ESS Technology Licenses MIPS32 24Kc Core from MIPS Technologies

Global Leader in DVD and Digital Video Chip Design Selects MIPS® Architecture

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. April 21, 2006 - MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business applications, today announced that ESS Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESST), a provider of high-performance digital video processors and image sensor semiconductors licensed the MIPS32® 24Kc™ core.

"We are very pleased to have ESS Technology, a global leader in DVD and Digital Video chip design, join the growing number of 24Kc core licensees," said Brad Holtzinger, vice president of worldwide sales for MIPS Technologies. "With the superior performance and low-power consumption of the 24Kc core, designers in the digital consumer space are able to develop very compelling applications."

"Using the MIPS32 24Kc core allows us to develop high-performance ICs for VoIP and High Definition DVDs while maintaining small die size and low power. The 24Kc core makes our products more competitive in the global market and allows our customers to develop and sell sophisticated and software-intensive consumer products at attractive prices," said Aki Kaniel, director of marketing for ESS Technology.

About the MIPS32® 24K® Core Family
The MIPS32 24K core family is targeted at high-volume applications such as broadband access, wireless communication, portable consumer electronics, networking, digital television, and office automation. It includes the 24Kc, 24Kc Pro, 24Kf and 24Kf Pro versions. The 24K cores are fully synthesizable and can be targeted by customers at various process nodes: in TSMC's 130nm G process they achieve a clock frequency of 400 MHz and in an advanced 90nm GT process they achieve 890 MHz. This is the highest frequency available in a 32-bit synthesizable core for embedded markets. The 24K core family also offers the highest known Java performance in the SoC industry, 7120 Embedded CaffeineMark 3.0 at 890 MHz. The 24Kf core includes an integrated, high-performance IEEE 754-compliant floating point unit which has a certified EEMBC Basic floating-point score of more than 1300 Iterations/MHz.

About ESS Technology
ESS Technology, Inc., designs and markets high-performance digital video processor and imaging sensor semiconductors for the consumer digital entertainment, digital home, and camera-enabled cellular phone markets. ESS products include highly integrated chips for DVD recorders, DVD players, VCD players, digital media players, digital audio systems, and camera-enabled cellular phones. ESS is headquartered in Fremont, California and the company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq National market under "ESST." For more information, pleas visit ESS Technology at http://www.esstech.com.

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