MIPS architecture processors: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:25, 4 June 2017

Revision as of 11:49, 8 August 2017

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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 in the early 1990s 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 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://onlinewww.wsj.com/articlearticles/SB114708367971646497.html |title=Silicon Graphics Seeks Chapter 11 As Sales Decline |author=Patrick Fitzgerald|work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |date=6 May 2006|subscription=yes}}</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 ===