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| === Graphics Subsystem === | | === Graphics Subsystem === |
| | | |
− | Graphics on the Octane are provided by a series of cards: SI, SI+T, SSI, MXI. These are updated [[XIO]] versions of Solid Impact (SI), High Impact (SI+T) and Maximum Impact (MXI) from the [[SGI Indigo2]] that were internally designated by SGI as 'MARDIGRAS'. The boards were accelerated and re-engineered with faster geometry engine and texture modules to create their new versions: SE, SE+T, SSE, EMXI. The SI/SE provides 13.5MB of framebuffer memory while the SSE and MXE have a 27MB framebuffer. | + | [[Octane Graphics Boards]] initially included a series of cards: SI, SI+T, SSI, MXI. These are updated [[XIO]] versions of SGI's [[IMPACT]] graphics systems that originated on the [[SGI Indigo2]] including [[SGI Solid IMPACT]] (SI), [[SGI High IMPACT]] (SI+T) and [[SGI Maximum IMPACT]] (MXI with TRAM and SSI without TRAM). These were internally designated by SGI as 'MARDIGRAS' (MGRAS). The boards were later accelerated and re-engineered with faster geometry engine and texture modules to create new versions: SE, SE+T, SSE, EMXI (like the initial versions, the underlying EMXI and SSE boards are identical, however the EMXI includes TRAM). The SI/SE provides 13.5MB of framebuffer memory while the SSE and EMXI have a 27MB framebuffer. |
| + | |
| + | SI/SSI and SE/SSE don't come with texture RAM by default. These |
| + | graphics options are meant for solid modeling applications that don't |
| + | need texturing. One Texture RAM module (TRAM) can be added to SI and SE |
| + | graphics. Two TRAM modules can be added to SSI and SSE graphics. |
| + | |
| + | * MXI = SSI + 2 TRAM |
| + | * MXE = SSE + 2 TRAM |
| + | |
| The '+T' indicates an additional high speed RDRAM texture board which gives 4MB of texture memory, which is practically indispensable, though quite expensive and fragile. The SI/SE+T has one texture board while the MXI/EMXI has 2 texture boards, however, the 2 boards in the MXI/EMXI do not double the available texture memory to the system. It just doubles the texture performance. | | The '+T' indicates an additional high speed RDRAM texture board which gives 4MB of texture memory, which is practically indispensable, though quite expensive and fragile. The SI/SE+T has one texture board while the MXI/EMXI has 2 texture boards, however, the 2 boards in the MXI/EMXI do not double the available texture memory to the system. It just doubles the texture performance. |
| | | |
− | Later Octanes and Octane2s support the [[VPro]] graphics board series, designated 'ODYSSEY'. The first [[VPro]] series cards were the [[V6]] and [[V8]]. The main differentiator being that the [[V6]] has 32MB of RAM (unlike the MARDI GRAS option, framebuffer memory and texture memory come from the same pool) and [[V8]] having 128MB. Later, the [[V10]] (32MB) and [[V12]] (128MB) were introduced. The main difference with the new [[VPro]] [[V10]]/[[V12]] series is that they had double the geometry performance of the older [[V6]]/[[V8]]. [[V6]] and [[V10]] can have up to 8MB RAM allocated to textures (2X more than the textured-enabled MARDIGRAS options), while [[V8]] and [[V12]] can have up to 108MB RAM used for textures. | + | |
| + | {| border="1" cellpadding="2" |
| + | |'''Board Name''' |
| + | |'''Indigo2 IMPACT equivalent''' |
| + | |- |
| + | |SI |
| + | |Solid IMPACT |
| + | |- |
| + | |SI+Texture |
| + | |High IMPACT |
| + | |- |
| + | |SSI |
| + | |No equivalent (Maximum IMPACT - No Texture) |
| + | |- |
| + | |SSI+Texture |
| + | |Maximum IMPACT (i.e. MXI) |
| + | |- |
| + | |MXI |
| + | |Maximum IMPACT |
| + | |} |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | {| border="1" cellpadding="2" |
| + | |'''Board Name''' |
| + | |'''Comments''' |
| + | |- |
| + | |SE |
| + | |E series version of SI (also known as ESI) |
| + | |- |
| + | |SE+Texture |
| + | |E series version of SI+Texture |
| + | |- |
| + | |SSE |
| + | |E series version of SSI (also known as ESSI) |
| + | |- |
| + | |SSE+Texture |
| + | |E series version of Maximum IMPACT |
| + | |- |
| + | |MXE |
| + | |E series version of Maximum IMPACT (also known as EMXI) |
| + | |} |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | Later Octanes and Octane2s support the [[VPro]] graphics board series, designated 'ODYSSEY' (ODSY). The first [[VPro]] series cards were the [[V6]] and [[V8]]. The main differentiator being that the [[V6]] has 32MB of RAM (unlike the MARDI GRAS option, framebuffer memory and texture memory come from the same pool) and [[V8]] having 128MB. Later, the [[V10]] (32MB) and [[V12]] (128MB) were introduced. The main difference with the new [[VPro]] [[V10]]/[[V12]] series is that they had double the geometry performance of the older [[V6]]/[[V8]]. They also do not have the [[V6/V8_Pixel_Clock_Issues]] that can greatly impact usability of V6/V8 cards on some monitors. [[V6]] and [[V10]] can have up to 8MB RAM allocated to textures (2X more than the textured-enabled MARDIGRAS options), while [[V8]] and [[V12]] can have up to 108MB RAM used for textures. |
