MIPS architecture processors: Difference between revisions

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{{Main|MIPS architecture}}

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{{Mainshort description|Processors using some version of the MIPS architecture}}

Since 1985, numerousmany processors implementing some version of the [[MIPS architecture]] have been designed and widely used widely.

==MIPS microprocessors==

[[File:MIPS Architecture (Pipelined).svg|thumb|right|300px|[[Instruction pipelining|Pipelined]] MIPS, showing the five stages: (instruction fetch, instruction decode, execute, memory access and write back).]]

The first MIPS microprocessor, the '''[[R2000 (microprocessor)|R2000]]''', was announced in 1985. It added multiple-cycle multiply and divide instructions in a somewhat independent on-chip unit. New instructions were added to retrieve the results from this unit back to the [[processor register]] file; these result-retrieving instructions were [[interlock|interlocked]].

The R2000 could be booted either [[Endianness|''big-endian]]'' or [[''little-endian'']]. It had thirty-one 32-bit general purpose registers, but no [[Conditionstatus Coderegister]] Register|(''condition code register]]'' (CCR), the designers considered it a potential bottleneck), a feature it shares with the [[AMD 29000]] and, the [[DEC Alpha|Alpha]], and [[RISC-V]]. Unlike other registers, the [[program counter]] is not directly accessible.

The R2000 also had support for up to four co-processors, one of which was built into the main ''[[central processing unit]]'' (CPU) and handled exceptions, traps and memory management, while the other three were left for other uses. One of these could be filled by the optional '''R2010''' [[floating -point unit|FPU]] (FPU), which had thirty-two 32-bit registers that could be used as sixteen 64-bit registers for double-precision.

The '''[[R3000]]''' succeeded the R2000 in 1988, adding 32 KB (soon increasedraised to 64 KB) caches for instructions and data, along withand support for shared-memory [[multiprocessing]] in the form of a [[cache coherence]] protocol. While there were flaws in the R3000s multiprocessing support, it was successfully used in several successful multiprocessor computers. The R3000 also included a built-in ''[[Memorymemory management unit|MMU]]'' (MMU), a common feature on CPUs of the era. The R3000, like the R2000, could be paired with a '''[[R3010]]''' FPU. The R3000 was the first successful MIPS design in the marketplacemarket, and eventually over one million were made. A speed-bumpedfaster version of the R3000 running up to 40 MHz, the '''[[R3000A]]''' delivered a performance of 32 [[Millionmillion instructions per second|VUPs]] (MIPS), or ''VAX Unit of Performance'' (VUPs)]]. The MIPS [[R3000A]]-compatible '''[[R3051]]''' running at 33.8688 MHz was the processor used in the [[Sony]] [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] though it didn't have FPU or MMU. Third-party designs include Performance Semiconductor's '''[[R3400]]''' and IDT's '''[[R3500]]''', both of them were R3000As with an integrated R3010 FPU. [[Toshiba]]'s '''[[R3900]]''' was a virtually first [[System-system on- a- chip|SoC]] (SoC) for the early [[handheld PC]]s that ran [[Windows CE]]. A [[Radiation hardening|radiation-hardened]] variant for outer space applicationsuse, the [[Mongoose-V]], is a R3000 with an integrated R3010 FPU.

The '''[[R4000]]''' series, released in 1991, extended MIPS to a full 64-bit [[Word (computer architecture)|word]] design, moved the FPU onto the main die to createform a single-chip microprocessor, and had a then high clock frequencyrate of 100 MHz at introduction. However, in order to achieve the clock frequency, the caches were reduced to 8 KB each and they took three cycles to access. The high operatingclock frequenciesrates were achieved through the techniquemethod of ''deep [[deepInstruction pipelining|pipelining]]'' (called ''super-pipelining'' at the timethen). The improved '''R4400''' followed in 1993. It had larger 16 KB primary caches, largely bug-free 64-bit operation, and support for a larger L2 cache.

