SGI Crimson
Encyclopedia
The IRIS Crimson, code named Diehard2, is a Silicon Graphics
(SGI) computer
released in the early 1990s. It was the world's first 64-bit
workstation
.
Crimson was a member of Silicon Graphics's SGI IRIS 4D
series of deskside systems; it was also known as the 4D/510 workstation. It was similar to other SGI IRIS 4D deskside workstations, and could utilise a wide range of graphics options (up to RealityEngine
). It was also available as a file server
with no graphics.
This machine made a brief cameo in the movie Jurassic Park
where the character named Lex uses the machine to navigate the IRIX
filesystem in 3D using the application FSN in order to restore power to the compound. The year following the film's release, Silicon Graphics released a rebadged, limited edition Crimson R4400/VGXT called the "Jurassic Classic", which included a special logo and featured SGI co-founder Jim Clark's signature on the drive door.
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
(SGI) computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
released in the early 1990s. It was the world's first 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...
workstation
Workstation
A workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems...
.
Crimson was a member of Silicon Graphics's SGI IRIS 4D
SGI IRIS 4D
The SGI IRIS 4D series was a line of workstations from Silicon Graphics built in the late-1980s through mid-1990s. They were the first SGI workstations to use the MIPS architecture. The line culminated with the Crimson which was produced until 1997....
series of deskside systems; it was also known as the 4D/510 workstation. It was similar to other SGI IRIS 4D deskside workstations, and could utilise a wide range of graphics options (up to RealityEngine
RealityEngine
RealityEngine refers to a 3D graphics hardware architecture and a family of graphics systems that implemented the aforementioned hardware architecture that was developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics during the early to mid 1990s...
). It was also available as a file server
File server
In computing, a file server is a computer attached to a network that has the primary purpose of providing a location for shared disk access, i.e. shared storage of computer files that can be accessed by the workstations that are attached to the computer network...
with no graphics.
This machine made a brief cameo in the movie Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
where the character named Lex uses the machine to navigate the IRIX
IRIX
IRIX is a computer operating system developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. to run natively on their 32- and 64-bit MIPS architecture workstations and servers. It was based on UNIX System V with BSD extensions. IRIX was the first operating system to include the XFS file system.The last major version...
filesystem in 3D using the application FSN in order to restore power to the compound. The year following the film's release, Silicon Graphics released a rebadged, limited edition Crimson R4400/VGXT called the "Jurassic Classic", which included a special logo and featured SGI co-founder Jim Clark's signature on the drive door.
Features
- One MIPSMIPS TechnologiesMIPS Technologies, Inc. , formerly MIPS Computer Systems, Inc., is most widely known for developing the MIPS architecture and a series of pioneering RISC chips. MIPS provides processor architectures and cores for digital home, networking and mobile applications.MIPS Computer Systems Inc. was...
100 MHz R4000R4000The R4000 is a microprocessor developed by MIPS Computer Systems that implemented the MIPS III instruction set architecture . Officially announced on 1 October 1991, it was one of the first 64-bit microprocessors and the first MIPS III implementation...
or 150 MHz R4400 processor; - Choice of seven high performance 3D graphics subsystems deliver performance and features to match any application;
- Up to 256 MB memory and internal disk capacity up to 7.2 GB, expandable to greater than 72 GB using additional enclosures.
- High performance I/O subsystem includes four VMEVMEbusVMEbus is a computer bus standard, originally developed for the Motorola 68000 line of CPUs, but later widely used for many applications and standardized by the IEC as ANSI/IEEE 1014-1987. It is physically based on Eurocard sizes, mechanicals and connectors , but uses its own signalling system,...
expansion slots, EthernetEthernetEthernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
and two SCSISCSISmall Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
channels with disk stripingRAIDRAID is a storage technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a logical unit...
support.