Kits target ARM Cortex-A73 CPUs & ARM Mali-G71 GPUs

Cadence is working very closely with ARM to provide software technology and Process Design Kit (PDK) updates to the RAKs to deliver faster design closure and optimal PPA results, providing engineers with a continually updated foundation for designing the highest performing and most energy-efficient mobile devices.

Also available with the RAK are Cadence offerings that increase productivity for system, subsystem and IP verification, performance optimisation and software enablement. The RAK can utilise performance-leading ARM Artisan physical IP and ARM POP IP for Cortex-A73 and Mali-G71, enabling designers to meet aggressive processor power, performance and area goals.

In support of this new processor, Cadence collaborated with ARM to:

• Optimise PPA implementation by defining a full-flow reference methodology incorporating Cadence digital and signoff solutions, including Genus Synthesis Solution, Innovus Implementation System, Quantus QRC Extraction Solution, Tempus Timing Signoff Solution, Voltus IC Power Integrity Solution and multiple Conformal products;
• Develop a 10nm methodology containing Cortex-A73 and Mali-G71 using the Cadence digital implementation and signoff flow;
• Architect SoC power and performance using the Cadence Palladium Z1 enterprise emulation platform; augment performance with the Cadence Interconnect Workbench for ARM CoreLink CCI-500 and CCI-400 based systems running stress testing on Cadence simulation, Palladium Z1 emulation and verification IP; and
• Enable earlier SoC software development by integrating the Cortex-A73 Fast Models with the Palladium Z1 enterprise emulation platform; in a previous integration, ARM accelerated OS boot-up by up to 50 times and software execution by up to 10 times.

James McNiven, General Manager, CPU and Media Processing Groups, ARM, commented: “The ARM Cortex-A73 and Mali-G71 deliver significant upgrades in performance and efficiency, allowing device makers to introduce enhanced contextual and visual experiences within the constraints of mobile power budgets. Through our continued collaboration with Cadence, we are helping ARM partners enhance their development environments to quickly differentiate themselves with an unprecedented VR and AR experience for 2017 flagship mobile devices.”

“We collaborated closely with ARM to co-optimise our advanced digital implementation and signoff solutions and our system design and verification tools with ARM Cortex-A73 and ARM Mali-G71, and mobile customers can start creating designs today. We’ve thoroughly tested the RAK so that designers can adopt these new technologies with confidence, speeding time-to-market," added Dr. Anirudh Devgan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital & Signoff Group and System & Verification Group, Cadence.