MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPS), a leading provider of
industry-standard processor architectures and cores for home
entertainment, networking, mobile and embedded applications, today
publicly announced a major release of the MIPS® architecture,
encompassing the MIPS32®, MIPS64® and microMIPS™ instruction set
architectures. Based on work done over more than two years, Release
5 ("R5") of the MIPS base architecture incorporates important
functionality including virtualization and SIMD (Single Instruction
Multiple Data) modules.
Highlights
- Major release of the MIPS architecture—based on years of
development—includes significant functionality for next-generation
MIPS-Based™ products
- MIPS SIMD architecture (MSA) module provides more computational
capability for a wide range of applications
- Scalable Virtualization (VZ) module provides secure hardware
virtualization across a range of applications from tiny
microcontrollers to high-end enterprise
- Enhanced Virtual Addressing (EVA) technology extends available
memory space for large modern workloads
- Popular multi-threading and DSP extensions are now integrated
as modules within the base MIPS architecture
MIPS SIMD Architecture (MSA) Module
The MIPS SIMD architecture (MSA) module allows efficient
parallel processing of vector operations. This functionality is of
growing importance across a range of applications. For consumer
electronics such as mobile and home entertainment devices, SIMD
provides support for media-rich applications including
communications, audio, video, image and graphics processing. For
enterprise applications, SIMD provides higher throughput data
movement, especially important for scientific/high-performance
computing and data mining. The MSA module provides a future-proof
and extensible option for these applications.
The MSA module will add a number of new instructions to the MIPS
architecture, implemented with strict adherence to RISC (Reduced
Instruction Set Computer) design principles. From the beginning,
MIPS architects designed the MSA with simple instructions that lead
to less complex implementations. These simple instructions are also
easy to support within high-level languages such as C or OpenCL.
This enables fast and simple development of new code, as well as
leverage of existing code.
MIPS Virtualization (VZ) Module
The MIPS Virtualization (VZ) module is a highly-scalable option
that provides a number of capabilities, including enhanced security
features and support for multiple operating systems. Across the
home entertainment and mobile markets, hardware virtualization
enables security and content protection—especially important as
consumers increasingly use these devices for HD media streaming,
cloud storage, secure ID protection, mobile payments and other
highly secure applications. As 32-bit microcontrollers become more
capable, security needs are also increasing in embedded
applications such as smart grids and smart meters. Virtualization
is also important in the enterprise, where it allows multiple
operating systems and applications to run in parallel, and enables
workload consolidation. The MIPS VZ module is a simple and flexible
hardware-based solution that satisfies these varied requirements
with limited or no performance impact.
Continued Innovation in the MIPS
Architecture
This latest release of the MIPS architecture builds on a rich
RISC heritage, created over nearly three decades. The MIPS
architecture has powered numerous generations of products, with
more than three billion MIPS-Based devices shipped to-date.
In addition to the MSA and VZ modules, Enhanced Virtual
Addressing (EVA) was recently added to the MIPS architecture. EVA
allows for more flexible definition of virtual address space,
extending available memory for large modern workloads. This feature
is already supported in MIPS' new proAptiv™ and interAptiv™ core
families.
R5 of the MIPS architecture also incorporates select
functions—such as multi-threading and DSP—that were previously
Application Specific Extensions (ASEs). This development aims to
ease the process for licensees to integrate these popular
technologies into their products, and continue to grow the already
broad ecosystem around the MIPS architecture.
The ecosystem around the MIPS architecture includes a wide range
of development tools, operating systems, applications, middleware,
device drivers and more. MIPS and its licensees are working with
ecosystem providers to support the capabilities in R5.
Availability
Key features of the MIPS architecture R5 specification are
available for licensing now. Leveraging the enhanced functionality,
several MIPS licensees already have products in development. These
features are expected to be added to MIPS processors in the coming
year. For more information, contact info@mips.com, or visit
www.mips.com.
Supporting Quotes
"MIPS R5 is a major release of the MIPS architecture. We're
incorporating important capabilities that will be key to many of
our customers' future generations of home entertainment, mobile,
networking and embedded products. With this enhanced functionality,
our licensees can also take advantage of the performance and
efficiency benefits of MIPS in new applications and markets."
—Gideon Intrater, Vice President of Marketing,
MIPS Technologies, Inc.
