The Complete History of Silicon Graphics (1982 - 2009)
Dodoid・2 minutes read
Silicon Graphics, founded in 1982 by James H. Clark, released a series of innovative workstations from the iris 1000 to the Tesoro, with notable products such as the O2, Indigo, Iris Crimson, and Octane, culminating in financial struggles by 2006.
Insights
- Silicon Graphics made significant advancements in graphics technology throughout its history, from pioneering 3D graphics acceleration with the geometry engine to introducing powerful workstations like the iris 3130 and Indigo 2, showcasing a commitment to innovation and cutting-edge hardware.
- SGI's strategic acquisitions, such as MIPS Computer Systems and Cray, played a crucial role in securing processor supply and expanding product lines, highlighting a proactive approach to staying competitive in the rapidly evolving tech industry.
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Recent questions
When was Silicon Graphics founded?
1982
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Summary
00:00
Evolution of SGI Workstations: A Timeline
- Silicon Graphics was founded in 1982 by James H Clark and released the iris 1000 graphics terminal a year later.
- The iris 2000 was released in 1985, evolving the terminals into independent UNIX workstations.
- SGI's 3000 series featured the new geometry engine, pioneering widely available 3D graphics acceleration.
- The iris 3130, launched in 1987, was powerful enough to render animations directly on the workstation.
- SGI released the professional iris 4d 60 in March 1987, the first SGI to use a MIPS processor.
- In 1991, SGI introduced the iris indigo workstation, a breakthrough with the IP 12 hardware.
- The iris crimson, introduced in 1992, was the first 64-bit SGI machine, powered by the r4000 processor.
- SGI acquired MIPS Computer Systems in 1992 for $333 million to secure future processor supply.
- In 1993, SGI released the Indigo 2 and the Onyx, featuring multi-processor support and the new Reality Engine 2.
- SGI launched the indie workstation in July 1993, offering a budget-friendly option with basic specifications at $4,995.
- SGI faced challenges with the indie's initial 16MB RAM version, quickly replacing it with a 32MB version due to software compatibility issues.
- SGI purchased Cray in 1996 for $740 million, selling the super server division to Sun for around $60 million.
- SGI's late 90s focus was on improving existing systems, with the introduction of the AR 5000 indie and the O2 workstation in 1996.
- The O2 workstation, released in 1996, featured a unified memory architecture and compression hardware for professional video and 3D graphics work.
- SGI upgraded their Challenge and Onyx lines in 1996 with the Origin and Onyx 2, featuring the s to MP architecture and Cray link interconnect technology.
- The Onyx 2 variant included the InfiniteReality 2 graphics system for enhanced graphics capabilities.
13:27
Evolution of SGI Workstations and Servers
- The Origin 200 was upgraded to the Origin 2000, an S2 MP based server with a Cray link implementation and an R10000 processor.
- The SGI Octane, released in early 1997, used an improved version of the Indigo 2's Impact chipset and the R10000 processor.
- The Octane system architecture allowed for high bandwidth communications and support for multiple processors, making it a successful graphics and video workstation.
- SGI marketed the Octane with unique merchandise like a soundtrack album and various accessories.
- In 1998, SGI shifted focus towards Intel's Itanium architecture and Windows NT under new CEO Richard Belluzzo.
- SGI released the Visual Workstation 320 and 540 in 1999, running Windows NT with Intel Pentium II Xeon processors.
- In 1999, SGI changed its corporate identity to SGI and introduced the SGI 1000 server family running Red Hat Linux.
- SGI set up a separate business unit for Cray Research in 1999, preparing to separate Cray from SGI.
- In 2000, SGI acquired Intergraph's workstation and server divisions, adding x86-based products to their lineup.
- SGI released the Visual Workstation 230, 330, and 550 in 2000, the Octane 2 in June, and the Origin 3000 and Onyx 3000 in July.
27:31
SGI's Transition to Itanium Processors and Bankruptcy
- SGI planned to transition from MIPS to Itanium processors, with the Fuel workstation intended as the last MIPS product.
- Despite plans for a full transition to Itanium, SGI introduced the Origin 3000, Alltech 3000, and Ole Takes 350 Linux power titanium servers.
- The Origin 350, codenamed Chimera, was announced in April 2003, featuring vPro v12 graphics boards and sold as the Onyx 350.
- SGI later announced the Onyx 4 and Tesoro workstations, with the Tesoro being the final MIPS system using the MIPS R14000 and R16000 processors.
- The Tesoro, known for its video editing capabilities, marked the return of SGI's original cube logo and was highly valued among businesses and hobbyists.
- In April 2005, SGI introduced the Prism desk-side workstation, using Itanium processors and Linux, in a redesigned Tesoro case.
- SGI faced financial struggles, with market capitalization falling drastically by late 2005, leading to delisting from the NYSE and bankruptcy protection filing in May 2006.
- Despite financial difficulties, SGI continued to release products like the Altix 450 and Optix 330, with the Altix 4700 supporting up to 512 CPUs and 192 terabytes of memory.
