Implementation of the AT1 Flipper Chip
Anand Mandapati · 2001
The Nintendo GameCube(tm) video game console system is designed to outpace all other such systems when released. Formerly known by the codename Dolphin, this system includes an IBM PowerPC(tm) processor and! specialized hardware from ATI. This specialized hardware is embodied in ATI’s Flipper chip, the centerpiece. in the Dolphin design. Flipper functions as the graphics processor, audio processor, host controller, memory controller, and I/O processor of the Dolphin system. Such a complex chip requires a very robust design flow to get to functioning silicon in as little time as possible. Here we will describe that design flow, developed by AT1 engineers to implement the Flipper design. The goaliwas to develop a flow to implement the best gaming hardware on a chip that needed to be as costeffective as possible. There were many challenges the design offered:. requiring optimal use of a small design team with a minimal budget to achieve aggressive schedules. The Biggest challenge the team was presented