Aspects of design quality

It is rare that raw computational speed is the single goal in computer design.

• Manufacturing cost
  • chip cost, chip count
  • wiring, packaging, assembly
  • testing

• Design Cost
  • hardware complexity
  • new technology, new tools
  • software: compilers, operating systems

• Time to market
  • component delays, tool delays
  • design delays
  • software delays (bugs, evolving standard)

• Other
  • maintenance, marketing, defects