MIPS Develops 3D Extensions for 64-Bit Design

Computergram International, August 17, 1999

MIPS Technologies Inc is introducing 3D graphics extensions for its MIPS 64-bit designs, claiming that there is an emerging market for 3D graphics functions on smaller, non-PC devices. The Mountain View, California-based company says that it expects the new design to be used in set-top boxes, handheld game consoles and appliances that connect to the internet.

The MIPS-3D application specific extension (ASE) adds 13 floating point instructions dealing with lighting and geometry to the MIPS64 architecture. Product marketing manager, Gideon Intrater, claims that the extensions mean that 64-bit MIPS chips will be able to run 3D applications 83% faster than the current MIPS64 architecture.

The extensions consist of three different classes of transformation and lighting instructions. One set deals with enhancing the speed of actual transformations - how fast graphics are drawn. The multi-condition instructions decide what will be shown on-screen, clipping and smoothing out character movement and scenery. The last set deals with making on-screen 'lighting' look realistic. Intrater says that the additional floating point instructions can be easily accessed by developers looking to work with 3D but says that MIPS is collaborating with major software tools to support the instructions.

The first product to include the new instructions will be the 'Ruby' 64-bit design, licensed by NEC Corp among others, which will tape out early next year. Intrater said that the chip would have a 0.5mm die size and that the extra power required by the 3D instructions would be negligible. MIPS intends to offer Ruby as a core for use in a system on a chip designs but also envisages the chip being used with a separate graphics rendering engine. ATI Technologies has become one of the first licensees of the new technology.