NEC Intros MIPS RISC for PDAs

PDA manufacturers and, to a certain degree, users are constantly searching for better performing, low-power processors. The leaders thus far have aligned themselves in three major camps: ARM, Motorola, and Intel-compatible. However, a new chip on the block is positioning itself as a high-performance alternative.

NEC Electronics recently announced a new high-speed, low power 64-bit RISC processor for use with PDAs, based on the MIPS architecture. Dubbed the Vr4100, the embedded processor is part of a family that also includes the Vr4000, Vr4400, and the Vr4200.

The Vr4100 is built using NEC’s 0.35-micron CMOS process, and includes more than 450,000 transistors. The processor operates at a voltage range of 2.2 to 3.6 V and features a maximum 40 MHz internal clock. NEC claims a power consumption of 120 mW at 3.3 V and 40 MHz, and 27 mW at 2.2 V and 20 MHz.

Unlike current 32- and 16-bit processors used in today’s PDAs, the NEC Vr4100 has a 64-bit instruction set which contributes to its 45 VAX MIPS performance when running at 40 MHz. The processor also features a built-in primary cache memory, a 64-bit internal bus and ALU (arithmetic logic unit), and a 32-bit external bus.

Packaged in a 100-pin plastic TQFP, NEC expects to have sample quantities of the Vr4100 available by June of this year. NEC hopes to begin mass production of the processor in the third quarter of 1995. Sample units will be available for $50, with the price dropping to $25 in 100,000 quantities during mass production.

NEC licenses the MIPS RISC system from MIPS Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Silicon Graphics, Inc.

NEC Electronics Inc.
475 Ellis Street
P.O. Box 7241
Mountain View, CA 94039-7241
(415) 965-6159
(415) 965-6130 (fax)