Synopsys Prototyping And Emulation Tools Accelerate Time To Market
Synopsys headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Over the last few weeks, silicon and system design leader Synopsys, has introduced a plethora of new platforms and tools in their hardware-assisted verification (HAV) and virtual prototyping portfolios meant to streamline workflows and accelerate time to market for chips, systems and software across virtually all markets. Synopsys introduced its latest HAPS prototyping and ZeBu emulation systems – the HAPS-200 and ZeBu-200 – featuring AMD's latest Versal Premium VP1902 adaptive SoC, which deliver vastly improved capacity and better performance, compile times, and debugging capabilities. And just a couple of days ago, the company also introduced Virtualizer Native Execution on Arm Hardware, which is a comprehensive virtualizer suite supported on Arm server hardware, whether running in the cloud or on-premise, for modeling, simulation, debug, and analysis for Arm-based devices.
The latest HAPS-200 prototyping and ZeBu-200 emulation systems are built on new Synopsys Emulation and Prototyping (EP-Ready) Hardware and target leading-edge chip and system designers and architects. Though the systems have some fundamental underlying similarities, each is tuned for specific workloads – either prototyping or emulation – and both offer significantly increased capacity and higher performance than its predecessor, to accelerate the development of today's larger and more complex chips, systems and software. HAPS-200 offers comprehensive prototyping, which enables early software development and validation, and ultimately affords users better hardware-software integration. ZeBu-200 on the other hand is for broad, rich emulation, for thorough verification of complex chips and SoC designs with extensive debug capabilities.
"With the industry approaching 100s of billions of gates per chip and 100s of millions of lines of software code in SoC and multi-die solutions, verification of advanced designs poses never before seen challenges,' said Ravi Subramanian, chief product management officer, Synopsys. 'Continuing our strong partnership with AMD, our new systems deliver the highest HAV performance while offering the ultimate flexibility between prototyping and emulation use. Industry leaders are adopting Synopsys EP-Ready Hardware platforms for silicon to system verification and validation."
Synopsys HAPS-200 and ZeBu-200 Systems.
The new HAPS-200 and ZeBu-200 are complementary systems, but each excels at different things. HAPS-200 has been updated and enhanced with more powerful platform hardware and offers approximately 4 times the performance of the company's previous-gen system for pre-silicon hardware debugging. I should note, however, that the HAPS-200 still integrates with previous-gen systems. In fact, it leverages the existing HAPS-100 ecosystem and supports mixed HAPS-200/100 setups. The HAPS-200 is scalable from single FPGA to multi-rack configurations as well, with capacities of up to 10.8 Billion Gates (BG).
The Synopsys ZeBu-200 emulation system has been updated and upgraded as well, to support a design capacity of up to 15.4 BG, with up to double the runtime performance compared to the previous generation ZeBu EP2. The ZeBu-200 also offers faster compile times and up to 8X better debug bandwidth. Synopsys claims the ZeBu-200 offers up to 200 GB debug trace memory per module, with improved job scheduling and relocation too. All of this essentially equates to reduced turnaround times and increased development productivity – something all chip makers sorely need. Before sending any chip design off to the fab, it requires extensive qualification and testing – it is not cheap to re-spin a chip. HAPS and ZeBu help ensure optimal quality, before committing to fabrication.
Synopsys isn't just about hardware and chip innovations, however. Its new Virtualizer Native Execution on Arm-based hardware will do for software development, what its HAPS and ZeBu systems do for prototyping and emulation. The Synopsys Virtualizer Native Execution on Arm will effectively accelerate software development for edge devices by improving capabilities and productivity of teams building software-defined products that leverage Arm architectures and instruction sets. As most of you probably know, Arm is near ubiquitous in the automotive, mobile, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Internet of Things markets.
Synopsys HAV Systems.
'Software-defined products are driving a re-engineering of product development from silicon to systems,' said Ravi Subramanian, chief product management officer, Synopsys. 'Virtualizer Native Execution on Arm accelerates hardware/software co-design by enabling new agile software development methodologies for Arm-based edge and high-performance computing applications.'