| | | |
| The [[VPro]] graphics subsystem consists of an SGI proprietary chip set and associated software. The chip set consists of the buzz ASIC, pixel blaster and jammer (PB&J) ASIC, and associated SDRAM. | | The [[VPro]] graphics subsystem consists of an SGI proprietary chip set and associated software. The chip set consists of the buzz ASIC, pixel blaster and jammer (PB&J) ASIC, and associated SDRAM. |
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| |- | | |- |
| |MXI | | |MXI |
− | |MXE | + | |EMXI |
| |2 | | |2 |
| |2 | | |2 |
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| | | |
| | | |
− | '''Compatibility''': The [[V6]]/[[V8]] boards have been shown to work with any [[XBow]] version, but the [[V10]]/[[V12]] boards do appear to require an [[XBow]] 1.4 frontplane. The official [[VPro]] upgrade docs, including SGI's system requirements, can be found on [http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=hdwr&db=bks&fname=/SGI_EndUser/VPro_Upgrade/pr01.html TechPubs]. Forum threads on the topic can be found [http://forums.nekochan.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16724537&p=7333522#p7333522 here]. | + | '''Compatibility''': The [[V6]]/[[V8]] boards have been shown to work with any [[XBow]] version, but the [[V10]]/[[V12]] boards do appear to require an [[XBow]] 1.4 frontplane. The official [[VPro]] upgrade docs, including SGI's system requirements, can be found on [http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=hdwr&db=bks&fname=/SGI_EndUser/VPro_Upgrade/pr01.html TechPubs]. |
| + | |
| + | SI/SSI/MXI/SE/SSE/MXE graphics support the Octane Personal Video Option and the Octane Digital Video Option. The PVO or DVO won't work with VPro series graphics options. VPro |
| + | series graphics require the newer DMPro video options. |
| | | |
| ==== More Information ==== | | ==== More Information ==== |
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| == Cooling == | | == Cooling == |
| | | |
− | The Octane uses three fans to route air throughout the system and cool key components. The largest fan, at 120mm x 38mm, is in the power supply unit (PSU). This fan pulls air through the PSU and exhausts it out the rear of the machine. In Cherokee PSUs, this fan is a Panaflo FBA12G12U. The other large fan is a 90mm x 25mm intake fan behind the SCSI cage. This fan pushes air into the machine from the rear fan opening. It also feeds vents that directly route air over the CPU. The stock intake fan is a Panaflo FBAU9A12V. Note that a 120mm fan can fit into this space, but doing so requires substantial modifications to make the fan clear the locking bar catch mechanism in addition to removing material from the plastic shroud. The final fan is a small 60mm x 10mm fan in the front of the machine that blows air over the heart ASIC. One version of this OEM fan is an "ICFAN" model 0610-12L. | + | The Octane uses three fans to route air throughout the system and cool key components. The largest fan, at 120mm x 38mm, is in the power supply unit (PSU). This fan pulls air through the PSU and exhausts it out the rear of the machine. In Cherokee PSUs, this fan is a Panaflo FBA12G12U. The other large fan is a 90mm x 25mm intake fan behind the SCSI cage. This fan pushes air into the machine from the rear fan opening. It also feeds vents that directly route air over the CPU. The stock intake fan is a Panaflo FBAU9A12V. Note that a 120mm fan can fit into this space, but doing so requires substantial modifications to make the fan clear the locking bar catch mechanism in addition to removing material from the plastic shroud. The final fan is a small 60mm x 10mm fan in the front of the machine that blows air over the crossbow ASIC. One version of this OEM fan is an "ICFAN" model 0610-12L. |
| | | |
| The PSU fan operates at variable speed. You can force the fan to operate at max speed by setting the below environment variable: | | The PSU fan operates at variable speed. You can force the fan to operate at max speed by setting the below environment variable: |
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| </pre> | | </pre> |
| | | |
− | The PSU fan will also operate at maximum speed if there is an XIO card in Slot C, which is the the lower-outside slot (bottom right when looking at the rear of the Octane). | + | The PSU fan will also operate at maximum speed if there is an XIO card in Slot C, which is the the lower-outside slot (bottom right when looking at the rear of the Octane). |