"It's great to see MIPS continuing to invest in advancing its
architecture by adding new instructions for features such as
virtualization and SIMD processing. With Release 5, the MIPS
instruction set will be more efficient for secure computing,
addressing markets that range from microcontrollers to handsets and
networking equipment. Moreover, the new SIMD instructions will
improve DSP performance, which should allow the MIPS CPUs to save
power on applications such as audio processing. We believe that
MIPS licensees will welcome the improvements provided in the
Release 5 architecture, since customers should be able to quickly
take advantage of the new instructions through minor changes to
system-level software."
—J. Scott Gardner, Senior Analyst, The Linley
Group / Microprocessor Report
MIPS Architecture Founders and Early Contributors
"Thirty years ago when we created the MIPS architecture, we
embraced a new philosophy of computer design, with a focus on
efficiency and simple extensible design principles. RISC was an
important innovation in computer architecture, and I am pleased to
see the continued innovation and development of the MIPS RISC
architecture over the years. The initial simplicity and flexibility
has enabled the architecture to grow and incorporate new
architectural concepts, enabling MIPS to become one of the leading
embedded architectures today."
—John L. Hennessy, Office of the President,
Stanford University (Co-Founder, MIPS Computer Systems, 1984)
"In the 1980s, RISC represented an entirely new computing
paradigm that made extremely high-performance computing efficient
and affordable. MIPS was the first commercially available RISC
chip. The MIPS RISC architecture played a key role in making
computing ubiquitous, and in development of the fabless
semiconductor model. It was exciting to be a part of MIPS at that
time, and through the years that followed. Today, it is gratifying
to see continued innovation in the MIPS architecture, as it
continues to develop and grow."
—Skip Stritter, Co-Founder, MIPS Computer Systems,
1984
"As the first employee of MIPS Computer Systems in the 1980s, it
was exciting to be a part of the development of MIPS, including the
introduction of the first 64-bit microprocessor. Over more than 25
years, the MIPS architecture has been used in a wide range of
products including workstations, networking equipment, game
players, televisions and countless other products. To support
creation of these products, MIPS and a large number of third
parties have developed an incredible amount of compatible software.
This critical software base, together with continued innovation by
MIPS and its licensees, has driven the MIPS architecture to become
one of the leading architectures in the industry."
—Larry Weber, Independent Computer and Software
Professional (VP of Software Development, MIPS Computer Systems,
1984 – 1992)
"The simplicity of RISC designs can lead to substantial
performance benefits. Delivering on this concept through the
creation of the MIPS architecture—one of the early RISC
architectures—was a huge paradigm shift in the 1980s. Having worked
on the original design and ushering it through its days at MIPS
Computer Systems and SGI, I am proud to see that the architecture
remains as relevant today as it was then, and that it has been used
in so many different kinds of applications. The architecture's
simplicity, efficiency and extensibility continue to make it stand
apart in today's design landscape."
—John Mashey, Consultant, Techviser
(Manager/Director/Vice President, MIPS Computer Systems 1985 –
1992; Director, Vice President and Chief Scientist, Silicon
Graphics, 1992 – 2000)
"In the early days at MIPS Computer Systems, we developed the
world's first 64-bit microprocessor and numerous other
groundbreaking technologies. It's great to see the continued
innovation of the MIPS architecture. From a technical perspective,
I believe that the MIPS architecture is still the best commercial
processor architecture available, and it is not likely to be
surpassed in that respect. In the future there is a tremendous
opportunity to unleash the inherent power and efficiency of the
architecture into the mobile computer space. I look forward to the
day I can have a MIPS processor embedded somewhere inside me to
augment my other fast-failing systems!"
—Thomas J. Riordan, EVP and COO, MoSys (Director
of CMOS VLSI, MIPS Computer Systems 1985 – 1992)
"In my long career as a microprocessor architect, I have had the
opportunity to work in some aspect with all of the major processor
architectures, including MIPS. The high performance, flexibility
and scalability of the MIPS architecture have given it longevity in
the industry. I am pleased to see continued innovation in the MIPS
architecture, especially the addition of SIMD, which is
increasingly important for today's multimedia workloads."
—Keith Diefendorff, Independent Consumer
Electronics Professional
"The story of the MIPS architecture is a story of innovation in
both microprocessors, and the applications they enable. As an
original MIPS licensee, we were proud to work with innovative
companies that leveraged the unique capabilities of the
architecture to develop groundbreaking products across the
communications, computing and consumer segments, including
intelligent robotic dogs, high-performance routers,
television-based web browsers, advanced aircraft, and UNIX
computers. Innovations such as 64-bit computing, advanced cache
architectures, and ultra high-performance microarchitectures
enabled key industry leaders to dream and achieve incredible
products. I am glad to see continuing innovation in the MIPS
architecture today."
