EvilmonkeyzDesignz | CCU #150: MIPS CPU with a T-REX @EvilmonkeyzDesignz | Uploaded April 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
#ComponentsCloseUp No. 150: MIPS IV Microprocessor
***Quick Facts!***
Manufacturer: NEC
Part Number: D30710RS-300 (VR12000)
Package Size: Ceramic LGA-599
Transistor Count: 7,150,000
Process Node: 0.25 µm (CMOS)
Die Size: 15.7 x 14.6 mm (229.22 mm2)
Release Date: November 1998
***
This part as the title says is a MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipelined Stages) microprocessor. MIPS is a type of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) ISA (Instruction Set Architecture). RISC architectures are designed to have a compact set of instructions, with the end goal of having them be highly optimized so that they have a low Clock Cycles per Instruction (CPI). This particular part was capable of running at 300MHz, but also came in 270 and 360MHz versions.
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One of the names stood out to me on the plaque, because it was at the bottom by itself and the last name was also spelled out; Michael W. Davidson. The late M.W. Davidson was a research scientist and microscopist. He is relevant here because he led the Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory as a researcher. It’s unclear exactly how he ended up on this chip, but I can imagine that it was significant enough for his full name to be printed on it. It’s important to also note that he was the mastermind behind the Silicon Zoo website.
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The rockin’ T-rex also has a bit of a backstory origin. Siliconinsider pointed out that this T-rex derived from a piece of clip-art. The clipart specifically is from a piece of software called Hypercard, which was initially released in 1987 on the Macintosh. Someone was nice enough to collect all of this clipart and host it on the internet so you can go see it for yourself! Searching for “Hypercard clipart” should get you there (first hit for me).
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A bit more history about the R12000 is that it is actually a derivative of the R10000 processor from MIPS. According to Wikipedia, MIPS had started the design of the R12000 but Silicon Graphics (SGI) finished the design (hence the SGI logo). There is a list of modifications that were made to the R12000 on the wiki page, but the most notable is the addition of an extra pipeline stage, which resolved a critical path in the R10000 design. This, along with other improvements are what allowed the R12000 to operate up to 360MHz, whereas the R10000 originally launched with 175 and 195MHz options. The shrink from 0.35 to 0.25 µm also played a big role in the speed increase.
-
In addition to NEC, this chip was also fabricated by Toshiba. These were used in desktop and super computers.
#ComponentsCloseUp No. 150: MIPS IV Microprocessor
***Quick Facts!***
Manufacturer: NEC
Part Number: D30710RS-300 (VR12000)
Package Size: Ceramic LGA-599
Transistor Count: 7,150,000
Process Node: 0.25 µm (CMOS)
Die Size: 15.7 x 14.6 mm (229.22 mm2)
Release Date: November 1998
***
This part as the title says is a MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipelined Stages) microprocessor. MIPS is a type of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) ISA (Instruction Set Architecture). RISC architectures are designed to have a compact set of instructions, with the end goal of having them be highly optimized so that they have a low Clock Cycles per Instruction (CPI). This particular part was capable of running at 300MHz, but also came in 270 and 360MHz versions.
-
One of the names stood out to me on the plaque, because it was at the bottom by itself and the last name was also spelled out; Michael W. Davidson. The late M.W. Davidson was a research scientist and microscopist. He is relevant here because he led the Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory as a researcher. It’s unclear exactly how he ended up on this chip, but I can imagine that it was significant enough for his full name to be printed on it. It’s important to also note that he was the mastermind behind the Silicon Zoo website.
-
The rockin’ T-rex also has a bit of a backstory origin. Siliconinsider pointed out that this T-rex derived from a piece of clip-art. The clipart specifically is from a piece of software called Hypercard, which was initially released in 1987 on the Macintosh. Someone was nice enough to collect all of this clipart and host it on the internet so you can go see it for yourself! Searching for “Hypercard clipart” should get you there (first hit for me).
-
A bit more history about the R12000 is that it is actually a derivative of the R10000 processor from MIPS. According to Wikipedia, MIPS had started the design of the R12000 but Silicon Graphics (SGI) finished the design (hence the SGI logo). There is a list of modifications that were made to the R12000 on the wiki page, but the most notable is the addition of an extra pipeline stage, which resolved a critical path in the R10000 design. This, along with other improvements are what allowed the R12000 to operate up to 360MHz, whereas the R10000 originally launched with 175 and 195MHz options. The shrink from 0.35 to 0.25 µm also played a big role in the speed increase.
-
In addition to NEC, this chip was also fabricated by Toshiba. These were used in desktop and super computers.
