Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!elroy!cit-vax!ucla-cs!oahu!marc
From: marc@oahu.cs.ucla.edu (Marc Tremblay)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Yield of core-MIPS chips [MIPSCo yield? && Other Issues]
Message-ID: <10355@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 15 Mar 88 01:38:43 GMT
References: <1806@obiwan.mips.COM> <2904@omepd>
Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: marc@oahu.UUCP (Marc Tremblay)
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 33
Keywords: Query

In article <2904@omepd> mcg@iwarpo3.UUCP (Steve McGeady) writes:
>
>We've heard much (too much, some would say) from MIPSCo regarding the
>raw performance of their processor.  I, for one, would be interested in
>hearing some other questions answered, for instance:
>
>	1) Who manufactures your silicon, on what process, what yield
>	   do you get, and how does/will this influence chip prices?

As far as I know MIPSCo has agreements with three companies to 
manufacture and sell their processor. Each of the companies has
rights to both the 12.5 MHz and 16.7 MHz version.
The three companies are:
	i)   LSI Logic Corp 
	ii)  Integrated Device Technology Inc.
	iii) Performance Semiconductor Corp.

>	2) Without a captive silicon manufacturing establishment, how
>	   can your silicon-foundry-provided 2-micron CMOS technology
>	   effectively compete with sub-micron technology from
>	   manufacturers with captive silicon development technology?

Performance Semiconductor Corp. has a high-speed CMOS process
using submicron technology.

>	4) What is the complexity of integrating a MIPSCo chip set
>	   into a system?  What amount and kind of support HW is needed?

I would also like to know more about that one. (MIPS guys?)

					Marc Tremblay
					marc@CS.UCLA.EDU
					...!(ihnp4,ucbvax)!ucla-cs!marc
					Computer Science Department, UCLA