—Phil Bourekas, currently EVP, Marketing,
Symmetricom, Inc. (Previously marketing, applications engineering,
architecture, and general management of microprocessor products at
Integrated Device Technology, Inc, an original MIPS licensee dating
to 1988)
"Having worked in marketing to MIPS' customers over the years, I
have experienced first-hand the elegance and quality of the MIPS
architecture. The MIPS architecture is still a thriving technology
and I am pleased to see that the architecture is evolving to power
exciting new products."
—Andy Keane, Currently Vice President of
Marketing, Audience, Inc. (Previously Director of Product
Marketing, MIPS Computer Systems 1994; Vice President of Marketing
at MIPS licensee Quantum Effect Devices/PMC Sierra, 1999 to
2002)
MIPS Architecture Licensees
"Broadcom is pleased to continue our close working relationship
with MIPS to develop the latest flexible, scalable architecture for
hardware virtualization, as well as to continue leading the market
with highly innovative multicore processors. Our advanced
MIPS64-based communications processors combine quad-issue,
multithreaded instruction pipelines with up to 128 NXCPU™
processing units for greater performance for enterprise, data
center and service provider networks."
—Ron Jankov, Senior Vice President & General
Manager, Processors and Wireless Infrastructure, Broadcom
"As a long-time licensee of the MIPS64 architecture, we are
pleased to continue to bring to market new and innovative products
based on MIPS, including our new OCTEON Fusion base
station-on-a-chip processors, and our next generations of our
OCTEON III multi-core processors. The flexibility and scalability
of the MIPS architecture along with our architecture license
enables us to continue to push the envelope of performance and
features of our advanced processors to increasingly higher
levels."
—YJ Kim, General Manager – Infrastructure
Processor Group, Cavium, Inc.
"The efficient and scalable MIPS architecture enables us to
build processors that are high performance and cost effective, with
ultra low power consumption. We are pleased to see continued
evolution of the MIPS architecture, with the addition of innovative
new instructions that support the next generation of products. In
particular, we believe that SIMD functionality will be increasingly
important to support media-rich applications in mobile
products."
—Qiang Liu, CEO, Ingenic Semiconductor
MIPS Architecture Ecosystem
"Arteris' goal is to be the IP integration backbone to which our
SoC customers can connect with confidence. We look forward to
supporting common customers whose processors leverage the MIPS R5
architecture."
—Kurt Shuler, Vice President of Marketing, Arteris
Inc.
"Carbon Design Systems and MIPS have had a longstanding
partnership for virtual model creation. The R5 release brings a new
realm of design possibilities. Carbon's 100% accurate system models
based upon this enhanced architecture will enable designers to
optimize the performance of their SoC and develop software well in
advance of actual silicon."
—Bill Neifert, Founder and CTO, Carbon Design
Systems
"The importance of having security embedded at the SoC level in
order to address the security requirements entailed by the
existence of open OS platforms is shared by Discretix and MIPS.
Through our collaboration with MIPS, we are working to ensure that
the Discretix CryptoCell® embedded security platform is aligned
with the latest release of the MIPS architecture and MIPS'
processor cores."
—Asaf Shen, Vice President of Marketing, IP
Products, Discretix
"Our performance-hungry customers have found MIPS architectures
to be consistently satisfying over the years, and we have enjoyed a
lot of success with our ThreadX and ThreadX/SMP RTOSes in support
of MIPS architectures. With MIPS Release 5, MIPS has further
strengthened their performance appeal, and we look forward to
helping more common customers looking for the best in processor and
RTOS performance."
—William E. Lamie, Founder, President and CEO,
Express Logic, Inc.
"The partnership between Green Hills Software and MIPS is well
into its second decade and is still going strong. Through our
long-time collaboration with MIPS, Green Hills Software continues
to advance its offerings to address the demands of the embedded
industry for today and tomorrow. Our ongoing cooperation allows us
to provide unparalleled performance, reliability, and advanced
debugging capabilities for a wide range of MIPS processors. In
turn, MIPS continues to earn its reputation for high performance
processor design. Its R5 architecture can enable our customers to
innovate and enhance their system designs. We look forward to
supporting MIPS customers in the development of new and exciting
processors."