These kinds of performance increases across virtually every design and development stage are key for chip, system and platform designers in the current AI era, to remain competitive, reduce turnaround time and help speed time to market. A multitude of companies, from NVIDIA and AMD to smaller start-ups, have all committed to yearly updates for some new product releases. That is a tall order for any tech company, and tools like these offered by Synopsys are practically a prerequisite to achieve those goals in the current landscape. Chips and systems are getting more complex and there is a shortage of humans with the experience and expertise to design and build them. Faster, more capable, intelligent tools are paramount to ensure quality and ensure optimal time to market.
The Synopsys HAPS-200 prototyping system and Virtualizer Native Execution on the Arm hardware suite are available now. The Synopsys ZeBu-200 emulation system, however, is available for early access customers only at this time.
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This Asus ROG Strix G16 is the most powerful, affordable gaming laptop I've seen yet
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) brings something to the table that we haven't seen yet in this generation of gaming laptops, and it gave me high hopes as I booted it up for the first time. Powered by AMD's X3D variant CPU, it promises boosted gaming performance thanks to the company's clever 3D caching tech. You may not care about the how, but you will care about the results, and when the Strix G16 testing emerged from our labs, we were pleased to see its strong overall performance and solid Nvidia RTX 5070Ti graphics. The best gaming laptops have to deliver excellent performance, but it can't stop there, and the Strix has plenty more to back it up with a bouncy keyboard, ports aplenty, and a bright and reasonably vibrant IPS display. If you've been paying attention to the early RTX 50 series gaming laptops, you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, with a price tag north of $3,000. While the Strix isn't cheap, starting at $2,399, it's a value among its competitors, and upgrades aren't prohibitively expensive either. So, is the Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) one of the best gaming laptops of this generation? Let's find out. Price: $2,399 starting, $2,499 as configured CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D GPU: Nvidia RTX 5070Ti with 12GB VRAM RAM: 32GB Storage: 1TB Display: 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, 240Hz, IPS Battery (HH:MM): 5:22 Dimensions: 13.94 x 10.39 x 0.89~1.20 inches Weight: 5.51 pounds Click to view full benchmark test results Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) 20,113 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 2:17 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) 14.1 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) 1,904 Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) 100.8 Gaming Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit, 95 comfort threshold) 127.1 Battery life (Higher is better) 05:22 PCMark 10 Gaming Battery life (higher is better) 01:22 Display brightness (Higher is better) 449 sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) 112.5% DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) 79.7% Color accuracy (Lower is better) 0.4 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (Higher is better) 10,794 3DMark Time Spy Extreme (Higher is better) 8,577 Assassin's Creed: Mirage (1080p, fps) 132 Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p, fps) 53 Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, fps) 53.75 Far Cry 6 (1080p, fps) 143 Monster Hunter Wilds (1080p, fps) 69.23 Red Dead Redemption II (Ultra, 1080p, fps) 51.697 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 151 Asus has multiple configurations of the Strix G16 available this year. From Intel to AMD models, with both new and older chipset variations, there is a Strix G16 that can suit your budget. But if you're looking for the Strix G16 (G14FR), there are two main configuration options, and they're not too different in price. The starting configuration costs $2,399 and gets you an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX processor with an Nvidia RTX 5070Ti GPU with 12GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch, 2560x1600, 240Hz, IPS display. Upgrading to the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor variant jumps the price up to $2,499. Our review configuration comes with the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor and upgraded memory to 32GB for a total of $2,499. Essentially getting the RAM upgrade for free. The Asus ROG Strix G16 is a thick, high-end gaming laptop with the aesthetics to match. While the Strix G16 doesn't have the wild AniMeVision cover panel LEDs of the Strix Scar models, but it does have a flashy RGB lightbar below the keyboard deck, and full RGB on the keyboard. 