SGI Onyx
Encyclopedia
The SGI Onyx, code named Eveready (deskside models) and Terminator (rackmount models), is a series of visualization systems designed and manufactured by SGI
, introduced in 1993 and offered in two models, deskside and rackmount. The Onyx's basic system architecture is based on the SGI Challenge
servers, but with the notable inclusion of graphics hardware. The Onyx was employed in early 1995 for development kits
used to produce software for the Nintendo 64
and, because the technology was so new, the Onyx was noted as the major factor for the impressive price-tag of $250,000 for such kits. The Onyx was succeeded by the Onyx2
in 1996 and was discontinued on 31 March 1999.
microprocessor
s, initially with 100 and 150 MHz options, later increased to 200 and 250 MHz. Later, the IP21 CPU board was introduced, with one or two R8000
microprocessors at 75 or 90 MHz; machines with this board were referred to as POWER Onyx. Finally, SGI introduced the IP25 board with one, two or four R10000
microprocessors at 195 MHz.
was the original high end graphics subsystem for the Onyx and was offered in two models. The deskside model had one GE12 board with 12 GE (Geometry Engine) processors, up to four RM4 boards, and a DG4 board. The rackmount model differed by supporting four RM4 or RM5 boards, but was otherwise the same.
succeeded the RealityEngine2 as the high-end graphics subsystem for the Onyx when introduced in 1996. It was offered in two models, the deskside model consisted of a GE12 board with GE11 geometry engines, one or two RM6 boards and a DG4 board while the rackmount model differed by supporting up to four RM6 boards.
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
, introduced in 1993 and offered in two models, deskside and rackmount. The Onyx's basic system architecture is based on the SGI Challenge
SGI Challenge
The Challenge, code-named Eveready and Terminator , is a family of server computers and supercomputers developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics in the early to mid-1990s that succeeded the earlier Power series systems...
servers, but with the notable inclusion of graphics hardware. The Onyx was employed in early 1995 for development kits
Software development kit
A software development kit is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.It may be something as simple...
used to produce software for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and, because the technology was so new, the Onyx was noted as the major factor for the impressive price-tag of $250,000 for such kits. The Onyx was succeeded by the Onyx2
SGI Onyx2
The SGI Onyx2, code name Kego, is a family of visualization systems developed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in 1996 to succeed the Onyx. The Onyx2's basic system architecture is based on the Origin 2000 servers, but with the notable inclusion of graphics hardware. In 2000, the Onyx2 was...
in 1996 and was discontinued on 31 March 1999.
Microprocessor
The deskside variant can take one CPU board, and the rackmount variant can take up to six CPU boards. Both models originally used the IP19 CPU board with one, two or four MIPS R4400MIPS architecture
MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit...
microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s, initially with 100 and 150 MHz options, later increased to 200 and 250 MHz. Later, the IP21 CPU board was introduced, with one or two R8000
R8000
The R8000 is a microprocessor chipset developed by MIPS Technologies, Inc. , Toshiba, and Weitek. It was the first implementation of the MIPS IV instruction set architecture. The R8000 is also known as the TFP, for Tremendous Floating-Point, its name during development.-History:Development of the...
microprocessors at 75 or 90 MHz; machines with this board were referred to as POWER Onyx. Finally, SGI introduced the IP25 board with one, two or four R10000
R10000
The R10000, code-named "T5", is a RISC microprocessor implementation of the MIPS IV instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies, Inc. , then a division of Silicon Graphics, Inc. . The chief designers were Chris Rowen and Kenneth C. Yeager...
microprocessors at 195 MHz.
Graphics subsystem
The Onyx initially used the RealityEngine2 or VTX graphics subsystems, and later, InfiniteReality, which was introduced in 1995.RealityEngine2
The RealityEngine2RealityEngine
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...
was the original high end graphics subsystem for the Onyx and was offered in two models. The deskside model had one GE12 board with 12 GE (Geometry Engine) processors, up to four RM4 boards, and a DG4 board. The rackmount model differed by supporting four RM4 or RM5 boards, but was otherwise the same.
VTX
The VTX graphics subsystem was a cost reduced version of the RealityEngine2, using the same hardware but in a feature reduced configuration that could not be upgraded. It consisted of one GE10 board with six GE (Geometry Engine) processors, an RM4 board and a DG2 board.InfiniteReality
The InfiniteRealityInfiniteReality
InfiniteReality 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 from 1996 to 2005...
succeeded the RealityEngine2 as the high-end graphics subsystem for the Onyx when introduced in 1996. It was offered in two models, the deskside model consisted of a GE12 board with GE11 geometry engines, one or two RM6 boards and a DG4 board while the rackmount model differed by supporting up to four RM6 boards.