How To Do DDR3 Memory PCB Layout Simulation - Step by Step Tutorial

After watching this video you will have the most important info which will help you to simulate your own PCB layout. We will be using Cadence Sigrity, SystemSI, SPEED2000 and Allegro.
iMX6 Rex project:
www.imx6rex.com/
Github with files:
github.com/FED...
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Robert

[@sebastiansurugiu1933]

This channel is a gold mine for young developers, as i am. Thank you

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you very much Sebastian for nice words :)

[@saikumar7662]

Really your a gold digger for pcb design!!!! I usually follow your pcb videos Thanku for videos uploading !!!

[@優さん-n7m]

How young is that supposed to be?

[@RobertFeranec]

@Vernon Wai Hong Kong It didn't take too long. If you are not sure, start with less signals.

[@hapnin123]

Thanks Sebastian !! Very well done. And covers the basic flow (and some advanced topics). I complicated task, made simple.

[@gsuberland]

Fantastic video. I have never looked into DDR validation before and it's fascinating to see how much work goes into it.

[@giannipedrazzi4289]

Very useful video tutorial, very clear, excellent explanation, very good tools, excellent job from Robert Feranec, thank you very much.

[@mdchethan]

Hi RF, Great information to all the HW design folks. A lot of information about the DDR Simulation set up and result analysis, this type of content with lot of details is not easily available. Thanks.

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you very much Chethan :)

[@Bornachiever17]

It's so useful for designer out there for simulations thanks a lot Robert

[@karhou2020]

Very useful tutorial for young engineer like me. Would appreciate if you could do a simulation on LPDDR4X with Cadence software :D

[@guillep2k]

AMAZING! Thank you, Robert!

[@kamalakannangopalakrishnan7730]

Great job,thanks. Waiting for similar videos

[@frankylin4447]

Robert ,Thank you so much!

[@benjamincastillo2722]

it turned out well

[@balrajeran197]

need more in details videos on simulations

[@bhagathch7349]

It's a great detailed tutorial Robert, thank you for this. Also, can you make a short video for Cadence SigXplorer? And what is the main difference between these two EDA's?

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you very much Bhagath. Maybe I could make another video about simulation in Cadence. I am making a note.

[@hassaniqbal7934]

What about Hyperlynx?

[@kingkonefpv4553]

I am in the process of routing a LPDDR3 interface, I've learned a lot from ur videos! Thanks for that! But what simulator should I use? As it's an open source project we can't afford one of the very expensive sim packaged. Any tips on that?

[@RakeshYadav-tb2im]

Thanks, RF for Great tutorial.

[@serggorod1423]

ХорошЫй подход к выбору исходного материала.

[@wolky1907]

@Robert Feranec thank you so much for those excellent videos, I learnt a lot from you.. A question in my mind, during Ddr3 length matching, I should take into account package delay/length of the cpu.. but what about the ddr memory itself? Should I also consider their paclage delay? What confusing me is, if I design the board considering for ex: a micron IC, May be I can not use an Issi IC (as their package delays really different, I compared some using ibis models).. the board would be IC dependent that I dont want it to be.. whats your comment about this situation, would you take memory Ic package delay into account? Thanks..

[@serotica6666]

Great video in detail, really help. Thanks

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you Sebastian

[@ahmeta6367]

Great video Robert thanks a lot! It would be awesome if you could show a flyby topology as well. Also, I believe we can convert Altium pcb to Cadence before starting this...

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you Ahmet. I also have Fly-by layout (our other open source board called OpenRex) and if there is enough interest (if people like this video and it has enough views), I can make more simulation videos and compare the address/command/control signals between different topology. It could be interesting. PS: Do you mean create also a video about converting Altium pcb into Cadence brd?

[@ahmeta6367]

Comparing different typologies would be very interesting. I was confused how you got the pcb in cadence from altium but I searched google and ı think I can figure it out. You could perhaps include that in the next vid anyway :)

[@johnsjunk9157]

Hi Ahmet, In Orcad/Allegro under file import you should see an option to import Altium. You'll need to save the Altium designs into Altium ASCII format first. Or you can import your Altium design directly into the Sigrity Speed2K tool (for analysis) by using Speedlinks (If you install Sigrity you'll see CAD translators under your start menu)

[@bhagathch7349]

@@RobertFeranec That would be a great comparison. Kindly do it is feasible for you.

[@TonySingh7]

Thank you for making this video!

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you Harsimranjeet

[@maayon369]

This is really helping a lot :) thank you so much, But in this work flow, differential signal is not coming as differential do we need to edit anything on the IBIS model or need to use system explorer

[@MrMah123esh]

Can you please give a session where the timing parameters are looked in from a memory datasheet and filled in the tool?