| | | |
| == Available Operating Systems == | | == Available Operating Systems == |
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| 1. NogaNet TENDA TED8620R (Ethernet) | | 1. NogaNet TENDA TED8620R (Ethernet) |
| | | |
| + | === Internal SCSI Drives === |
| + | |
| + | [[File:SGI Octane caddy.jpg|thumb|right|SGI Octane Internal SCSI Bay Caddy]] |
| + | |
| + | All Octanes have three internal 3.5" full-height SCSI bays with industry-standard 80-pin SCA connectors. A specialized SGI caddy is required to securely mount a hard drive in the Octane. OEM caddys are sometimes offered on ebay, while [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2512810 3D printed replacement designs] are also available. Due to their wide availability, very fast speed, large capacities, and backwards compatibility with the Octane's Ultra Wide SCSI bus (40MB/Sec maximum), secondhand U-320 15,000 RPM SCSI drives are often recommended as replacement hard drives. |
| | | |
| === Case and Expandability === | | === Case and Expandability === |
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| The Octane cases are large (W×H×D: 30×40×35 cm) and heavy (25 kg), yet there are no internal 5.25" drive bays, so external CD-ROM drives must be connected if desired. Extensions include video I/O, audio I/O, networking, realtime video compression boards, and external storage options (through [[SCSI]], Fibre-Channel or [[FireWire]]). Octanes can use standard [[PCI]] cards with optional PCI cardcage aka '[[Shoebox|shoebox]]' (which provides 2-full length and 1 half-length 5V PCI-64 slots), or a [[PCI]] to XIO adaptor (known as a '[[Shoehorn|shoehorn]]' which provides a single 3.3/5V 64-bit PCI slot). | | The Octane cases are large (W×H×D: 30×40×35 cm) and heavy (25 kg), yet there are no internal 5.25" drive bays, so external CD-ROM drives must be connected if desired. Extensions include video I/O, audio I/O, networking, realtime video compression boards, and external storage options (through [[SCSI]], Fibre-Channel or [[FireWire]]). Octanes can use standard [[PCI]] cards with optional PCI cardcage aka '[[Shoebox|shoebox]]' (which provides 2-full length and 1 half-length 5V PCI-64 slots), or a [[PCI]] to XIO adaptor (known as a '[[Shoehorn|shoehorn]]' which provides a single 3.3/5V 64-bit PCI slot). |
| | | |
− | Older Octanes can be upgraded with [[VPro]] graphics. The [http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=hdwr&db=bks&fname=/SGI_EndUser/VPro_Upgrade/pr01.html VPro Upgrade Installation Guide] from [[Silicon Graphics]] states that [[V10]] and [[V12]] graphics board require an [[XBow]] revision 1.4 and Cherokee power supply. [[VPro]] [[V6]] and [[V8]] require a Cherokee power supply; any [[XBow]] revision will work. However, some users in the field have found that any version of [[VPro]] graphics will work with any power supply and frontplane (needs verification). | + | Older Octanes can be upgraded with [[VPro]] graphics. The [https://techpubs.jurassic.nl/library/manuals/4000/007-4210-003/pdf/007-4210-003.pdf VPro Upgrade Installation Guide] from [[Silicon Graphics]] states that [[V10]] and [[V12]] graphics board require an [[XBow]] revision 1.4 and Cherokee power supply. [[VPro]] [[V6]] and [[V8]] require a Cherokee power supply; any [[XBow]] revision will work. However, some users in the field have found that any version of [[VPro]] graphics will work with any power supply and frontplane (needs verification). |
| | | |
| There's an easy way to (usually) identify the difference between Cherokee (747 W) and older Lucent (623 W) power supplies. The mounting handle is silver on the Cherokee International manufactured power supplies while the original Lucent manufactured ones have black handles. Unfortunately, the handles can become damaged and are very easy to replace, not necessarily with the original color. Caveat emptor. | | There's an easy way to (usually) identify the difference between Cherokee (747 W) and older Lucent (623 W) power supplies. The mounting handle is silver on the Cherokee International manufactured power supplies while the original Lucent manufactured ones have black handles. Unfortunately, the handles can become damaged and are very easy to replace, not necessarily with the original color. Caveat emptor. |
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| === LED Lightbar === | | === LED Lightbar === |
| | | |
