Sigma Designs Leverages MIPS Technologies' IP Cores in New High-performance Media Processor

-- MIPS Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard architectures, processors and analog IP for digital consumer, home networking, wireless, communications and business applications, today announced that its synthesizable MIPS32® cores are powering the new SMP8644 secure media processor from Sigma Designs. The multi-core SMP8644 SoC is designed for feature-rich consumer products like next-generation IPTV set-top boxes, IP cable set-top boxes and Blu-ray Disc players. It combines three MIPS® processors, including the superscalar MIPS32 74K(TM) core.

"The SMP8644 integrates a wide range of functionality for the next generation of consumer applications that will be differentiated by features and video quality," said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing for Sigma Designs. "The MIPS cores provide the high performance, extendibility and architectural efficiencies we needed to support this functionality. The exceptional Java performance of the 74K core is a huge plus for the design."

The SMP8644 is a multi-core media processor that features a 74K core running at 667 MHz and providing 1330 DMIPS to enable crisp user interaction and a wide range of application-based features. A second MIPS processor -- the low-footprint MIPS32 4KEc® core -- manages real-time interrupt operations and offloads system tasks such as networking and graphics to further optimize main CPU utilization. A third MIPS processor manages all system security functions including decryption and key generation.

"Sigma Designs is a leader in media processors, offering truly differentiated products for established markets as well as emerging markets like IPTV and connected HDTV," said Brad Holtzinger, vice president of worldwide sales at MIPS Technologies. "We're pleased to provide Sigma with flexible, high-performance solutions for digital consumer applications. The company's innovative new media processor is one of the first products in the market that incorporates our high-performance 74K core."

The 74K core is the industry's first fully synthesizable processor to surpass 1 GHz in TSMC 65nm GP process using industry standard libraries and EDA flows. The 74K core is based on MIPS' latest superscalar microarchitecture. Its 15-stage pipeline design employs a unique combination of out-of-order dispatch and asymmetric dual-issue, enabling a higher-frequency, higher-performance solution with lower area and power. Designers can use existing binaries, saving significant time and money, since in-house and third-party software doesn't need to be recompiled. The innovative embedded microarchitecture also incorporates the MIPS DSP Application Specific Extension (ASE) Rev2 to dramatically boost signal processing performance.

About Sigma Designs, Inc.

Sigma Designs is a leading fabless semiconductor provider of highly integrated system-on-chip (SoC) solutions that are used to deliver multimedia entertainment throughout the home. Sigma's SoC solutions include media processing, wireless communications, and video image processing along with system software to form the critical components of consumer electronic products that include Internet protocol TV (IPTV) set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, high definition televisions (HDTV), and media communication devices. Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Sigma Designs has direct sales representatives in the United States, Europe (Belgium), China, Japan, Taiwan and a third-party distributor in Korea. For more information, please visit Sigma Designs' web site at http://www.sigmadesigns.com.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.

MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqGS: MIPS - News) is the world's second largest semiconductor design IP company and the number one analog IP company worldwide. With more than 250 customers around the globe, MIPS Technologies is the only company that provides a combined portfolio of processors, analog IP and software tools for the embedded market. The company powers some of the world's most popular products for the digital entertainment, home networking, wireless, and portable media markets-including broadband devices from Linksys, DTVs and digital consumer devices from Sony, DVD recordable devices from Pioneer, digital set-top boxes from Motorola, network routers from Cisco, 32- bit microcontrollers from Microchip Technology and laser printers from Hewlett-Packard. Founded in 1998, MIPS Technologies is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices worldwide. For more information, contact (650) 567-5000 or visit http://www.mips.com.