[@mahmutdag4312]

I loved this video it teached me a lot of stuff

[@massimomantovan8446]

Hi Robert Fantastic Video!!!! But this tools are comparable with Hyperlynx??? I don't know very well this kind of software in terms of performance and price. What do you think and what do you suggest? Thanks

[@RobertFeranec]

I am not sure about price comparison Hyperlynx vs Sigrity. But Hyperlynx is a little bit more intuitive and Altium can create hyp file directly from your PCB (I am not sure if Allegro can create hyp). So, choosing simulation software may also depend on what CAD you are using to create your PCBs.

[@優さん-n7m]

@@RobertFeranec Is Hyperlynx really so great that alternatives are "Not good enough"? Why is Hyperlynx considered so great?

[@johnsjunk9157]

Hyperlinks is easier because it makes several, Often incorrect ,assumptions. So yes you can get waveforms easier but that does mean they are correct

[@1981ragh]

The content was very useful. Could you share more such simulations for PDN too

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you Raghavendra. I have not been thinking about it ... yet. Let's see if people like this DDR3 simulation video and if yes, then I can do more videos about simulation.

[@mahakoraichi8964]

Thank you so much for your videos, I learned many things from you, just I would like to know what's the difference between the simulation tools? ANSYS, HYPERLINKS, and Cadance? And if for example now I will start learning with hyperlink and after that I will shift to ANSYS I need to learn new things? Or it's the same basic? I'm new to this kind of simulation and my new job required such knowledge.

[@RobertFeranec]

I am talking to Mentor, let's see if they will help me with license to create a youtube video.

[@vdolas1845]

Thanks for great tutorial video. Could you please tell me where I can download the Altium PCB file for this iMX6rex ?

[@sahar37b]

thank you very much, can you do a video about the diffrences of sigrity softwares and simulations?

[@mhkim2234]

thanks for the good video. The C2 value of [Row]C2 (Line 93214) in v80a.ibs causes an error. "ERROR - Package v80a_96ball_pkg: The Capacitance Matrix has diagonal element 3.822890e-013 at row C2 whose magnitude is less than the sum of off diagonal elements 3.823537e-013"

[@pcb7433]

Hi Robert , hope you are doing well. i am a great fan of you and learned a lot of things from your video . i found this video very interesting.i am to do ddr2 simulation but i dont have cadance sigrity . can you tell from where i can get this ?

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you. PS: I believe, you may need to contact your local Cadence supplier.

[@zhengwei4164]

Thank you soooooo much, Robert : )

[@navidabedi6883]

hi, robert...tanks for your excellent videos...one question...is it really necessary to learn how to work with cadence if I like to be pro like you??

[@RobertFeranec]

Hi Navid, thank you. Couple of notes what can help you to decide: - Many largest and most advanced boards have reference designs in Cadence Allegro. If you would like to design your board in different software, you may need to import Allegro and Orcad files into your CAD - this import can be time consuming and can cause a lot of problems and possible errors in your design. Therefore, if a company is designing for example motherboards, they will be probably using Cadence Allegro. - I have only worked in two different companies: one used Altium, the second was using PADS (for simple designs) and Cadence (for motherboards). - Cadence Allegro is quite different from Altium (Allegro is not so intuitive) and if you need to work in Allegro, than you would like to know how. Allegro requires some time to learn (so, for example, you may not want to apply for a job which requires Allegro if you have never tried the software before - in this case, knowing Allegro can help you to get the job).

[@navidabedi6883]

thank you very much

[@johnsjunk9157]

Hi Navid I'm a Cadence AE and I agree with Roberts comments. Learning Allegro would enable you to apply for jobs at many large enterprise companies. It does take some time to learn but it would be worth the investment. Beyond that, if you still have space in your brain, then learn a 2nd PCB design tool. If you know 2 out of the top 4 PCB design tools (Cadence, Mentor, Altium, Zuken) you'll always be employable.

[@navidabedi6883]

wow...nowI really want start cadence thank you

[@DiegoColl44]

thanks robert for your explanation..!! great video..!! Q: with Altium can you do the same ??

[@RobertFeranec]

No, you can't directly in Altium (you can do some simulations in Altium, but not like this). However, you can export designs from Altium and then do simulation (this board is also originally designed in Altium). Or .... some simulation tools are directly supported in Altium, e.g. you can save your PCB for simulation in Hyperlynx.

[@DiegoColl44]

@@RobertFeranec ok..!! Thanks for your help...!!

[@SiyaDante]

Hey ! Tnaks for the great video. I have been searching and thinking about a project for over a month. Since the prototyping cost of a 4-layer and 6-layer board differs a lot where i usually order my PCBs, I wanted to asked u, Have u ever done (or is it even possible) to rout a DDR3 SDRAM at 800Mhz at least, on a 4-layer PCB ? thanks in advance, Best regards.

