A system of array families and synthesized soft arrays for the POWER9™ processor in 14nm SOI FinFET technology

The POWER9™ Processor in 14 nm SOI FinFET technology makes use of 7 different families of arrays. This paper gives an overview on advantages of different implementations, focusing on two key innovations introduced with this processor generation: Fast and low-latency write assist schemes for single-voltage performance arrays, as well as a new methodology, the synthesized soft arrays, to enable significant improvements for small array structures in both area and design efficiency.