Editing NEC RISCstation

{{Short description|Computer workstations}}
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Nec2200.gif|thumb|right|NEC RISCstation 2200]] -->
{{distinguish|text=Simtec Electronics RiscStation R7500, a machine similar to the [[Acorn A7000]]}}

The '''NEC RISCstation''' was a line of [[computer]] [[workstation]]s made by [[NEC]] in the mid-1990s, based on [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] [[RISC]] [[microprocessor]]s and designed to run [[Microsoft]] [[Windows NT]]. A series of nearly identical machines were also sold by NEC in headless (i.e., no [[video card]] or [[framebuffer]]) configuration as the '''RISCserver''' series, and were intended for use as Windows NT [[Workgroup (computer networking)|workgroup]] servers.<ref>{{cite magazine
| title      = NEC Ad
| url        = https://archive.org/details/sim_informationweek_1995-02-13_514/page/n87/mode/1up
| date       = 13 February 1995
| page       = 80
| magazine   = [[Information Week]]
| issue      = 514
| url-access = registration
}}</ref>

The RISCstation 2000 was announced in June 1994 by NEC with an availability slated for the end of that summer with the release of [[Windows NT 3.5|Windows NT "Daytona"]] at a price between US$6000 to US$10000.<ref>{{cite magazine
| magazine = [[Information Week]]
| url      = https://archive.org/details/sim_informationweek_1994-07-04_482/page/n23/mode/2up
| title    = PC Expo offers variety
| date     = 4 July 1994
| page     = 22
| issue    = 482
| first    = Anthony
| last     = Vecchione
| url-access = registration
}}</ref>

==Historical development==

The RISCstations were based on a modified [[Jazz (computer)|Jazz]] architecture licensed from [[MIPS Computer Systems, Inc.]] (and which was originally designed by Microsoft). Although architecturally similar to contemporaneous [[Intel 80386]]-based [[personal computer]]s (including, for example, a [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] bus), the RISCstations were faster than the [[Pentium (original)|Pentium]]-based workstations of the time.

Although based on the Jazz design, the RISCstations did not use the [[G364 framebuffer]], instead using a [[S3_Graphics#Graphics_controllers|S3 Vision 968]]-based video card or a [[3Dlabs]] GLiNT-based adapter in a PCI slot.

==Form factor==
All RISCstations used a standard [[IBM AT]]-style tower or minitower case, a motherboard which also met the AT form factor standard, and PCI peripherals (such as the video card) for peripheral expansion.

==Operating systems==
Several [[operating system]]s supported RISCstations.

Like all Jazz-based MIPS computers (such as the [[MIPS Magnum]]), the RISCstations ran the [[ARC (specification)|ARC]] console [[firmware]] to boot Windows NT in [[little-endian]] mode. The MIPS III architecture was capable of either little-endian or [[big-endian]] operation.

However, Microsoft stopped supporting the MIPS architecture in Windows NT after version 4.0. RISCstations ceased production in 1996.

In addition to Windows NT, NEC ported a version of [[Unix System V]] to the RISCstation.

Although support is lacking from [[Linux]]/MIPS for the RISCstation series, they are supported by [[NetBSD]] as NetBSD/arc<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/arc/
| website = NetBSD
| title = NetBSD/arc
| access-date = 30 August 2021
}}</ref> and had been supported by [[OpenBSD]], prior to the termination of the port in 1998.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.openbsd.org/arc.html
| access-date = 30 August 2021
| website     = OpenBSD
| title       = OpenBSD arc
}}</ref>

==Models==
The RISCstation line included:
*RISCstation Image - [[Acer PICA]] OEM
*RISCstation 2000
**Dual-processor [[Symmetric multiprocessing|SMP]] system with two 150 MHz MIPS [[R4400]] [[microprocessor]]s
**EISA<ref name=byte1995_03 />
**NCR53C700 [[SCSI]]
*RISCstation 2200
**Single-processor system with a MIPS R4400 microprocessor
*RISCstation 2250
*RISCstation 4400
**Dual-processor SMP system with two 250 MHz MIPS R4400 microprocessors

==Pricing==
In March, 1995, a dual-CPU configuration of the RISCstation 2000 was priced at about $14,000, and came equipped with two 150 MHz MIPS R4400 CPUs, 64 MB of RAM, a 1 GB SCSI hard drive, a 3x [[CD-ROM]] drive and a 17-inch NEC-brand [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]] monitor.<ref name=byte1995_03>{{cite magazine
| url          = https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1995-03_OCR/page/n190/mode/1up
| magazine     = [[Byte (magazine)|Byte]]
| title        = Fastest NT Workstations
| date         = March 1995
| first1       = Steve
| last1        = Apiki
| first2       = Rick
| last2        = Grehan
| page         = 115-122
| volume       = 20
| issue        = 3
}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web
| url          = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGC/is_n17_v21/ai_17552629
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20050331072748/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGC/is_n17_v21/ai_17552629 
| archive-date = 31 March 2005
| title        = SMP workstation for Windows NT intended for CAD - symmetrical multiprocessing - NEC Technologies Canada's RISCstation 2200 workstation for Windows NT - Brief Article - Product Announcement
}} A press release detailing features and prices of RISCstation 2200 in 1995
* {{cite web
| url          = http://www.byte.com/art/9503/sec11/art1.htm
| title        = Fastest NT Workstations
| date         = March 1995
| first1       = Steve
| last1        = Apiki
| first2       = Rick
| last2        = Grehan
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031257/http://www.byte.com/art/9503/sec11/art1.htm
| archive-date = 28 September 2007
}} An article from [[BYTE Magazine]] comparing the RISCstation 2000 to competing Windows NT workstations

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nec Riscstation}}
[[Category:Advanced RISC Computing]]
[[Category:Computer workstations]]
[[Category:MIPS architecture]]
[[Category:NEC hardware|Riscstation]]
[[Category:64-bit computers]]