On release SGI systems could be bought for £22000+ back then they were light years ahead of PC systems for CG. Do these systems still offer reasonable performance in comparison to a decent PC workstation today equipped with Firepro or Quadro cards? Any information or comparisons would be greatly appreciated.
@Mydadsdog SGI with MIPS technology made hardware that was perfectly targeted for CGI computing. They excelled a that even if the RAM & CPU Freq was lower than PC hardware. They were many folds faster in real world processing. But the set of targeted task became so wide as technology adavanced, SGI could not keep up.
@psyjax2 When the Octane was new, it was way faster than the PCs of the time. I recall doing comparative speed tests at the time. Then the DEC Alpha came out and blew both the PC and Octane away. Intel and Compaq purchased the Alpha technology, and out of 'nowhere' appears the Pentium II. And that's when the PC overtook the SGI Octane and the DEC Alpha.
Any PS/2 keyboard will work with an Octane. SGI hasn't used proprietary keyboards since the original Onyx. Even then you can actually buy/build adaptors using microcontrollers to do the conversion, as it happens.
Btw, I completely forgot: on the fromtplane (at least that is how I used to call the backplane in the Octane) that connector which looks like a serial port is the service port.
I love your videos, they are really good and in the same time entertaining as well so these short videos can chear me up.
Especially the Onyx cluster was awesome. I wish I would have just 30% of the old SGI stuff that you have. Here in Europe even a Darn O2 or Octane gonna cost you an arm and a leg, so personally I never even dream about having a Tezro or an Onyx.
I can dream about a Tezro... I just know it won't happen until five/ten years from now when they're second-hand and being dumped by people like Boeing :)
Anyway, you seems to be a lucky guy who is happy in what he is doing, and that is what matters in life.
OFF topic: I got to admit that till now from your voice I would have thought that you are also a fat guy like myself, but now we could all see that this is not the case ;)
If I may ask, how does your wife tolerates all that HW in the basement? I am just asking because my last two girlfriends were not particularly happy about me spending more time with my "real beauties".
I've been blessed with an insane metabolism, it's the only reason I'm not a hefty fellow, given my sedentary lifestyle and the crap that I eat :)
Usually my wife stays out of the basement, which helps, but she also has her vices (we have one bedroom completely filled with scrapbooking and stamping supplies), which pretty much seals the deal. Plus... she's pretty cool ;)
@jpkiwigeek "Usually my wife stays out of the basement, which helps, but she also has her vices (we have one bedroom completely filled with scrapbooking and stamping supplies), which pretty much seals the deal. Plus... she's pretty cool ;)"
You both sound cool, it's a pity you live that far away, otherwise I would hop by one day.
Very nice computer. Id get one but the only ones I can find are $300+. If it it is a stock original it should have a 270 mHZ processor and 1 gig of RAM. The later design of the Octane 1 actually had a darker case.
Well, compared to the rest of the stuff what you got, a Tezro would be a minor thing to buy. In fact, I got no idea how you manage to score all these marvelous SGi and Sun stuff. I am saying this because despite the fact, that I work with HPC clusters, I do not like them. They look pretty much the same without a real "personality". So, till now I could get only an Octane (the machine on which I have started as a newby a good while ago), and a Fuel.
thanks for sharing. never even seen one of these.
phoxetis 2 months ago
You dont need 14 of them.. .send me one :)
sabbathian 4 months ago
The design is reminiscent of the NeXTdimension of the early '90s; albeit much, much more powerful. :)
TheyRiseBand 7 months ago
On release SGI systems could be bought for £22000+ back then they were light years ahead of PC systems for CG. Do these systems still offer reasonable performance in comparison to a decent PC workstation today equipped with Firepro or Quadro cards? Any information or comparisons would be greatly appreciated.
Mydadsdog 7 months ago
@Mydadsdog SGI with MIPS technology made hardware that was perfectly targeted for CGI computing. They excelled a that even if the RAM & CPU Freq was lower than PC hardware. They were many folds faster in real world processing. But the set of targeted task became so wide as technology adavanced, SGI could not keep up.
