1. MIPS simulators
There are 3 widely used MIPS simulators PC-SPIM, MARS, QTSPIM.
PC-SPIM (the one we should use)
the oldest one with poor graphics
Very simple features and easy to start to work
More exact simulation of delayed loads and branches.
MARS, QTSPIM
The newer simulators with rich graphics
Lots of features, helps and complex menus.
Not so exact simulation of some hardware features of MIPS.
Textbook: P&H, 5th ed. Ch Translating and Starting a Program (p.123)
Appendix A - compilers, SPIM simulator and MIPS assembly syntax.

2. SPIM simulator PC-SPIM
Download the latest version of PC-SPIM from and save it on your machine or
find the already downloaded file locally:
Unzip the file.
Click on the setup.exe program.
Most likely all you will do is click buttons to accept the defaults.
SPIM by default is installed in C:\Program Files\PCSpim.
You’ve finished the installation.

3. PC-SPIM main screen

4. PC SPIM Settings

5. QT SPIM Settings

6. Loading, assembling Loading the source file into SPIM does two things:
The file is assembled into machine instructions, and
the instructions are loaded into SPIM's memory.
The text display shows the result.

7. Setting the Program Counter

8. Running a program

9. Running a program