MIPS, now a division of [[Silicon Graphics]] (SGI) callednamed MTI, designed the low-cost '''[[R4200]]''', the basis for the even cheaper '''[[R4300i]]'''. A derivative of this microprocessor, the [[NEC Corporation|NEC]] VR4300, was used in the [[Nintendo 64]] game console.<ref>[{{cite press release |last=Bridgman |first=Aston |date=20 January 1998 |url=http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/9801/2002.html |title=NEC Offers Two High Cost Performance 64-bit RISC Microprocessors] |website=NEC Corporation |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>

[[File:IDT R4700 diephoto2.jpg|thumb|Bottom-side view of package of R4700 Orion with the exposed silicon chip, fabricated by [[Integrated Device Technology|IDT]], designed by [[Quantum Effect Devices]] ]]

[[File:KL IDT R4700 MIPS Microprocessor.jpg|thumb|Top-side view of package for [[R4700]] Orion]]

[[Quantum Effect Devices]] (QED), a separate company started by former MIPS employees, designed the '''[[R4600]]''' ''Orion'', the '''[[R4700]]''' ''Orion'', the '''[[R4650]]''' and the '''[[R5000]]'''. Where the R4000 had pushed clock frequency and sacrificed cache capacity, the QED designs emphasized large caches which could be accessed in just two cycles and efficient use of silicon area. The R4600 and R4700 were used in low-cost versions of the [[SGI Indy]] workstation as well as the first MIPS-based Cisco routers, such as the 36x0 and 7x00-series routers. The [[R4650]] was used in the original [[WebTV]] [[set-top box]]es (now Microsoft TV). The [[R5000]] FPU had more flexible single precision floating-point scheduling than the R4000, and as a result, R5000-based SGI Indys had much better graphics performance than similarly clocked [[R4400]] Indys with the same graphics hardware. SGI gave the old graphics board a new name when it was combined with [[R5000]] in order, to emphasize the improvement. QED later designed the '''RM7000''' and '''[[RM9000]]''' family of devices for [[embedded system]] markets like networking[[computer network]]ing and laser printers. QED was acquired by the semiconductor manufacturer [[PMC-Sierra]] in August 2000, the latter company continuing to invest in the MIPS architecture. The '''[[RM7000]]''' included an integrated 256&nbsp;KB L2 cache and a controller for optional L3 cache. The '''RM9xx0''' were a family of [[System-on-a-chip|SOC]] devices which included [[Northbridge (computing)|northbridge]] peripherals such as [[memory controller]], [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] controller, [[Gigabit Ethernet]] controller and fast I/O such as a [[HyperTransport]] port.

The '''[[R8000]]''' (1994) was the first [[superscalar]] MIPS design, able to execute two integer or floating point and two memory instructions per cycle. The design was spread over six chips: an integer unit (with 16&nbsp;KB instruction and 16&nbsp;KB data caches), a floating-point unit, three fullfully-custom secondary cache tag RAMs (two for secondary cache accesses, one for bus snooping), and a cache controller ASIC. The design had two fully pipelined double precision multiply-add units, which could stream data from the 4&nbsp;MB off-chip secondary cache. The R8000 powered SGI's [[SGI Challenge|POWER Challenge]] servers in the mid-1990s and later became available in the POWER Indigo2 workstation. Although its FPU performance fit scientific users quite well, its limited integer performance and high cost dampened appeal for most users,. and theThe R8000 was in the marketplacesold for only a year and remains fairly rare.

In 1995, the '''[[R10000]]''' was released. This processor was a single-chip design, ran at a higher clock frequency than the R8000, and had larger 32&nbsp;KB primary instruction and data caches. It was also superscalar, but its major innovation was [[out-of-order execution]]. Even with a singleone memory pipeline and simpler FPU, the vastly improved integer performance, lower price, and higher density made the R10000 preferable for most customers.

Some later designs have been based upon R10000 core. The '''[[R10000#R12000|R12000]]''' used a 0.25 micrometre process to shrink the chip and achieve higher [[clock ratesrate]]s. The revised '''[[R10000#R14000|R14000]]''' allowed higher clock rates with additionaladded support for ''double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory'' ([[DDR SDRAM|DDR]]) [[Staticstatic random access memory|SRAM]] (SRAM) in the off-chip [[CPU cache|cache]]. Later iterations are named the '''[[R10000#R16000|R16000]]''' and the '''R16000A''', and feature increasedhigher clock frequencyrates and smaller die manufacturing compared with before.

