diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index eac8504a..6ed04488 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -99,11 +99,10 @@ commands:
             tools-version:
                 type: string
                 default: "riscv-tools"
+            group-key:
+                type: string
             project-key:
                 type: string
-            extra-cache-restore:
-                type: string
-                default: ""
             run-script:
                 type: string
                 default: "run-tests.sh"
@@ -115,13 +114,7 @@ commands:
                 tools-version: "<< parameters.tools-version >>"
             - restore_cache:
                 keys:
-                    - << parameters.project-key >>-{{ .Branch }}-{{ .Revision }}
-            - when:
-                condition: << parameters.extra-cache-restore >>
-                steps:
-                    - restore_cache:
-                        keys:
-                            - << parameters.extra-cache-restore >>-{{ .Branch }}-{{ .Revision }}
+                    - << parameters.group-key >>-{{ .Branch }}-{{ .Revision }}
             - run:
                 name: Run << parameters.project-key >> subproject tests
                 command: .circleci/<< parameters.run-script >> << parameters.project-key >>
@@ -194,177 +187,147 @@ jobs:
                 key: extra-tests-{{ .Branch }}-{{ .Revision }}
                 paths:
                     - "/home/riscvuser/project/tests"
-    prepare-chipyard-rocket:
+
+    prepare-chipyard-cores:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-rocket"
-    prepare-chipyard-dmirocket:
+                project-key: "group-cores"
+    prepare-chipyard-peripherals:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-dmirocket"
-    prepare-chipyard-sha3:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-sha3"
-    prepare-chipyard-streaming-fir:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-streaming-fir"
-    prepare-chipyard-streaming-passthrough:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-streaming-passthrough"
-    prepare-chipyard-hetero:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-hetero"
-                timeout: "240m"
-    prepare-chipyard-boom:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-boom"
-    prepare-chipyard-blkdev:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-blkdev"
-    prepare-chipyard-hwacha:
+                project-key: "group-peripherals"
+    prepare-chipyard-accels:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - prepare-rtl:
                 tools-version: "esp-tools"
-                project-key: "chipyard-hwacha"
-    prepare-chipyard-gemmini:
+                project-key: "group-accels"
+    prepare-chipyard-tracegen:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - prepare-rtl:
-                tools-version: "esp-tools"
-                project-key: "chipyard-gemmini"
-    prepare-tracegen:
+                project-key: "group-tracegen"
+    prepare-chipyard-other:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "tracegen"
-    prepare-tracegen-boom:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "tracegen-boom"
-    prepare-chipyard-ariane:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-ariane"
-    prepare-icenet:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "icenet"
-    prepare-testchipip:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "testchipip"
-    prepare-chipyard-nvdla:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-nvdla"
-    prepare-chipyard-spiflashwrite:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-spiflashwrite"
-    prepare-chipyard-spiflashread:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-spiflashread"
-    prepare-chipyard-mmios:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - prepare-rtl:
-                project-key: "chipyard-mmios"
+                project-key: "group-other"
+
     chipyard-rocket-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-cores"
                 project-key: "chipyard-rocket"
-    chipyard-dmirocket-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-dmirocket"
-    chipyard-sha3-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-sha3"
-    chipyard-streaming-fir-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-streaming-fir"
-    chipyard-streaming-passthrough-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-streaming-passthrough"
     chipyard-hetero-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-cores"
                 project-key: "chipyard-hetero"
                 timeout: "15m"
     chipyard-boom-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-cores"
                 project-key: "chipyard-boom"
+    chipyard-ariane-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-cores"
+                project-key: "chipyard-ariane"
+                timeout: "30m"
+    chipyard-dmirocket-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-peripherals"
+                project-key: "chipyard-dmirocket"
+    chipyard-spiflashwrite-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-peripherals"
+                project-key: "chipyard-spiflashwrite"
+    chipyard-spiflashread-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-peripherals"
+                project-key: "chipyard-spiflashread"
+    chipyard-sha3-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-accels"
+                project-key: "chipyard-sha3"
+    chipyard-streaming-fir-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-accels"
+                project-key: "chipyard-streaming-fir"
+    chipyard-streaming-passthrough-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-accels"
+                project-key: "chipyard-streaming-passthrough"
     chipyard-hwacha-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
                 tools-version: "esp-tools"
+                group-key: "group-accels"
                 project-key: "chipyard-hwacha"
     chipyard-gemmini-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
                 tools-version: "esp-tools"
+                group-key: "group-accels"
                 project-key: "chipyard-gemmini"
-    chipyard-spiflashwrite-run-tests:
+    chipyard-nvdla-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-spiflashwrite"
-    chipyard-spiflashread-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-spiflashread"
+                group-key: "group-accels"
+                project-key: "chipyard-nvdla"
     tracegen-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-tracegen"
                 project-key: "tracegen"
     tracegen-boom-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-tracegen"
                 project-key: "tracegen-boom"
+    icenet-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-other"
+                project-key: "icenet"
+                timeout: "30m"
+    testchipip-run-tests:
+        executor: main-env
+        steps:
+            - run-tests:
+                group-key: "group-other"
+                project-key: "testchipip"
+                timeout: "30m"
     firesim-run-tests:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
-                extra-cache-restore: "extra-tests"
+                group-key: "extra-tests"
                 project-key: "firesim"
                 run-script: "run-firesim-scala-tests.sh"
                 timeout: "20m"
@@ -372,7 +335,7 @@ jobs:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
-                extra-cache-restore: "extra-tests"
+                group-key: "extra-tests"
                 project-key: "fireboom"
                 run-script: "run-firesim-scala-tests.sh"
                 timeout: "45m"
@@ -380,33 +343,10 @@ jobs:
         executor: main-env
         steps:
             - run-tests:
-                extra-cache-restore: "extra-tests"
+                group-key: "extra-tests"
                 project-key: "firesim-multiclock"
                 run-script: "run-firesim-scala-tests.sh"
                 timeout: "20m"
-    chipyard-ariane-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-ariane"
-                timeout: "30m"
-    chipyard-nvdla-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "chipyard-nvdla"
-    icenet-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "icenet"
-                timeout: "30m"
-    testchipip-run-tests:
-        executor: main-env
-        steps:
-            - run-tests:
-                project-key: "testchipip"
-                timeout: "30m"
 
