Core 2 Quad Extreme QX6700

OMG! Here is comes. I just got myself a Quadcore from my buddy YY. Plug in just now and manage to do power on without problem. Boot right into windows. Luckily my BIOS for Gigabyte 965P-DS3 is updated to F10 which support Quadcore (unfortunately does not support 1333 FSB because my motherboard is version 1.0. Only version 3.3 support).

Ran super-pi test and manage to get 16.2s :(. Very low compare to top 10 in LYN which is 13s.

SuperPi 1.5 Mod result

Already increase
Vcore = 1.325
Core = 3.2GHz
Vdimm = +0.2V
MCH = +0.1V
FSB = +0.1V
DDR2 = 400MHz (multiplier is 2:3)

Stay tune. Gonna overclock more LOL

Hold time and Setup time (2)

So what is the real usage of Hold time and Setup Time for pin to register?

Well, I did explain in the previous post. But in detail, the Hold time is for customer who want to connect synchronously to your chip. So, if you have positive hold time for your pin to register, customer need to make sure he/she delayed the data path long enough for it to work. In this case, setup time is not important.

But how about when the customer want to connect asynchronously? Then setup time will be important. When you spec customer for 8ns setup time, you actually give yourself 8ns margin to play with. Meaning, you can delay your data path for less than 8ns before the setup time failed. How come you have that 8ns? Because based on the spec, customer will send the data first and then only send the clock after 8ns. So in your data path, you have 8ns to play around.

That's all for now kids. Stay tune!

Previous blog:
Hold time and Setup Time
Follow up blog:
Setup and speed of circuit

Hold time and Setup Time

One thing that bewildered me as an IC Designer is that I can't really figure out what is setup and hold time significance and its impact using timing diagram. I hope this post will clear up everything for future junior IC Designer.

Setup and Hold time is timing constraint for register. Setup time relates to speed of the system. Hold time relates to functionality of the of the system. There's two types of setup and hold. First is setup and hold for pin to register. Second type is setup and hold for register to register.

For pin to register setup and hold time, you must send the data first and then only send the clock to clock the data at the register. This is called setup time. If the data sheet said it needs minimum 8ns setup time, make sure you delay the clock for 8ns compare to data. And the data needs to be hold long enough after the clock. This is called hold time.

For register to register setup and hold time, one thing we need to keep in mind is data is clocked by the first clock for the first register. Then this data output from the first register must be clocked by the second clock for the second register. To summarize, data go through 2 register needs two clock cycle. To make sure this happen, data must be slow down compare to clock. If you have data path faster than clock path, means, the current clock (first clock cycle) can still clock the output from first register that is clocked by the first clock. This is called hold time.

Conclusion is, pin to register, Setup time is more important. As for register to register, hold time is more important. This is according to me. I'll talk more about this in the next post with diagram and stuff. :)

Please read the follow up:
Hold time and Setup time (2)
Setup and speed of circuit

Bought a microwave!

This is something I haven't bought before in my life. When I think of buying it, why not buy the best? So I got myself microwave that can microwave (sic), grill and convection but the most important is, steaming. Truly all in. Basically, anything you can cook with that microwave. Steam makes the food retained its moisture. And microwave I'm talking about is Panasonic NN-J993 MPQ.

One important thing different from other microwave is that it has steam function. Other microwave might have steam function but the usage is to clean the microwave (for example Samsung).

The other different is that there's no turntable. All it has is 2 tray like oven. It save space and good for cooking cookies.

Another good point is there's no need to set timing. It has infrared sensor to make sure the food is cooked. There's overused feature which is inverter. It was used in air cond and mostly everywhere that use a lot of energy. I hope it does save me some money on energy. The cost of this microwave is rm1958 with 4 years warranty. Quite a big figure. Need to use it everyday to make it worth. :)

Want to change my car!

Nowaday, car prices dropping crazily. Its really shopping haven for new car buyer (as well as 2nd car buyer). It start with Mitsubishi Lancer offering at 75k. I went to town to test drive. But can't find the dealer. How silly. I thought it was somewhere in town but I was wrong. In the end I drop by Proton Edar in town area and ask for Waja test drive. But there's no test drive car at the moment. So I take the next best thing, that is the Proton Perdana.
While majority of Malaysians are bashing Proton, I do agree Proton is the reason why Malaysian can't enjoy better and safer car. Anyhow, this is not reason for this post. When I step into Perdana, I've already feel very good. The leather seat and trimming are very luxury. Spacious. When the engine start, the sound is very nice. I seldom heard such nice engine sound. Not even from Honda City or Toyota Vios. Ok, I kid myself. This is V6. Can't really compare to those small engine. NVH is very good. Hardly heard any noise. Not much low end torque. But handling is perfect. I love this car. If this car has airbag, this might be my new car even though its Proton. Priced at rm80k or lower with 5 year warranty (retail at rm100,000), price is not bad.

Not enough of car test drive (I guess test drive bug just hit me:P), I call up Mitsubishi and got the person to bring the car to my factory for test drive. Am I bad? Looks ok. Outside looks sporty. Inside looks cheapo. No leather seat. 1 DIN CD player. All trimming looks old and dark. Not luxury at all. Retail price at rm100,000 just not worth it although it has airbag. Handling is good and speed is ok. I did a high speed cornering.  It does skid a bit but I never felt I'm going to lose control. I guess that's the ABS taking control. We'll this car does not interest me at all. But I know this will be the lowest maintenance car. Fuel consumption is fantastic. Better than Kenari. 5 years warranty. But not what I wanted for my next car. The last thing I heard, the price drop 
to rm62,000.
Chevrolet Optra

Ok, suddenly, I heard that Chevrolet having once in a life time promotion. Optra selling at rm99,000 is dropping to rm60k. Wow, I mean,  what is happening to new car price. Never test drive this car. Smaller and less luxury than Perdana. So this is not what I want. No auto cruise. But its really a good deal. Better than buying a Waja.

By now, I guess you all know that I love to drive big luxury car. But 1 car really hit the artistic side of me. Well, it does called Picasso. I really love the look. Then I just log onto its website. And read all the feature. Wow, its really electronic heaven. Everything is button control right to the brake. But I think I won't be buying car soon. After long thought, I'll just bear with Proton Iswara at the moment until I pay off my house loan.