MIPS Technologies Core Powers NEC's New SOC for Set-Tops and DTVs

NEC's Multi-Core SOC Uses Two MIPS32(TM) 4Kc(TM) Cores; Extends Leadership of MIPS® Architecture in Digital Set-Top Boxes

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2002-- MIPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPS - News), (Nasdaq:MIPSB - News), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for consumer and business applications, announced that NEC Corporation's new multi-core SOC for the digital set-top box and digital TV markets integrates two 32-bit MIPS® cores. The uPD61120 was launched today in the United States by NEC Electronics Inc.

NEC Corporation's in-house company, NEC Electron Devices, chose the MIPS32(TM) 4Kc(TM) core for its uPD61120 chip because it offers NEC the necessary flexibility to get to market quickly with a competitive, cost-effective solution. The uPD61120 is the latest in a broad range of MIPS-based processors developed by NEC over the past 10 years to drive products such as the Nintendo® 64 video game, HP and Lexmark laser printers, and digital set-top boxes from Sony and Motorola Inc. Broadband Communications Sector that have helped make the MIPS architecture number one in that market. According to Semico Research Corp. (August 2001), more than 32 million set-top boxes will use 41 million embedded processors in 2002, of which more than 30 percent will be MIPS-based(TM).

"NEC is extremely pleased to announce the world's first product with a dual-processor architecture as a system LSI device for set-top boxes. In developing this SOC, NEC was faced with the challenge of how to deliver a product that would offer compatibility with high value-added digital satellite broadcasting, while keeping system costs down," said Shigeo Niitsu, chief manager of the Network System LSI Development Division at NEC Corp. "We found the solution with the MIPS32 4Kc core, which gives us the performance and flexibility we require."

The uPD61120 chip, which offers performance of 225 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS, is based on NEC's MIPS-based enhanced multimedia architecture. The device provides audio/video decoding functions and supports digital video broadcast standards in both the United States and Europe, including the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standard, a key driver for digital TV in Europe.

"When one of the leading providers of digital entertainment solutions utilizes the MIPS architecture to power its newest and most innovative SOCs for set-top boxes, the end user is the beneficiary with a rich, high-quality experience," said Kevin Meyer, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies.

About MIPS Technologies

MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products. The company is based in Mountain View, Calif., and can be reached at 650/567-5000 or www.mips.com.

Note to Editors: MIPS® is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, and MIPS32(TM), 4Kc(TM) and MIPS-based(TM) are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

     MIPS Technologies, Inc.
     Lee Garvin Flanagin, 650/567-5180
     flanagin@mips.com