[StringyBob]

Thanks for the write up. In particular I'd seen comments[1] that seemed to imply big disputes between the old school (highly tuned custom chip layout) vs new school (progress via faster iteration with synthesis/automation) design styles.

[1] e.g. http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20111013232215_Ex_A... (ignoring the misleading intepretation in the article itself).

[szager]

I worked with the engineer cited in that article. He left the company, on less than amicable terms, pretty early in the bulldozer project. I'll just say he lacks credibility, and leave it at that.