Other members of the MIPS family include the '''[[R6000]]''', an [[Emitteremitter-coupled logic|ECL]] (ECL) implementation produced by [[Bipolar Integrated Technology]]. The R6000 introduced the MIPS II architecture. Its [[translation lookaside buffer]] (TLB) and cache architecture are different from all other members of the MIPS family. The R6000 did not deliver the promised performance benefits, and although it saw some use in [[Control Data]] machines, it quickly disappeared from the mainstream market.

== History ==

=== First hardware ===

In 1981, [[John L. Hennessy]] began the [[Stanford MIPS|MIPS]] (''Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages'' ([[Stanford MIPS|MIPS]]) project at [[Stanford University]] to investigate [[RISCreduced instruction set computer]] (RISC) technology. The results of his research convinced him of the future commercial potential of the technology, and in 1984, he took a sabbatical to found [[MIPS Computer Systems]]. The company designed a new architecture that was also callednamed [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], and introduced the first MIPS implementation, the '''[[R2000 (microprocessor)|R2000]]''', in 1985. The R2000 was improved, and the design was introduced as the '''[[R3000]]''' in 1988. These 32-bit CPUs formed the basis of their company through the 1980s, used primarily in [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]]'s (SGI) series of [[workstation]]s and later [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] DECstation workstations and servers. The SGI commercial designs deviated from Stanford MIPS by implementing most of the interlocks in hardware, supplying full multiply and divide instructions (among others). The designs were guided, in part, by software architect [[Earl Killian (engineer)|Earl Killian]] who designed the MIPS III 64-bit instruction-set extension, and led the work on the R4000 microarchitecture.<ref name=twsNovZ23>{{cite news

|author=<!-- Unstated. -->

|title = Earl Killian

|date=2006

|publisher = Paravirtual

|title=Advisory Board

|date = 26 November 2010

|publisher = Paravirtual

|url = http://www.paravirtual.com/content/company/advisory_board.htm

|accessdate = 26 November 2010

|access-date = 26 November 2010

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120213131715/http://www.paravirtual.com/content/company/advisory_board.htm

|archivedate archive-date= 13 February 2012

}}</ref><ref name=twsNovZ14>{{cite news

|title= S-1 Supercomputer Alumni: Earl Killian

|publisher= Clemson University

|quote= Earl Killian's early work w... As MIPS's Director of Architecture, he designed the MIPS III 64-bit instruction-set extension, and led the work on the R4000 microarchitecture. He was a cofounder of QED, which created the R4600 and R5000 MIPS processors. Most recently he was chief architect at Tensilica working on configurable/extensible processors.

|date= 28 June 2005

|url= http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~mark/s1_alumni.html

|accessdateaccess-date=26 November 2010

}}</ref>

In 1991 MIPS released the first [[64-bit computing|64-bit microprocessor]], the '''[[R4000]]'''. However, MIPS had financial difficulties while bringing it to market. The design was so important to SGI, at the time one of MIPS' few major customers, that SGI bought the company outright in 1992 in order to guarantee the design would not be lost. AsThe a subsidiary ofnew SGI, thesubsidiary company became knownwas asnamed [[MIPS Technologies]].

=== Licensable architecture ===

In the early 1990s, MIPS startedbegan licensingto [[license]] their designs to third-party vendors. This proved fairly successful due to the simplicity of the core, which allowed it to behave usedmany in a number of applicationsuses that would have formerly used much less capableable [[Complexcomplex instruction set computer|CISC]] (CISC) designs of similar [[gate count]] and price—theprice; the two are strongly related;: the price of a CPU is generally related to the number of gates and the number of external pins. [[Sun Microsystems]] attempted to enjoy similar success by licensing their [[SPARC]] core but was not nearly as successful. By the late 1990s, MIPS was a powerhouse in the [[embedded processor]] field. According to MIPS Technologies Inc., there was an exponential growth, with 48-million MIPS-based CPU shipments and 49% of total RISC CPU market share in 1997.<ref name="MIPS Brochure">{{cite web | url=http://www.warthman.com/images/MIPS%20Brochure%20Optimized.pdf | title=MIPS Brochure | publisher=MIPS Technologies Inc. | accessdateaccess-date=March 2, 2013 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604022750/http://www.warthman.com/images/MIPS%20Brochure%20Optimized.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> MIPS was so successful that SGI spun off MIPS Technologies in 1998. FullyIn 2000s fully half of MIPS's income today comescame from licensing their designs, while much of the rest comescame from contract design work on cores that will then be produced byfor third parties.

