SGI Onyx2

The SGI Onyx2, code name Kego, is a family of visualization systems developed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in 1996. The Onyx2's basic system architecture is based on the Origin 2000 servers, but with the notable inclusion of graphics hardware. The Onyx2 was succeeded by the Onyx 3000 in 2000 and was discontinued on 27 June 2003. These systems ran either IRIX 6.4 or 6.5.

Microprocessor

The Onyx2 used the MIPS R10000 microprocessor clocked at 150, 175, 180 and 195 MHz, later increased to 250 MHz, courtesy of a process shrink from 0.35 to 0.25 microns.

Graphics subsystem

At the time of their introduction, the Onyx2 could be configured with the Reality, InfiniteReality or InfiniteReality2 graphics subsystems. Later, the InifiniteReality 3 graphics was made available in April 2000.

Reality

The Reality graphics subsystem used the GE14 geometry engine, RM8 raster manager and DG5 display generator.

InfiniteReality

The InfiniteReality used the GE14, RM7, DG5.

InfiniteReality2

The InfiniteReality2 is an upgraded model of the Infinite Reality introduced in 1998. It features the GE16 geometry engine, RM9 raster manager and DG5 display generator.

InfiniteReality3

The InifiniteReality is an upgraded model of the Infinite Reality 2 introduced in April 2000. It features the GE16 geometry engine, RM10 raster manager and DG5 display generator.

References

• Onyx2 Reality, Onyx2 InfiniteReality and Onyx2 InfiniteReality2 Technical Report, August 1998, Silicon Graphics

Model	# of CPUs	Memory	# of graphics pipelines	Chassis	Introduced	Discontinued
Onyx2 Deskside	1 or 4	128 MB to 8 GB	1	Deskside	?	?
Onyx2 Single Rack	2 to 8	128 MB to 16 GB	1	Single rack	?	?
Onyx2 Multi-Rack	4 to 128	256 MB to 256 GB	16	?	?	?