SGI Indigo2: An $86,000 Workstation from 1995
LGR・11 minutes read
SGI collaborated with Nintendo on graphics workstations in the '90s, playing a key role in projects like Donkey Kong Country and the Nintendo 64 chipset. SGI's Indigo 2 Impact, released in 1995, was a high-end workstation with a powerful CPU, graphics chipset, and Unix-based operating system, primarily targeted at professional users.
Insights
- Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI) was a key player in graphics workstation technology, collaborating with Nintendo for projects like Donkey Kong Country and the Nintendo 64 chipset.
- The Indigo 2 Impact, a top-tier model by SGI, boasted cutting-edge specifications such as a MIPS R10000 CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and a Max Impact graphics chipset, making it a powerful Unix-based workstation primarily geared towards professional use rather than gaming.
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Recent questions
What was Silicon Graphics Incorporated known for?
Graphics workstation innovation in the early '90s.
What were the key features of SGI's Indigo 2 Impact?
Purple case, MIPS R10000 CPU, Max Impact graphics chipset.
How much did the Indigo 2 Impact cost in 1995?
Theoretical costs of $86,000.
What operating system did the Indigo 2 Impact run on?
SGI's Unix-based IRIX 64 operating system.
Was the Indigo 2 Impact suitable for gaming?
Lacked gaming capabilities, designed for professional use.
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Summary
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SGI: Graphics Workstation Innovator in '90s
- Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI) was a prominent computer company involved in graphics workstation innovation in the early '90s, notably collaborating with Nintendo.
- SGI's machines played a crucial role in the development of Donkey Kong Country and the Nintendo 64 chipset.
- In 1991, SGI's Indigo computer was a top desktop workstation with a 33 MHz RISC CPU and a 236 MB hard disk drive, priced at nearly $10,000.
- The Indigo 2 was introduced in January 1993, featuring upgrades like a more compact teal case design, improved CPU, and graphics subsystem, costing around $30,000.
- The Indigo 2 Impact, released in 1995, had a purple case and various upgrades, including the Impact 10000 model with theoretical costs of $86,000 in 1995.
- The Indigo 2 Impact weighed 45 pounds, had a PS/2 compatible keyboard and mouse, and a variety of ports including SCSI-2, audio, and Ethernet.
- The Indigo 2 Impact ran on SGI's Unix-based IRIX 64 operating system, offering a stable graphical interface and powerful command line capabilities.
- The machine boasted a MIPS R10000 CPU running at 195 MHz, 1 GB of RAM, a Max Impact graphics chipset with 8 MB texture memory, and a 150 GB SCSI-2 hard drive.
- While lacking in gaming capabilities, the Indigo 2 was a high-end workstation designed for professional use, with limited emulation options available.
