SGI Onyx

SGI Onyx is a series of visualization systems designed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in 1993 and offered in two models, deskside and rackmount, codenamed Eveready and Terminator respectively. The Onyx's basic system architecture is based on the SGI Challenge servers, but with graphics hardware.

Onyx

Deskside Onyx
Manufacturer	Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Type	Graphics supercomputer
Release date	January 1993 (January 1993)
Introductory price	US$119,900–594,900 (with VTX graphics) US$159,900—634,900 (with RealityEngine2)
Discontinued	March 31, 1999 (1999-03-31)
Operating system	IRIX 5.0–6.5.22 (for R10000 CPU models)
CPU	MIPS R4400, MIPS R10000
Memory	64 MB to 16 GB
Storage	Up to 30 GB internal disk; expandable to 2 TB total storage
Graphics	VTX RealityEngine2
Platform	MIPS
Predecessor	SGI Crimson
Successor	SGI Onyx2
Related	SGI Challenge
Website	web.archive.org/web/19970605012949/http://www.sgi.com/Products/hardware/Onyx/Products/sys_lineup.html

Onyx IO Ports

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 impressively high price of US$100,000–US$250,000 for such kits.

The Onyx was succeeded by the Onyx2 in 1996 and was discontinued on March 31, 1999.

CPU

IP19 with quad R4400s

The deskside variant can accept one CPU board, and the rackmount variant can take up to six CPU boards. Both models were launched with the IP19 CPU board with one, two, or four MIPS R4400 CPUs, initially with 100 and 150 MHz options and 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 CPUs at 195 MHz.

Graphics

The Onyx was launched with the RealityEngine2 or VTX graphics subsystems, and InfiniteReality was introduced in 1995.

RealityEngine2

The RealityEngine2 is the original high-end graphics subsystem for the Onyx and was found in two different versions: deskside and rack. The deskside model has one GE10 (Geometry Engine) board with 12 Intel i860XP processors, up to four RM4 or RM5 (Raster Manager) boards, and a DG2 (Display Generator) board. The rack model differs by supporting up to three RealityEngine2 pipes (display outputs) vs the single pipe of the deskside.

VTX

The VTX graphics subsystem is a cost reduced version of the RealityEngine2, using the same hardware but in a feature reduced configuration that can not be upgraded. It consists of one GE10 board (6 Intel i860XP processors vs 12 in RE2), a single RM4 or RM5 board, and a DG2 board.

InfiniteReality

InfiniteReality succeeded RealityEngine2 as the high-end graphics subsystem for the Onyx when introduced in 1996. As with RealityEngine2, two versions correspond to the form factors of the Onyx. The deskside version consists of a GE12 board, one or two RM6 boards (limited due to the amount of cooling the deskside system provides), and a DG4 board. The rack model increases the number of RM6 boards supported to four per pipe and allows up to three pipes to be installed resulting in an Onyx rack with a maximum of three GE12 boards, three DG4 boards, and twelve RM6 boards.

Usage

An Onyx system with RealityEngine2 graphics was used by CBS News for a broadcast of real-time election results. The broadcast had 3D graphics that were generated live that had updated news feeds in real time. This required the video to be composited live in 3D for the viewers, which was done using an Onyx system. This is one of the first examples of a real-time 3D video compositing system used in a television broadcast.

SGI timeline

Further reading

• POWER Onyx and Onyx Deskside Owner's Guide (document number: 007-1733-070).
• POWER Onyx and Onyx Rackmount Owner's Guide (document number: 007-1736-060).