MIPS Technologies' 32-Bit TSMC-optimized cores available

MIPS TECHNOLOGIES' 32-BIT TSMC-OPTIMIZED CORES AVAILABLE

High-Performance, Low-Power 32-bit Hard Cores Speed Time-to-Market, Lower Development Costs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California., April 9, 2001 MIPS Technologies, Inc., (Nasdaq: MIPS, MIPSB), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network applications, announced the availability of "hard core" versions of its MIPS32 4Kc and 4Km 32-bit processor cores. These high-performance, low-power hard cores are the result of a broad strategic alliance announced last year with the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), to produce TSMC-optimized cores.

The MIPS32 4K hard cores are ideal for semiconductor manufacturers and system OEMs trying to meet the demands of the high-growth consumer electronics and communications markets. These companies not only require high performance, low power dissipation and low cost, but also face enormous competitive pressures and shorter product life cycles. The quickest way to get a product to market is to license a process-optimized hard core from MIPS Technologies, which can be easily implemented in a system-on-chip (SoC) design. Benefits include lower development costs, less risk and faster time-to-market, as well as the ability to
reuse the design for subsequent generations of the end product.

Consumer electronics and communications are the highest growth markets for embedded 32-bit processors. According to market research firm Semico Research, global demand for 32-bit processors in the consumer market is estimated to grow from $2.3 billion to $3.8 billion by 2003. In the much larger communications market, 32-bit embedded processors are expected to grow even faster: from $4.5 billion to $8.3 billion during the same period.

"Faster time-to-market, lower development costs and design reuse are now a reality for a very large and fast-growing market," said Brian Knowles, vice president of marketing at MIPS Technologies. "With TSMC 0.18-micron foundry-optimized cores, we now make it possible for any TSMC customer to license a core from MIPS Technologies for integration into their SoC designs quickly and cost-efficiently. Combined with our other licensing options -- including synthesizable versions of all of our cores for more customized solutions -- and hundreds of development tools from leading third-party vendors, we continue to solidify our position as
the leader in 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions."

The MIPS32 4K family of cores provides a high-performance, low-power, 32-bit RISC processor platform in a range of
price/performance options. Features of the 4Kc hard core include:

16K instruction cache, 16K data cache.
A TLB memory management unit.
A fast multiply/divide unit with single-cycle MAC instructions.
32 general-purpose registers.
Gated clocks for reduced power consumption.
Using TSMC's 0.18-micron CL018G process, the die size of the 4Kc, including the caches, is less than 7 mm2.
Power consumption is less than 2 mW/MHz, and typical performance is over 200 MHz, delivering over 280 DMIPS performance.

The 4Kc hard core is available now on a per-use basis in GDSII format with supporting models.

The MIPS32 4Km hard core, optimized for TSMC's 0.18-micron CL018G process, has been designed to provide optimum
performance at an affordable price.

Features include:

8K instruction cache, 8K data cache.
A fixed address translation memory management unit.
A fast multiply/divide unit with single-cycle MAC instructions.
32 general-purpose registers.
Gated clocks for reduced power consumption.
Using the TSMC 0.18-micron process, the die size of the 4Km, including caches, is less than 4.7 mm2. It consumes less than 1.7 mW/MHz and performance typically exceeds 200 MHz, delivering over 280 DMIPS performance.

The 4Km hard core in GDSII format will be available in May 2001.

MIPS Technologies' strategic alliance with Taiwan-based TSMC (see the March 20, 2000 press release) calls for the entire line-up of MIPS processor cores to be optimized for TSMC's advanced CMOS fabrication processes. In addition to the 4K family, they include the MIPS64 5Kc 64-bit processor core and the highest-performance core available for licensing, the MIPS64 20Kc processor, all of which are available now for immediate licensing.

About MIPS Technologies
MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and network 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 +1 (650) 567-5000 or
www.mips.com.

Illustrations are available on the website at www.mips.com.

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This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MIPS Technologies, Inc. Actual events or results may differ materially. Many important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the risks that products will fail to achieve market acceptance, the timing of customer orders, delays in the design process, the length of MIPS Technologies' sales cycle, MIPS Technologies' ability to develop, introduce and market new products and product enhancements, the timing of new product announcements and introductions by MIPS Technologies and its licensees and their competitors, the demand for semiconductors and end-user products that incorporate semiconductors and other risks. With respect to MIPS Technologies, Inc. we refer you to the documents that it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2000 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2000.

MIPS® is a registered trademark, and MIPS32™, MIPS64™, 4Kc™, 4Km™, 5Kc™ and 20Kc™ are trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.