[coderjames]

Not the OP, but here are a few MIPS boards I'm familiar with in the under-$100 range.

Microchip makes a couple low-end MIPS boards:

http://www.microchipdirect.com/product/search/all/DM320103

http://www.microchipdirect.com/product/search/all/DM320004-2

When you outgrow those, you can move up to the Creator Ci20 from Imagination: https://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=0virtualk...