− | Octanes came from the factory with two ways to illuminate the lightbar mounted in the front of their case - a red LED to indicate a fault, and a pair of small incandescent lightbulbs for normal operation. However these lightbulbs will eventually fail. A popular remedy is to replace them with different colord LEDs rather than using another bulb. | + | Octanes came from the factory with two ways to illuminate the lightbar mounted in the front of their case - a red LED to indicate a fault, and a pair of small incandescent lightbulbs for normal operation. However these lightbulbs will eventually fail. A popular remedy is to replace them with different colored LEDs rather than using another bulb. |
− | There is a youtube video of a lightbar dissasembly and modification [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq8sLqtzCEQ here]. | + | There is a youtube video of a lightbar disassembly and modification [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq8sLqtzCEQ here]. |
| | | |
− | [[File:Octane Lightbar LED Mofication.jpg|thumb|LED Lightbard modification]] | + | When viewed from the top/front of the lightbar, as in the photo below (and as it would be installed in the machine), +5V common is the leftmost pin., with the rightmost pin the ground for the normal operation (white) lights. In the photo below a 68 Ohm resistor has been placed between +5V common and the positive (long) leg of two blue LEDs. The negative (short) LED legs are attached to the two ground pins of the former incandescent lights. There is no requirement for there to be a light in both locations. |
| + | |
| + | [[File:Octane Lightbar LED Mofication.jpg|thumb|LED Lightbar modification]] |
| | | |
| == Troubleshooting == | | == Troubleshooting == |
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| | | |
| Apparently the Number In a Can, or NIC, which stores the system serial number in many SGI workstations, can go bad and require replacement. On a single CPU module for the Octane this is a surface mounted 6-pin IC designated DS2505. It is possible to swap in the NIC from another module. | | Apparently the Number In a Can, or NIC, which stores the system serial number in many SGI workstations, can go bad and require replacement. On a single CPU module for the Octane this is a surface mounted 6-pin IC designated DS2505. It is possible to swap in the NIC from another module. |
| + | |
| + | ===Octane crashing/instability=== |
| + | ''I'm having some issues with my Octane. It's an R10k@250Mhz/512mb/SSE machine, and it doesn't seem to be able to stay up more than 2 weeks. When it crashes, it typically goes without provocation (sometimes I'll happen to be using it, sometimes it goes at night), the whole machine freezes (can't ping it externally). The display always freezes the same way, the current image on the screen holds indefinetely irregardless of peripheral input, but the colors look like film negatives of what they are supposed to be.'' |
| + | |
| + | '''Reports and recommendations from usenet:''' |
| + | |
| + | It may be a bad IP30 board version -003 which must be replaced by an IP30 board with a higher version number (-005) or by a new design of that board (part 030-1467-001 or later). Report the version number of the board you have (for instance, IP30 board, barcode HHL594, part 030-0887-004 rev C). The version number is shown on the IP30 board but can also be read under IRIX by 'hinv -mv'. Look for a line similar to: |
| + | <pre> |
| + | Location: /hw/node/xtalk/15 |
| + | IP30 Board: barcode HHL594 part 030-0887-003 rev C |
| + | </pre> |
| + | If it is IP30 board 030-0887-003 or -004, remove the power cord, ground yourself, remove the system module, put it on a flat surface with the components facing you, and press the module with the black heat sink in the center of the board firmly against the surface. Reassemble and restart the machine. |
| + | |
| + | This succeeded in 10 of 10 cases with 10 different Octanes I know of. However, in some other cases the defect showed-up again after some time. |
| + | |
| + | I removed the system boards and reseated the memory, cleaned the dust off the connections and it booted up right away. In some cases reseating the system module did the trick. May be it is necessary to repeat the procedure several times. However, some system modules shut-off and could not be brought back by this method. |
| + | ---- |
| + | Removed the system module and installed it into another Octane: no success, only fan and light on. Installed the system module back into the original Octane: no success, only fan and light on. Then unplugged the power cable, depressed the power button and while it was depressed I plugged the power cable in again: the machine came- up as usual. |
| + | |
| + | * Let the Octane cool down long enough and turn it on again. |
| + | * Look for a sticking plastic power switch lever. Remove the front panel, start the machine with the chassis button, and then replace the front panel. This helped more than once. |
| + | * Keep the air intakes clean, cooling is critical. |