In 1999, MIPS Technologies replaced the previous versions of the MIPS architecture with two architectures, the 32-bit '''MIPS32''' (based on MIPS II with some additionaladded features from MIPS III, MIPS IV, and MIPS V) and the 64-bit '''MIPS64''' (based on MIPS V) for licensing. [[Nippon Electric Corporation| ([[NEC]]), [[Toshiba]], and [[SiByte]] (later acquired by [[Broadcom]]) each obtained licenses for the MIPS64 as soon as it was announced. [[Philips]], [[LSI Corporation|LSI Logic]] and [[Integrated Device Technology|IDT]] (IDT) have since joined them. Today, the MIPS cores are one of the most-used "heavyweight"{{Clarify|date=June 2009}} cores in the marketplacemarket for computer-like devices: ([[hand-heldhandheld computerPC]]s, set-top boxes, etc.).

Since the MIPS architecture is licensable, it has attracted several processor [[Startup company|start-up]] companies over the years. One of the first start-ups to design MIPS processors was [[Quantum Effect Devices]] (see next section). The MIPS design team that designed the '''[[R4300i]]''' started the company [[SandCraft]], which designed the '''R5432''' for NEC and later produced the '''SR71000''', one of the first [[out-of-order execution]] processors for the embedded market. The original [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[StrongARM]] team eventually split into two MIPS-based start-ups: SiByte which produced the '''SB-1250''', one of the first high-performance MIPS-based [[system-on-a-chip|systems-on-a-chip]] (SOC); while [[Alchemy (microarchitecture)|Alchemy Semiconductor]] (later acquired by [[AMD]]) produced the '''Au-1000''' [[system-on-a-chip|SoC]] for low-power applicationsuses. [[Lexra]] used a MIPS-''like'' architecture and added DSP extensions for the audio chip market and [[Multithreading (computer architecture)|multithreading]] support for the networking market. Due to Lexra not licensing the architecture, two lawsuits were started between the two companies. The first was quickly resolved when Lexra promised not to advertise their processors as MIPS-compatible. The second (about MIPS patent 4814976 for handling unaligned memory access) was protracted, hurt both companies' business, and culminated in MIPS Technologies giving Lexra a free license and a large cash payment.

Two companies have emerged that specialize in building [[Multimulti-core (computing)|multi-coreprocessor]] devices using the MIPS architecture. [[RMI Corporation|Raza Microelectronics, Inc.]] purchasedbought the product line from failing SandCraft and later produced devices that contained eight cores that were targeted atfor the telecommunications[[telecommunication]] and networking markets. [[Cavium]], originally a security processor vendor also produced devices with eight CPU cores, and later up to 32 cores, for the same markets. Both of these companiesfirms designed their cores in-house, justonly licensing the architecture instead of purchasingbuying cores from MIPS.

=== The desktop ===

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[[Operating system]]s ported to the architecture include SGI's [[IRIX]], [[Microsoft]]'s [[Windows NT]] (through v4.0), [[Windows CE]], [[Linux]], [[FreeBSD]], [[NetBSD]], [[OpenBSD]], [[Unix|UNIX]] [[System V]], [[SINIX]], [[QNX]], and MIPS Computer Systems' own [[RISC/os]].

