Distributed on-chip power supply noise characterization of the cell broadband engine™

Abstract

Noise characterization of the 65nm multicore Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.) processor was performed using highly configurable workloads and selective stimulation of identical cores to study noise distribution throughout the chip. On-chip power supply noise propagation velocity and attenuation were found to be influenced by chip/package resonance in the power distribution system. Hypothesis for this phenomenon is proposed. © 2007 IEEE.