4o What ASIC And SoC Actually Mean Today An ASIC was a fixed-function chip logic designed from scratch, optimized for area, power, and speed, and then locked down. It worked particularly well for high-volume products, where every bit of efficiency mattered. A System-On-A-Chip (SoC) integrates multiple functions, including CPU, memory controllers, accelerators, and I/Os, using pre-verified IP blocks. It reduced design time but gave up some control. The question is no longer “Is it an ASIC or SoC?” It is: That line is now blurred. Most ASICs use third-party IPs. Some System-On-A-Chip (SoC) devices are heavily customized for specific applications. And hybrids, such as semi-custom SoCs and chiplet-based designs, mix both worlds. Design Tradeoffs: Cost, Time, And Risk The core difference between ASIC and SoC design is […]