Quad-core Microprocessor Test Methods

I7 CPU is a new generation of 45nm process quad cores CPU product by Intel at 2008. which one is using the Nehalem micro architecture and replace the Core2 product. Nehalem architecture is a modular based architecture, and all the modules can be re-configurable. Such as, the quantity of the cores, the quantity of the IMC and QPI bus. All of these modules can be constructed into the CPU freely in order to meet different marketing requirement.T2000 ATE is one modular tester equipment produced by ADVANTEST company. In order to have the ability to test the PCIE bus in the quad core CPU which one is running at 5GHz, the T2000 ATE has been equipped the 6. 5G module to support that. Meanwhile in order to save the cost and get more precision on the test result, 800MHz digital modules is equipped in the tester too. So, T2000 can be configured based on requirement.The article is written in the following chapters to descript how to test the quad core CPU. 2nd chapter introduces the quad core CPU's features and parameters. There are some changes on the micro architecture of the new generation CPU, in order to understand the test methods, we have to know something about the new micro architecture in ADVANTEST. 3rd chapter introduced the T2000 ATE on features. 4th chapter introduces the DC test method. In which chapter, the test program initialization process and EDM test have been explained in detailed. Because initialization is becoming more and more important in the test program, different product can share the same test program, just initialization in different parameters, and in this method, work efficient has been improved much. 5th chapter explain the functional test method. In which one , the cores parallel test has been discussed in detailed and thermal related tests have been explained. The DUT temperature has become more and more critical during the test program running, because the integration has increased a lot, so in order to get the precision test result and produce the high quality CPU, thermal related tests is important in test program.