Neojhun 5 months ago
Funny to think how all this hardware was needed to basically match what a ~5 year old PC could do.
psyjax2 10 months ago
@psyjax2 When the Octane was new, it was way faster than the PCs of the time. I recall doing comparative speed tests at the time. Then the DEC Alpha came out and blew both the PC and Octane away. Intel and Compaq purchased the Alpha technology, and out of 'nowhere' appears the Pentium II. And that's when the PC overtook the SGI Octane and the DEC Alpha.
nebby6 1 month ago
Beautiful ^-^
imperiajor 1 year ago
@ramquez31 Huzzah! Congratulations :)
jpkiwigeek 1 year ago
Great stuff, thanks for the post.
HunterGregorySr 1 year ago
mine is complete with irix and a 13wto vga adapter i don't have the right keyboard
markchox 2 years ago
Any PS/2 keyboard will work with an Octane. SGI hasn't used proprietary keyboards since the original Onyx. Even then you can actually buy/build adaptors using microcontrollers to do the conversion, as it happens.
jpkiwigeek 2 years ago
Btw, I completely forgot: on the fromtplane (at least that is how I used to call the backplane in the Octane) that connector which looks like a serial port is the service port.
hokibacsi1 2 years ago
What's the service port used for? Board testing?
jpkiwigeek 2 years ago
yes, at the factory. But I had to get a new frontplane and the new one doesn't have the port. :( not that I ever used it.
sybrfreq 2 years ago
I love your videos, they are really good and in the same time entertaining as well so these short videos can chear me up.
Especially the Onyx cluster was awesome. I wish I would have just 30% of the old SGI stuff that you have. Here in Europe even a Darn O2 or Octane gonna cost you an arm and a leg, so personally I never even dream about having a Tezro or an Onyx.
Keep it going man!
hokibacsi1 2 years ago
Thank you much.
I can dream about a Tezro... I just know it won't happen until five/ten years from now when they're second-hand and being dumped by people like Boeing :)
jpkiwigeek 2 years ago
Anyway, you seems to be a lucky guy who is happy in what he is doing, and that is what matters in life.
OFF topic: I got to admit that till now from your voice I would have thought that you are also a fat guy like myself, but now we could all see that this is not the case ;)
If I may ask, how does your wife tolerates all that HW in the basement? I am just asking because my last two girlfriends were not particularly happy about me spending more time with my "real beauties".
hokibacsi1 2 years ago
I've been blessed with an insane metabolism, it's the only reason I'm not a hefty fellow, given my sedentary lifestyle and the crap that I eat :)
Usually my wife stays out of the basement, which helps, but she also has her vices (we have one bedroom completely filled with scrapbooking and stamping supplies), which pretty much seals the deal. Plus... she's pretty cool ;)
jpkiwigeek 2 years ago
@jpkiwigeek "Usually my wife stays out of the basement, which helps, but she also has her vices (we have one bedroom completely filled with scrapbooking and stamping supplies), which pretty much seals the deal. Plus... she's pretty cool ;)"
You both sound cool, it's a pity you live that far away, otherwise I would hop by one day.
3ytc 1 year ago
Very nice computer. Id get one but the only ones I can find are $300+. If it it is a stock original it should have a 270 mHZ processor and 1 gig of RAM. The later design of the Octane 1 actually had a darker case.
btw 0'th view
Dms12444 2 years ago
I'd be happy to send you one, but the shipping costs would be simply evil...!
jpkiwigeek 2 years ago
Well, compared to the rest of the stuff what you got, a Tezro would be a minor thing to buy. In fact, I got no idea how you manage to score all these marvelous SGi and Sun stuff. I am saying this because despite the fact, that I work with HPC clusters, I do not like them. They look pretty much the same without a real "personality". So, till now I could get only an Octane (the machine on which I have started as a newby a good while ago), and a Fuel.
Hit the 500 Character limit dangit!
hokibacsi1 2 years ago