Spectre FX Simulator Cuts Intrinsic Semi’s Memory Verification Time by 4X

Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies, a company transforming the semiconductor industry by bringing fast and efficient non-volatile memory to embedded systems and AI hardware, has achieved a breakthrough in memory verification by adopting the Cadence Spectre FX Simulator. By leveraging Spectre FX simulation, Intrinsic has reduced its memory verification turnaround time from a week to just a few days, significantly accelerating its time to market.

Achieving high performance and low power consumption in edge and embedded applications, from IoT devices to automotive electronics, requires memory to be integrated on the same die as the processor.  The demand for non-volatile memory at increasingly advanced process nodes demands innovative solutions such as Intrinsic’s RRAM.  Each memory product requires accurate re-characterization through simulation, increasing the demand for tools that balance performance, capacity, and accuracy. The Spectre FX Simulator meets these demands by providing exceptional accuracy and performance even for advanced designs.

Spectre FX Simulator’s Cutting-Edge Solution

The Spectre FX Simulator is a next-generation FastSPICE verification solution, providing unmatched accuracy and speed for large-scale, post-layout memory and SoC designs. The simulator employs advanced partitioning, innovative RC reduction algorithms, and a proprietary architecture to optimize performance while preserving simulation quality.

Intrinsic reported significant improvements to the efficiency of their verification flows, reducing the time and compute resources needed. Spectre FX simulation was 4X faster than Spectre X simulation, an industry-leading scalable analog simulator for design and verification, while maintaining accuracy.

 “Verifying our RRAM memory arrays requires both accuracy and performance to achieve the coverage we need. Using the latest SPICE simulators on a full array would have taken weeks, severely limiting our ability to deliver. The Cadence Spectre FX FastSPICE simulator delivered 3X to 4X faster results. Adopting the Spectre FX simulator will significantly improve our productivity.”  

- Ben Jones, Director of IC Design, Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies

Seamless Integration and Broad Applicability

The Spectre FX Simulator is part of the Spectre Simulation Platform, a FastSPICE complement to the Spectre X simulator, and is fully drop-in compatible with existing Spectre and SPICE verification flows.  Users can reuse setups, netlist formats, and post-processing scripts without significant workflow disruptions. Its scalability further boosts productivity, accelerating transient simulations using up to 32 CPU cores. These features ensure that organizations like Intrinsic Semi can adopt the Spectre FX Simulator quickly and efficiently, minimizing compatibility challenges while significantly accelerating verification workflows and optimizing results.

The advantages of Spectre FX simulation extend beyond memory verification. Teams working on system-on-chip (SoC) designs can achieve similar gains in performance and verification breadth. By combining speed with accuracy, the simulator empowers teams to handle large-scale challenges, accelerate functional and power verification, and streamline project timelines.

As industry leaders like Intrinsic integrate the Spectre FX Simulator into their workflows, the verification landscape is set for a transformation. Reducing verification time from days to hours while maintaining accuracy, Intrinsic, alongside Cadence, is redefining verification time benchmarks and paving the way for other companies striving to overcome the verification demands posed by advanced semiconductor technologies.

To discover how the Spectre FX Simulator can enhance your verification workflow, visit the official product page for more information.