# Acer PICA

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The **M6100 PICA** is a system logic chipset designed by [Acer Laboratories](/source/Acer_Laboratories_Incorporated) introduced in 1993. *PICA* stands for *Performance-enhanced Input-output and CPU Architecture*.[1] It was based on the [Jazz](/source/Jazz_(computer)) architecture developed by [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft) and supported the [MIPS Technologies](/source/MIPS_Technologies) [R4000](/source/R4000) or [R4400](/source/R4400) microprocessors.

The chipset was designed for computers that run [Windows NT](/source/Windows_NT), and therefore used [ARC](/source/ARC_(specification)) [firmware](/source/Firmware) to boot Windows NT. The chipset consisted of six chips: a CPU and secondary cache controller, a buffer, a I/O cache and bus controller, a [memory controller](/source/Memory_controller), and two data buffers.

PICA was used by Acer in its Formula 4000 personal workstation,[2] which NEC sold under the OEM name [RISCstation Image](/source/NEC_RISCstation).

## See also

- [DeskStation Technology](/source/DeskStation_Technology)

## References

1. Halfhill, Tom R. (June 1993). ["Mips Challenges Intel on Its Own Turf"](https://archive.org/details/BYTE-1993-06/page/n100/mode/1up). *[Byte](/source/Byte_(magazine))*. Vol. 18, no. 6. p. 80.

1. Seymour, Jim (31 May 199). ["Acer Formula 4400"](https://books.google.com/books?id=MfbDrFwiARgC&pg=PA148). *[PC Magazine](/source/PC_Magazine)*. Vol. 13, no. 10. p. 148-159.

- "Acer Launches Set For Building R4400 NT Machines". (29 March 1993). *[Computergram International](/source/Computergram_International)*.
- Seymour, Jim (31 May 1994). ["RISC workstations: ready for the desktop?"](https://books.google.com/books?id=MfbDrFwiARgC&pg=PA125). *[PC Magazine](/source/PC_Magazine)*. Vol. 13, no. 10. p. 125.

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