Quote from: PlanetCrypto on April 24, 2016, 12:04:31 PM

Since it's obvious I couldn't find my ass with a map in the chip fab world, how about clarifying a couple of things:

Quote from: 2112 on April 24, 2016, 05:00:55 AM

50 prototype dies, unpackaged, untested

"unpackaged" means the bare die with no carrier? right?

Yes, bare silicon dies in gel-pak.

But if you go for a standard package, prototype packaging service is also available:
http://www.europractice-ic.com/prototyping_packaging.php

Don't be scared, in volume production the packaging per sample is much cheaper.

Quote from: PlanetCrypto on April 24, 2016, 12:04:31 PM

Quote from: 2112 on April 24, 2016, 05:00:55 AM

48,000EUR for up to 3mm² plus 16,000EUR per each additional mm².

"3mm²" is the die size?

Yes, but this is not much for a mining ASIC even in 22nm. I guess it should equate to about 10 ... 15 unrolled hash cores, because this 22nm GF node is only a 80% shrink of the GF 28nm node, not a true 50% shrink like other 20nm nodes. But therefore the 22nm masks cost only a little bit more than a 28nm mask set.

Quote from: PlanetCrypto on April 24, 2016, 12:04:31 PM

What is "... the required CAD/toolchain" to design (tape out?) something like sidehack was proposing?

You have the choice Wink

www.synopsys.com
www.cadence.com
www.mentor.com

You need a bunch of these tools and people, who know how to use them.

In general EDA tools for advanced nodes are very expensive ("big problem, small market"). A complete full+semi custom tool-set for a small design team will cost you at least $500k per year.
And yes, Universities have these tools almost for free, but for strictly non-commercial use. As soon as you want to design something, which could be commercialized directly or indirectly it is illegal to use University licenses for it. If something like this would be discovered by the EDA vendors, you and the University would have huge problem.

Quote from: PlanetCrypto on April 24, 2016, 12:04:31 PM

We, as a company, have a couple of other chip concepts outside the crypto currency world.
If the cost of the S/W isn't to prohibitive and we knew what we were looking for/pricing we might spring for it.

Thanks in advance.

If you like to get your feeds in the water here, it would be better to cooperate with a IC design service company at least for the first project. You bring the chip concept and architecture, they help you to design, manufacture, package and test it.
From my point of view, it is almost impossible to build up the required competences from scratch, despite you hire some experienced IC designers in your company.
Where is your company located?