 # Order and dependencies of jobs to run
 workflows:
@@ -446,154 +386,83 @@ workflows:
                     - install-riscv-toolchain
 
             # Prepare the verilator builds
-            - prepare-chipyard-rocket:
+            - prepare-chipyard-cores:
                 requires:
                     - install-riscv-toolchain
                     - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-dmirocket:
+            - prepare-chipyard-peripherals:
                 requires:
                     - install-riscv-toolchain
                     - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-sha3:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-streaming-fir:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-streaming-passthrough:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-hetero:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-boom:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-blkdev:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-hwacha:
+            - prepare-chipyard-accels:
                 requires:
                     - install-esp-toolchain
                     - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-gemmini:
-                requires:
-                    - install-esp-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-tracegen:
+            - prepare-chipyard-tracegen:
                 requires:
                     - install-riscv-toolchain
                     - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-tracegen-boom:
+            - prepare-chipyard-other:
                 requires:
                     - install-riscv-toolchain
                     - install-verilator
 
-            - prepare-chipyard-ariane:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-icenet:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-testchipip:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-nvdla:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-spiflashwrite:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-spiflashread:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-                    - install-verilator
-
-            - prepare-chipyard-mmios:
-                requires:
-                    - install-riscv-toolchain
-
-            # Run the respective tests
-
             # Run the example tests
             - chipyard-rocket-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-rocket
+                    - prepare-chipyard-cores
+            - chipyard-hetero-run-tests:
+                requires:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-cores
+            - chipyard-boom-run-tests:
+                requires:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-cores
+            - chipyard-ariane-run-tests:
+                requires:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-cores
 
             - chipyard-dmirocket-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-dmirocket
+                    - prepare-chipyard-peripherals
+            - chipyard-spiflashwrite-run-tests:
+                requires:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-peripherals
+            - chipyard-spiflashread-run-tests:
+                requires:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-peripherals
 
             - chipyard-sha3-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-sha3
-
+                    - prepare-chipyard-accels
             - chipyard-streaming-fir-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-streaming-fir
-
+                    - prepare-chipyard-accels
             - chipyard-streaming-passthrough-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-streaming-passthrough
-
-            - chipyard-hetero-run-tests:
-                requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-hetero
-
-            - chipyard-boom-run-tests:
-                requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-boom
-
+                    - prepare-chipyard-accels
             - chipyard-hwacha-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-hwacha
-
+                    - prepare-chipyard-accels
             - chipyard-gemmini-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-gemmini
+                    - prepare-chipyard-accels
+            - chipyard-nvdla-run-tests:
+                requires:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-accels
 
             - tracegen-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-tracegen
-
+                    - prepare-chipyard-tracegen
             - tracegen-boom-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-tracegen-boom
+                    - prepare-chipyard-tracegen
 
-            - chipyard-spiflashwrite-run-tests:
+            - icenet-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-spiflashwrite
-
-            - chipyard-spiflashread-run-tests:
+                    - prepare-chipyard-other
+            - testchipip-run-tests:
                 requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-spiflashread
+                    - prepare-chipyard-other
 
             # Run the firesim tests
             - firesim-run-tests:
@@ -612,17 +481,4 @@ workflows:
                     - install-verilator
                     - build-extra-tests
 
-            - chipyard-ariane-run-tests:
-                requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-ariane
 