[@RobertFeranec]

Hello Siya, I just answered in your other comment. This may help you: designhelp.fedevel.com/forum/test/circuit-design/13810-routing-a-board-like-the-imx6rex-in-4-layers

[@SiyaDante]

@@RobertFeranec thanks alot .

[@SiyaDante]

@@RobertFeranec thanks alot .

[@margotgallegos4197]

Vuena suertes charlie

[@kongyuebanshan6400]

How to assign or set the capacitor model when simulating DDR in Speed2000？

[@nvhmechatronic5124]

thank you!

[@КотКосмонавт-д3г]

Hi, what version of cadence do you use? 17.4 does not work with downloaded files..

[@milindm7472]

can you please share the video for Filter analysis simulation in power distribution network

[@randypeeters3931]

Do you have any tips when using Altium?

[@mohamedtebbo123]

Thank you alot !!!!!

[@Aku-op7tc]

HI, I have two question. what to do next if i see the red number of "tDS_margin" and "tDH_margin" in report like your vedio? the red number of "tDS_margin" and "tDH_margin" are possible to be pass?

[@rafimohammad5662]

Thanks Robert.. I simulated the demo brd file. It worked well. I tried the same thing in my own brd file. When I am trying to modify the component value in the Part List, I am getting a message " This is a concept component. Editing is not allowed" Can you please help..

[@RobertFeranec]

I am not really sure what the problem could be :( Maybe try to check with your Cadence support?

[@margotgallegos4197]

Quesadillas y refresco.

[@shafiqrahman7079]

May I request to add a case for LPDDR4-3200 (which has controller and memory with EBD. I could NOT figure out as how to add EBD and memory (i.e. Micron z01m_200b_ddp.ebd and z01m_at.ibs). I need help.

[@RobertFeranec]

Instead of Memory blocks you need to use EBD block (so when you are creating the diagram with Controller - PCB - Memories, you do not use "M" blocks, but you use "E" block instead)

[@優さん-n7m]

@@RobertFeranec By the way Robert, like there are plenty of books available on so many different software, why do things like Altium designer or Hyperlynx have few or no books and the books that exist are not in English!!! I mean seriously, how come these made in USA programs do not have books in English!? This defies common sense.

[@ya3525]

Hi Rob is it possible to do similar things with Altium?

[@RobertFeranec]

No. Altium doesn't have a good simulator.

[@Momentum.7]

Hi...fedvel.......please provide lower version boards. ..thank u.

[@RobertFeranec]

I only have the files in 17.2 :(. But you still should be able to use the SPD file for playing with the simulation. When I am home, I will upload the whole project to Github.

[@nikolaradakovic5050]

I wonder how much does it cost one of these simulation tools like SystemSI

[@RobertFeranec]

Honestly - it is very difficult to get price when I ask (often, there are only some people who can talk about price and they also consider number of factors - so the price may be very different between companies). I am not sure about this one, but it may be possible, that you can rent it just for the time you need and then it could be affordable.

Like Like Like!!!

[@RobertFeranec]

Thank you Mubin.

[@keeganjay5881]

Can you do a tutorial on how to afford this software

[@Aemilindore]

That one dislike is from xilinx

[@margotgallegos4197]

Una franquicia de agua lucky.

[@pcb7433]

is there any simulation like this in Altium 20?

[@RobertFeranec]

Altium is not good for PCB simulations - you will not get good results.

[@Ghumakkad2429]

Hi , I want to join your courses of high speed design like DDR3. Actually ,my first ddr design is failed with 2 DDR2 in 6 layer.so can you tell me about your courses offered. I went through from your site but I found it very costly....

[@Ghumakkad2429]

@@RobertFeranec I don't know how to do pcb simulation in Ltium

[@RobertFeranec]

​@@Ghumakkad2429 Hi Amit, please write to [e-mail] and dominik ask Dominik for a discount coupon code. PS: There is one discount coupon code also in my channel banner. Maybe that can help.

[@hassaniqbal7934]

@@RobertFeranec How exactly is the simulation capability of Altium designer bad?

[@margotgallegos4197]

Decoracion de interiores

[@margotgallegos4197]

Mister polak.

[@margotgallegos4197]

Contaduria administracion ingles español

[@ehsaneebak6193]

Hello sir please put your pcb's file for download thanks a lot

[@RobertFeranec]

This is the link (it can be found also in description): github.com/FEDEVEL/board-imx6rex-module-in-cadence

[@ehsaneebak6193]

thanks Sir.@@RobertFeranec,one day i will have a collaboration with you,thanks again

[@kongyuebanshan6400]

Sorry there are no subtitles

[@margotgallegos4197]

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[@pusatberk4193]

Sen adamsın thank you so much sir taşşağını kızlar yesin

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[@margotgallegos4197]

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[@mohithkumar9210]

I really hate the explanation given in this video. it doesn't solve any of my questions . Please work on providing quality information not just clicking buttons.