Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Roy J. Tellason" 
<rtellason@b...> wrote:
> On Wednesday 28 April 2004 01:38 am, Phil wrote:
...
>                             If I remember correctly, the first
> > intel 386 logic simulator (made out of random logic gates) was 
built
> > with this technology.  I think fast turn PCB houses pretty much
> > killed their business.
> 
> I can't imagine anybody prototyping a 386 chip with random logic 
gates...!


Given huge design time and 12 week turn around from tape-out to first 
silicon they wanted to make sure the design was correct - errors 
could set the product availablity by 6 months or more.  This was 
before the availability of sophisticated simulations and copious 
cheap CPU cycles. And, it was far more complex than any chip ever 
buil before.  As it turned out, it was a big waste of money.