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While the Strix G16 isn't the lightest or thinnest 16-inch gaming laptop we've reviewed, it fits nicely in the same size range as other 16-inch gaming laptops like: Alienware 16 Area-51: 14.37 x 11.41 x 0.85~1.12 inches, 7.13 pounds Gigabyte Aorus Master 16: 14.05 x 10 x 0.91~1.18 inches, 5.5 pounds Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9: 14.08 x 10.33 x 0.69 inches, 5.1 pounds Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Asus has made sure to include plenty of ports on the Strix G16, which should be more than enough for all your gaming accessories: 1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery, Nvidia G-Sync) 1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Nvidia G-Sync) 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL 1x RJ45 ethernet 1x audio combo jack This should be enough ports for most people, though streamers may still want to invest in one of the best laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs to connect additional monitors, a professional webcam, a studio microphone, or a Stream Deck in addition to any gaming accessories. Thanks to Nvidia's investment in its BatteryBoost tech, the Strix G16 lasts a bit longer than previous generations while gaming. As we usually see with high-powered gaming laptops, the Strix G16 isn't a threat to the laptops with the best battery life, but it does last long enough for you to work on battery power before needing to find an outlet. I didn't have much hope the Strix G16 would last more than a handful of hours when unplugged, at best. Just going about my usual workday meant I needed to hunt down a charger after just over three and a half hours of writing and video call meetings. The Strix G16 lasted just 5 hours and 22 minutes on the Laptop Mag web surfing test, which is about what I expected from my hands-on testing. Thanks to Nvidia's investment in its BatteryBoost tech, the Strix G16 lasts a bit longer than previous generations while gaming. The Strix managed to survive for 1 hour and 22 minutes on the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, which is more competitive compared to other 50-series laptops, like the Alienware Area-51 compared to its 40-series counterparts. Click to view chart data in table format Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) Alienware 16 Area-51 Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 Battery life (Higher is better) 05:22 04:10 05:02 03:01 PCMark 10 Gaming Battery life (higher is better) 01:22 01:51 02:54 00:47 Our Strix G16 (G614FR) review unit features a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, 240Hz matte IPS panel. Thanks to the Strix's matte panel, it's relatively glare-proof, which is ideal for gaming, so you don't need to worry about missing your next shot because of a poorly placed lamp. In order to test the Strix G16's display, I booted up Avowed to see how well the Strix's IPS panel handles the Fort Northreach beach with its broad color palette. 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But those fans are needed, as the Strix runs hot under pressure. While gaming, the Strix G16 hit a peak temperature of 127.1 degrees Fahrenheit near the F4 key while the center of the keyboard hit 92.8 degrees, which means you'll want to be careful of your fingertips during long gaming sessions. Click to view chart data in table format. Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) Alienware 16 Area-51 Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) 20,113 20,498 19,175 17,261 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 2:17 02:00 2:18 03:08 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) 14.1 23.36 40.4 15.75 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) 1,904 1,150 665 1,705 Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) 100.8 92.9 94.3 89 Gaming Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit, 95 comfort threshold) 127.1 118.7 116.8 100 The ROG Strix G16 is a 280W system, so it can drive plenty of power... 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Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) Alienware 16 Area-51 Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (Higher is better) 10,794 14,073 13,695 6,423 3DMark Time Spy Extreme (Higher is better) 8,577 10,558 10,097 5,526 Assassin's Creed: Mirage (1080p, fps) 132 149 145 98 Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p, fps) 53 58 52 Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, fps) 53.75 62.94 61.52 34.51 Far Cry 6 (1080p, fps) 143 121 120 96 Monster Hunter Wilds (1080p, fps) 69.23 82.82 85.67 Red Dead Redemption II (Ultra, 1080p, fps) 51.697 78.348 41.806 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 151 183 185 162 As the Strix G16 features an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU rather than a Ryzen AI 300 series processor, it doesn't meet the requirements for Microsoft's Copilot+ suite of AI features. In fact, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D doesn't have an integrated NPU at all, so any AI you run off the Strix G16 will be using either the CPU or GPU to run the workload. That doesn't mean the Strix G16 can't run AI. 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