 

[Dresdenboy]

For those not in the business but wanting to do some practical excercises, there is this old, but nice flash game of Zachtronics (the original Minecraft developer):

http://jayisgames.com/review/engineer-of-the-people.php
More explainations here:
http://www.nerdparadise.com/tech/electronics/circuits/kohctpyktop/

Use the Shift key for toggling buttons. And there is no GND, but who cares ^^.