—Tim Reed, Vice President, Advanced Products
Group, Green Hills Software
"A growing number of Imagination's licensees and partners have
been developing and shipping great SoC solutions leveraging MIPS
CPUs with our PowerVR® graphics, PowerVR video, and Ensigma®
communications IP cores. We're impressed with the capabilities of
the MIPS R5 architecture, such as virtualization and SIMD, which we
believe will be important for next generation mobile, embedded and
cloud-based solutions. We look forward to helping our customers
create advanced SoCs that bring together our GPUs, VPUs and RPUs
with future Aptiv CPUs from MIPS to deliver leading-edge
performance per mW and per mm2."
—Tony King-Smith, Vice President of Marketing,
Imagination Technologies
"As MIPS' strategic partner for instruction accurate models of
the MIPS cores, we are excited to have support for the R5
Architecture available in our Open Virtual Platforms™ (OVP™)
technology and Multiprocessor/Multicore/Multithread Software
Development Kit (M*SDK™). State of the art processor architectures,
especially for multicore processors, require state of the art
software development tools. OVP Fast Processor Models, used in
either the Imperas OVPsim™ or M*SDK virtual platform environments,
or with a SystemC/TLM-2.0 simulator, accelerate the development
cycle and make analysis, debug and optimization easier for software
engineers."
—Simon Davidmann, CEO, Imperas Software Ltd.
"The inclusion of a Virtualization module and SIMD in the latest
release from MIPS addresses the emerging needs of embedded systems
in consumer electronics and home entertainment. Mentor will
continue to build on its history of enabling licensees and system
developers to take advantage of the MIPS RISC architecture with the
most appropriate software technology, including the Nucleus® RTOS,
Linux and Sourcery™ development tools."
—Glenn Perry, General Manager, Mentor Graphics
Embedded Software Division
"Increasing SoC complexity is driving the need for processors to
support improved system concurrency, along with advanced features
like virtualization and security, while increasing power and
performance efficiencies of the instruction set. These enhanced
features of the MIPS architecture complement Sonics' on-chip
network communications IP, which offers customers high performance
and advanced system concurrency through the use of virtual
channels. We look forward to customers leveraging Sonics' on-chip
networks and the MIPS Architecture R5 in a broad range of embedded
applications that will power end-user devices for years to
come."
—Jack Browne, Vice President of Marketing,
Sonics
"Synopsys has collaborated with MIPS and its licensees to
optimize the performance of implementations of numerous MIPS
processor cores. By using Synopsys' Galaxy™ Implementation Platform
and DesignWare® Embedded Memories and Logic Libraries tuned for
high-performance processors, designers can now maximize performance
and minimize energy consumption of their MIPS-based SoCs. We look
forward to continuing to work with MIPS and customers to lower
designers' integration risk and speed their SoC products to market
as MIPS continues to push its architecture to new levels of
features and performance, including virtualization and SIMD
capabilities."
—Rich Goldman, Vice President, Corporate Marketing
& Strategic Alliances, Synopsys
"We have a successful relationship with MIPS, supporting its
processor cores with our PikeOS™ certified embedded virtualization
technology. Microprocessor and system-level security are
increasingly important as consumer-driven trends such as mobile
payments, streaming of sensitive data across devices, and
processing of high-value media content become mainstream.
Virtualization technologies are key to meeting the next generation
of embedded safety, security and reliability requirements across a
range of markets."
—Jacques Brygier, Vice President of Marketing,
SYSGO
About MIPS Technologies, Inc.
MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPS) is a leading provider of
industry-standard processor architectures and cores for home
entertainment, networking, mobile and embedded applications. The
MIPS architecture powers some of the world's most popular products.
Our technology is broadly used in products such as digital
televisions, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, broadband customer
premises equipment (CPE), WiFi access points and routers,
networking infrastructure and portable/mobile communications and
entertainment products. Founded in 1998, MIPS Technologies is
headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices worldwide. For
more information, contact (408) 530-5000 or visit www.mips.com.
Follow MIPS on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, RSS and Twitter.
The MIPS Technologies, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11351
MIPS, MIPS-Based, interAptiv and proAptiv are trademarks or
registered trademarks in the United States and other countries of
MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are
the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Jen Bernier-Santarini
MIPS Technologies, Inc.
+1 408-530-5178
jenb@mips.com
Mips Technologies, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:MIPS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Mips Technologies, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:MIPS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024