| + | ---- |
| + | Try to take out the mainboard (and eventually power supply), clean it and its connectors from dust (with compressed air), put it all together and try again - we have much strange errors with Octanes that could be solved like this. |
| + | ---- |
| + | I have 0887-003 (large central black heat sink) and 0887-005 (smaller central silver heat sink) IP30s and the problems occur/have occurred with both ie. power supply fan starts when machine is connected to wall socket but nothing else happens - no LED, no response to power button. Don't know about the 0887-004 boards or the later 1467-00x boards. |
| + | |
| + | Only hints I can get are that its the HEART and SPIDER chips under the central heat sink on the IP30 which cause most of the problems (see Ralf Beyer's earlier messages about pressing on the heat sink - a friend just emailed me with success by doing this but it hasn't worked on my 005 board so maybe it has something else wrong :-() and that you'll definitely get this problem if you don't keep the air intakes clean so it looks like cooling is critical too (not terribly surprising). Lastly, as mentioned earlier, it looks like transporting them doesn't help either as they seem to like being dead on arrival - I don't think I'd buy one without a warranty! |
| + | ---- |
| + | The IP30 board is 030-0887-004 Rev A. I took out the system module, placed it on a flat surface al la the instructions, pressed firmly on the central silver heat sink, reassembled the unit and bingo the Octane came straight back up. Amazing!! Initially I thought I would end up with a pretty green door stop. Thanks a lot for the help. |
| + | |
| + | ===Enable/disable secondary CPU=== |
| + | In the PROM monitor, use "disable 1" to disable the second CPU. Power-cycle and reboot. IRIX will report on startup that it found 2 CPUs, but one CPU was disabled. Do the same but using "enable 1" in PROM monitor to enable the CPU. |
| + | |
| + | ===System module stuck in chassis=== |
| + | As I recall, the some part of the shielding can occasionally get bent and jam the system module when it's removed roughly about 2 inches from the case. |
| + | |
| + | Luckily, SGI had the foresight to include a tool to deal with this: the lockbar. Slide it into the gap between the system module and the case at whatever point feels like it's sticking, it should be just thin enough and plenty long to reach in and unhook the bent piece of shielding. |
| + | |
| + | If all else fails, you should be able to remove the frontplane from the system with the system module only partly extracted. The instructions on how to do so (minus the hung-up system module) are available in the Octane Owner's Manual. |
| + | |
| + | Don't forget to bend the shielding back into place when you're done extracting the system module. |
| + | |
| + | There are 3 main reasons for not being able to remove an IP30 board from an Octane. They are (in order of how common): |
| + | # Lockbar still in place |
| + | # DIMM modules fallen out of the DIMM slots, lying in the bottom of the Octane chassis, keeping things from operating smoothly (hint - set the Octane on its top side and re-insert the board) |
| + | # The aforementioned bent metal bars on the honeycomb air filters. (hint - use the lockbar as a prybar as suggested). |
| | | |
| | | |
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| | | |
| --> | | --> |
| + | |
| + | ==Notes== |
| + | * You should never attempt to clean the compression connectors with anything other than the exact procedure described in the octane manuals. The connectors are extremely fragile and damage prone when they're apart, and can be destroyed simply by touching them, contamination with any number of things, or even by too strong a blast from a spray-duster. |
| + | |
| + | [[File:SGI Octane Compression Connectors.jpg|thumb|right|The brown connectors are very sensitive compression connectors that carry data between the frontplane and the motherboard/XIO cards.]] |
| | | |
| == External links == | | == External links == |
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| * [http://www.linux-mips.org/~skylark/ "Speedracer" Linux port status page] | | * [http://www.linux-mips.org/~skylark/ "Speedracer" Linux port status page] |
| * [http://www.k-huhn.com/octane_mod/ SGI Octane LED Lightbar] | | * [http://www.k-huhn.com/octane_mod/ SGI Octane LED Lightbar] |
| + | * [https://forums.irixnet.org/thread-1858-page-2.html?highlight=Compression+3-d 3-D Printed Compression Connector Covers at irixnet.org] |
| | | |
| == Manuals == | | == Manuals == |
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| | | |
| [[Category:SGI]] [[Category:Computing]] | | [[Category:SGI]] [[Category:Computing]] |
| + | [[Category:MIPS]] |