On November 16, 1993, MIPS Technologies, Inc. announced and demonstrated reference designs for systems manufacturers to build high-performance, cost-effective desktop and notebook personal computers based on the MIPS R4200(tm) 64-bit RISC microprocessor for the Microsoft Windows NT operating system. The R4200 provides similar performance to Intel's Pentium for under one-tenth the price and power dissipation. The R4200 is now shipping in sample quantities. R4200-based notebook and desktop computers are on display at Comdex in the MIPS Technologies booth (L-1492), with an additional notebook in the NEC Electronics booth (L-2636).
The R4200 operates at a clock speed of 80 MHz with integer computational performance of 55 SPECint92. Priced at $80 in sample quantities, the R4200 is ideal for low cost, high-performance desktop and notebook PCs running Windows NT. The processor also supports the Unix operating system. A second version of the processor running at 100 MHz is scheduled for release in early in 1994, providing even higher performance but remaining a low-power consumption, under-$100 processor.
The R4200 features advanced power management for use in "green" Energy Star-compliant computers and notebook computers designed for long battery life. At full power, the R4200 runs at only 1.5 watts. To save energy, in periods of low activity, the processor switches to reduced power mode. In this mode, the R4200 operates at one-quarter power. During longer periods of inactivity the processor "powers down." When reactivated, the "Instant-On" capability allows the system to restore the processor to its executing state quickly.
The reference designs can enable manufacturers to readily build affordable PCs based on the R4200 which take full advantage of the processor's performance, low cost and low power requirements. There are four R4200 reference designs: a notebook designed for high-performance, a notebook emphasizing long battery life, a desktop designed for high-performance and a low cost desktop. These four reference designs complement the more than five existing reference designs for MIPS-based PCs. In addition to desktop and notebook PCs, the R4200 and derivative core products are ideally suited for use in hand-held and other consumer products as well as other embedded applications such as laser printer controllers, X-terminals and communications devices.
"The low cost and high performance of the MIPS R4200 opens up new worlds of computers and consumer devices," said Tom Whiteside, president of MIPS Technologies. "With the R4200, companies can cost effectively deliver the power needed to take advantage of interactive multimedia or Windows NT applications."
Windows NT was developed on the MIPS architecture, and MIPS-based PCs are designed to run Windows NT optimally and offer the highest performance at prices comparable to 486-based PCs. MIPS-based PCs smoothly run existing MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows application software, but their power becomes especially apparent with 32-bit Windows NT applications. New 32-bit applications are now becoming available.
