EDA challenges facing future microprocessor design

As microprocessor design progresses from tens of millions of transistors on a chip using 0.18-mum process technology to approximately a billion transi stors on a chip using 0.10-mum and finer process technologies, the micropro cessor designer faces unprecedented Electronic Design Automation (EDA) chal lenges over the future generations of microprocessors. This article describ es the changes in the design environment that will be necessary to develop increasingly complex microprocessors. In particular, the article describes the current status and the future challenges along three important areas in a design flow: design correctness, performance verification and power mana gement.