-            - chipyard-nvdla-run-tests:
-                requires:
-                    - prepare-chipyard-nvdla
-            - icenet-run-tests:
-                requires:
-                    - prepare-icenet
-
-            - testchipip-run-tests:
-                requires:
-                    - prepare-testchipip
diff --git a/.circleci/defaults.sh b/.circleci/defaults.sh
index 703737cd..6f74c26d 100755
--- a/.circleci/defaults.sh
+++ b/.circleci/defaults.sh
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ LOCAL_CHIPYARD_DIR=$LOCAL_CHECKOUT_DIR
 LOCAL_SIM_DIR=$LOCAL_CHIPYARD_DIR/sims/verilator
 LOCAL_FIRESIM_DIR=$LOCAL_CHIPYARD_DIR/sims/firesim/sim
 
+# key value store to get the build groups
+declare -A grouping
+grouping["group-cores"]="chipyard-ariane chipyard-rocket chipyard-hetero chipyard-boom"
+grouping["group-peripherals"]="chipyard-dmirocket chipyard-blkdev chipyard-spiflashread chipyard-spiflashwrite chipyard-mmios"
+grouping["group-accels"]="chipyard-nvdla chipyard-sha3 chipyard-hwacha chipyard-gemmini chipyard-streaming-fir chipyard-streaming-passthrough"
+grouping["group-tracegen"]="tracegen tracegen-boom"
+grouping["group-other"]="icenet testchipip"
+
 # key value store to get the build strings
 declare -A mapping
 mapping["chipyard-rocket"]=""
@@ -64,6 +72,7 @@ mapping["chipyard-mmios"]=" CONFIG=MMIORocketConfig verilog"
 mapping["tracegen"]=" CONFIG=NonBlockingTraceGenL2Config"
 mapping["tracegen-boom"]=" CONFIG=BoomTraceGenConfig"
 mapping["chipyard-nvdla"]=" CONFIG=SmallNVDLARocketConfig"
+
 mapping["firesim"]="SCALA_TEST=firesim.firesim.RocketNICF1Tests"
 mapping["firesim-multiclock"]="SCALA_TEST=firesim.firesim.RocketMulticlockF1Tests"
 mapping["fireboom"]="SCALA_TEST=firesim.firesim.BoomF1Tests"
diff --git a/.circleci/do-rtl-build.sh b/.circleci/do-rtl-build.sh
index 3973026f..9093b29e 100755
--- a/.circleci/do-rtl-build.sh
+++ b/.circleci/do-rtl-build.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ run "cp -r ~/.sbt  $REMOTE_WORK_DIR"
 TOOLS_DIR=$REMOTE_RISCV_DIR
 LD_LIB_DIR=$REMOTE_RISCV_DIR/lib
 
-if [ $1 = "chipyard-gemmini" ]; then
+if [ $1 = "group-accels" ]; then
     export RISCV=$LOCAL_ESP_DIR
     export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LOCAL_ESP_DIR/lib
     export PATH=$RISCV/bin:$PATH
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ if [ $1 = "chipyard-gemmini" ]; then
     git submodule update --init --recursive gemmini-rocc-tests
     cd gemmini-rocc-tests
     ./build.sh
-fi
 
-if [ $1 = "chipyard-hwacha" ] || [ $1 = "chipyard-gemmini" ]; then
     TOOLS_DIR=$REMOTE_ESP_DIR
     LD_LIB_DIR=$REMOTE_ESP_DIR/lib
     run "mkdir -p $REMOTE_ESP_DIR"
@@ -58,12 +56,19 @@ run "export RISCV=\"$TOOLS_DIR\"; \
      export PATH=\"$REMOTE_VERILATOR_DIR/bin:\$PATH\"; \
      export VERILATOR_ROOT=\"$REMOTE_VERILATOR_DIR\"; \
      export COURSIER_CACHE=\"$REMOTE_WORK_DIR/.coursier-cache\"; \
-     make -C $REMOTE_SIM_DIR clean; \
-     make -j$REMOTE_MAKE_NPROC -C $REMOTE_SIM_DIR FIRRTL_LOGLEVEL=info JAVA_ARGS=\"$REMOTE_JAVA_ARGS\" ${mapping[$1]}"
-run "rm -rf $REMOTE_CHIPYARD_DIR/project"
+     make -C $REMOTE_SIM_DIR clean;"
 
-# copy back the final build
+read -a keys <<< ${grouping[$1]}
 
+for key in "${keys[@]}"
+do
+    run "export RISCV=\"$TOOLS_DIR\"; \
+         export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\"$LD_LIB_DIR\"; \
+         export PATH=\"$REMOTE_VERILATOR_DIR/bin:\$PATH\"; \
+         export VERILATOR_ROOT=\"$REMOTE_VERILATOR_DIR\"; \
+         export COURSIER_CACHE=\"$REMOTE_WORK_DIR/.coursier-cache\"; \
+         make -j$REMOTE_MAKE_NPROC -C $REMOTE_SIM_DIR FIRRTL_LOGLEVEL=info JAVA_ARGS=\"$REMOTE_JAVA_ARGS\" ${mapping[$key]}"
+done
 
 run "rm -rf $REMOTE_CHIPYARD_DIR/project"