There was speculation inIn the early 1990s, speculation occurred that MIPS and other powerful [[RISC]] processors would overtake the Intel [[IA-32]] architecture. This was encouraged by the support of the first two versions of [[Microsoft]]'s [[Windows NT]] for [[DEC Alpha|Alpha]], MIPS and [[PowerPC]]—and, and to a lesser extent the [[Clipper architecture]] and [[SPARC]]. However, as Intel quickly released faster versions of their [[Pentium (brand)|Pentium]] class CPUs, Microsoft [[Windows NT]] v4.0 dropped support for anything but IA-32 and Alpha. With [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]]'s decision to transition to the [[Itanium]] and IA-32 architectures in 2007 (following a 2006 Chapter 11 bankruptcy<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114708367971646497 |title=Silicon Graphics Seeks Chapter 11 As Sales Decline |author=Patrick Fitzgerald|work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |date=6 May 2006 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>) and 2009 acquisition by [[Silicon Graphics International|Rackable Systems, Inc.]], support ended for the MIPS/IRIX consumer market in December, 2013 as originally scheduled. However, a support team still exists for special circumstances and refurbished systems that are still available on a limited basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sgi.com/services/support/irix_mips.html |title=End of General Availability for MIPS® IRIX® Products |work= |date=2013 }}</ref>

=== Embedded markets ===

[[File:Game Boy Advance SP (counterfeit) - board - Ingenic JZ4730JZ4725B-0845.JPGjpg|thumb|168px168x168px|The [[Ingenic]] JZ4730JZ4725 is an example for a MIPS-based [[System on Chip|SoC]].]]

Through the 1990s, the MIPS architecture was widely adopted by the embedded market, including for use in [[computer network]]ing, [[telecommunicationstelecommunication]]s, [[video arcade game]]s, [[video game console]]s, [[computer printer]]s, digital [[set-top box]]es, [[digital television]]s, [[DSL modem|DSL]] and [[cable modem]]s, and [[personal digital assistant]]s.

The low power-consumption and heat characteristics of embedded MIPS implementations, the wide availability of embedded development tools, and knowledge about the architecture means use of MIPS microprocessors in embedded roles is likely to remain common.

=== Synthesizeable cores for embedded markets ===

In recent years{{when|date=May 2013}} most of the technology used in the various MIPS generations has been offered as [[Semiconductorsemiconductor intellectual property core|IP-cores]]s (IP cores), as building- blocks) for [[embedded processor]] designs. Both [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] and [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] basic cores are offered, known as the '''4K''' and '''5K'''. These cores can be mixed with add-in units such as [[Floatingfloating-point unit|FPU]]s (FPU), single instruction, multiple data ([[SIMD]]) systems, various [[input/output]] (I/O) devices, etc.

MIPS cores have been commercially successful, now being used inhaving many consumer and industrial applicationsuses. MIPS cores can be found in newer [[Cisco]], [[Linksys]] and Mikrotik's routerboard routers, [[cable modem]]s and [[Asymmetricasymmetric Digitaldigital Subscribersubscriber Line|ADSLline]] (ADSL) modems, [[smartcard]]s, [[laser printer]] engines, [[set-top box]]es, [[robot]]s, and hand-held computers. In cellphones and PDAs, MIPS has been largely unable to displace the incumbent, competing [[ARM architecture]].

MIPS architecture processors include: IDT RC32438; ATI/AMD [[Xilleon]]; Alchemy Au1000, 1100, 1200; Broadcom Sentry5; [[RMI Corporation|RMI]] XLR7xx, [[Cavium Networks|Cavium]] Octeon CN30xx, CN31xx, CN36xx, CN38xx and CN5xxx; [[Infineon Technologies]] EasyPort, Amazon, Danube, ADM5120, WildPass, INCA-IP, INCA-IP2; [[Microchip Technology]] PIC32; [[NEC]] EMMA and EMMA2, NEC VR4181A, VR4121, VR4122, VR4181A, VR4300, VR5432, VR5500; [[Oak Technologies]] Generation; [[PMC-Sierra]] RM11200; [[QuickLogic]] QuickMIPS ESP; Toshiba ''Donau'', [[Toshiba]] TMPR492x, TX4925, TX9956, TX7901; [[KOMDIV-32]], [[KOMDIV-64]], [[ELVEES Multicore]] from Russia.

=== MIPS-based supercomputers ===

One ofless thecommon more interesting applicationsuse of the MIPS architecture is its use in massive processor count supercomputers. [[Silicon Graphics]] (SGI) refocused its business from desktop graphics workstations to the [[high-performance computing]] market in the early 1990s. The success of the company's first foray into server systems, the [[SGI Challenge|Challenge]] series based on the R4400 and [[R8000]], and later [[R10000]], motivated SGI to createform a vastly more powerful system. The introduction of the integrated R10000 allowed SGI to produce a system, the [[Origin 2000]], eventually scalable to 1024 CPUs using its [[NUMAlink]] cc-NUMA interconnect. The Origin 2000 begat the [[Origin 3000]] series which topped out with the same 10241,024 maximum CPU count but using the R14000 and R16000 chips up to 700&nbsp;MHz. Its MIPS-based supercomputers were withdrawn in 2005 when SGI made the strategic decision to move to Intel's Itanium [[IA-64]] architecture.

A high-performance computing startup callednamed [[SiCortex]] introduced a massively parallel MIPS-based supercomputer in 2007. The machines are based on the MIPS64 architecture and a high performance interconnect using a [[Kautz graph]] topology. The system is very power efficient and computationally powerful.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}} The most innovative aspect of the system was its multicore processing node which integrates six MIPS64 cores, a [[crossbar switch]] [[memory controller]], interconnect [[Directdirect memory access|DMA]] (DMA) engine, [[Gigabit Ethernet]] and [[PCI Express]] controllers all on a single chip which consumes only 10 watts of power, yet has a peak floating point performance of 6 giga[[FLOPS|gigaFLOPS]]. The most powerful configuration, the SC5832, is a single cabinet supercomputer consisting of 972 such node chips for a total of 5832 MIPS64 processor cores and 8.2 teraFLOPS of peak performance.

=== Loongson ===

{{Main|Loongson}}

[[Loongson]] is a family of MIPS-compatible microprocessors designed by the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]]' Institute of Computing Technology (ICT). Independently designed by the Chinese, early models lacked support for four instructions that had been patented by MIPS Technologies.<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.mdronline.com/mpr/h/2006/0626/202602.html |title=China's Microprocessor Dilemma] |publisher=The Linley Group}}</ref> In June 2009, ICT licensed the MIPS32 and MIPS64 architectures from MIPS Technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mips.com/news-events/newsroom/release-archive-2009/6_15_09.dot |title=China’sChina's Institute of Computing Technology Licenses Industry-Standard MIPS Architectures |access-date=2017-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508055843/http://www.mips.com/news-events/newsroom/release-archive-2009/6_15_09.dot |archive-date=2011-05-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Starting in 2006, a number ofmany companies released Loongson-based computers, including [[nettop]]s and [[netbook]]s designed for low-power use.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Chinese-150-Linux-miniPC-races-OLPC-to-market/ |title=LinuxDevices article about the Municator |archiveurlurl-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20121216080125/http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Chinese-150-Linux-miniPC-races-OLPC-to-market/ |archivedatearchive-date=2012-12-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2928309621.html |title=''Yeelong'' Specs |publisher=LinuxDevices |date=22 October 2008 |archiveurlurl-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20121210034609/http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Netbook-runs-Debian-on-Chinamade-CPU/ |archivedatearchive-date=10 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In recent years, the Loongson space dedicated chip (1E04/1E0300/1E1000,1F04/1F0300,1J) has been used on 3-53–5 Beidou navigation satellites.

==== Dawning 6000 ====

{{Main|Dawning Information Industry#Dawning 6000}}

The Dawning 6000 [[supercomputer]], which has a projected performance of over 1&nbsp;P[[PFLOPSFLOPS]], will use the [[Loongson]] processor. The Dawning 6000 is currently being jointly developed by the ICT and Dawning Information Industry Company. Li Guojie, chairman of Dawning Information Industry Company and director and academician of the ICT, said research and development of the Dawning 6000 is expected to be completed in two years. By then, Chinese-made high-performance computers will be expected to achieve two major breakthroughsgoals: first, the adoption of domestically made processors; second, the existing cluster-based system structure of high-performance computers will be changed once performance reaches 1&nbsp;PFLOPS.

=== MIPS Aptiv ===

Announced in 2012,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/5826/mips-technologies-updates-processor-ip-lineup-with-aptiv-series |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512063917/http://www.anandtech.com/show/5826/mips-technologies-updates-processor-ip-lineup-with-aptiv-series |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 12, 2012 |title=MIPS Technologies Updates Processor IP Lineup with Aptiv Series |last=S. |first=Ganesh T. |date=10 May 2012 |website=www.anandtech.comAnandtech |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> the MIPS Aptiv family includes three 32-bit CPU products based on the MIPS32 Release 3 architecture.

==== microAptiv ====

microAptiv<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/aptiv/microaptiv/ |title=microAptiv Processor Core - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> is a compact, real-time embedded processor core with a five-stage pipeline and the microMIPS code compression instruction set. microAptiv can be either configured as a microprocessor (microAptiv UP) with instruction and data caches and a Memory''memory Managementmanagement Unitunit'' or as a [[microcontroller]] (microAptiv UC) with a Memory''[[memory Protectionprotection Unitunit]]'' (MPU). The CPU integrates DSP and SIMD functionality to address signal processing requirements for entry-level embedded segments including industrial control, smart meters, automotive and wired/wireless communications.

==== interAptiv ====

interAptiv<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/aptiv/interaptiv/ |title=interAptiv Processor Core - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> is a multiprocessor core leveraging a nine-stage pipeline with multi-threading. The core can be used for highly-parallel applicationstasks requiring cost and power optimization, such as smart gateways, baseband processing in LTE user equipment and small cells, [[solid-state drive]] (SSD) controllers, and automotive equipment.

==== proAptiv ====

proAptiv<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/aptiv/proaptiv/ |title=proAptiv Processor Core - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> is a superscalar, out-of-order processor core that is available in single and multi-core product versions. proAptiv is designed for applicationsapplication processing in connected consumer electronics, and control plane processing in networking applications.

=== MIPS Warrior ===

Announced in June 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/blog/mips-processors/mips-series5-warrior-cpu-cores-the-next-revolution-in-cpu-ip/ |title=Introducing the MIPS Series5 ‘Warrior’'Warrior' CPU cores: the next revolution in processor IP from Imagination - Imagination Technologies|date=2013-06-26 |website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> the MIPS Warrior family includes multiple 32-bit and 64-bit CPU products based on the MIPS Release 5 and 6 architectures.

==== Warrior M-class ====

32-bit MIPS cores for embedded and microcontroller applicationsuses:

* MIPS M5100 and MIPS M5150 cores (MIPS32 Release 5):<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/warrior/m-class-m51xx-core-family/ |title=M-Class M51xx Core Family - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> five-stage pipeline architecture, microMIPS ISA, the MIPS DSP Module r2, fast interrupt handling, advanced debug/profiling capabilities and power management.

* MIPS M6200 and M6250 cores (MIPS32 Release 6):<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/warrior/m-class-m6200-and-m6250-processor-cores/ |title=M-Class M6200 and M6250 Processor Cores - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> six-stage pipeline architecture, microMIPS ISA, dedicated DSP and SIMD module

==== Warrior I-class ====

64-bit MIPS CPUs for high-performance, low-power embedded applicationsuses:

* MIPS I6400 multiprocessor core (MIPS64 Release 6):<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/warrior/i-class-i6400-multiprocessor-core/ |title=I-Class I6400 Multiprocessor Core - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> ''simultaneous multi-threading'' (SMT), hardware virtualization, 128-bit SIMD, advanced power management, multi-context security, extensible to coherent multi-cluster operation.

==== Warrior P-class ====

32-bit and 64-bit MIPS application processors:

* MIPS P5600 multiprocessor core (MIPS32 Release 5):<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://imgtec.com/mips/warrior/p-class-p5600-multiprocessor-core/ |title=P-Class P5600 Multiprocessor Core - Imagination Technologies|website=Imagination Technologies |language=en-GB |access-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> hardware virtualization with hardware table walk, 128-bit SIMD, 40-bit eXtended Physical Addressing (XPA)

* MIPS P6600 multiprocessor core (MIPS64 Release 6): hardware virtualization with hardware table walk, 128-bit SIMD

==References Trivia ==

The MIPS rabbit character from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' was named after the MIPS microprocessor.

{{reflist}}

==See also==

* [[List of MIPS architecture processors]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{MIPS microprocessors}}

[[Category:Microprocessors]]

[[Category:MIPS architecture]]

[[Category:32-bit microprocessors]]

[[Category:64-bit microprocessors]]