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[[Image:Sgi cube_logo.png|thumbnail|Original Cube Logo]]  
 
[[Image:Sgi cube_logo.png|thumbnail|Original Cube Logo]]  
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===First generation products===
 
===First generation products===
The first '''IRIS 1000'''-series machines (''IRIS'' standing for "Integrated Raster Imaging System") were designed to be connected to a DEC VAX computer as a graphics terminal, handling only the actual display. These were based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor, with a motherboard design related to that of the Sun-1. After that, SGI began using the UNIX System V operating system to power the machine. Their height was reached with the '''IRIS 3130''', a complete UNIX workstation using the Motorola 68020 with an attached Weitek math coprocessor.
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The first '''IRIS 1000'''-series machines (''IRIS'' standing for "Integrated Raster Imaging System") were designed to be connected to a DEC VAX computer as a graphics terminal, handling only the actual display. These were based on the [[Motorola 68000]] microprocessor, with a motherboard design related to that of the Sun-1. After that, SGI began using the UNIX System V operating system to power the machine. Their height was reached with the '''IRIS 3130''', a complete UNIX workstation using the [[Motorola 68020]] with an attached Weitek math coprocessor.
    
The 3130 was powerful enough to support a complete 3D animation and rendering package on its own without mainframe support. With large capacity hard drives (300MB X 2), streaming tape and Ethernet, it could be the centerpiece of an animation operation.
 
The 3130 was powerful enough to support a complete 3D animation and rendering package on its own without mainframe support. With large capacity hard drives (300MB X 2), streaming tape and Ethernet, it could be the centerpiece of an animation operation.
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This meant for the first time that fast, efficient, cross-platform graphics programs could be written.
 
This meant for the first time that fast, efficient, cross-platform graphics programs could be written.
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To this day, OpenGL remains the only real-time 3D graphics standard to be portable across a variety of operating systems. Its main competitor ('Direct3D' from Microsoft) runs only on MS Windows-based machines.
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To this day, [[OpenGL]] remains the only real-time 3D graphics standard to be portable across a variety of operating systems. Its main competitor ('Direct3D' from Microsoft) runs only on MS Windows-based machines.
    
===ACE Consortium===
 
===ACE Consortium===
SGI was part of the early-90s Advanced Computing Environment initiative with twenty others, including Compaq, Digital Equipment Corporation, MIPS Computer Systems, Groupe Bull, Siemens AG, NEC Corporation, NetPower, Microsoft and Santa Cruz Operation to introduce workstations based on the MIPS architecture and capable of running Windows NT and SCO UNIX. The group produced the Advanced RISC Computing or ARC specification. The consortium fell apart, apparently for political rather than technical reasons.
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SGI was part of the early-90s Advanced Computing Environment initiative with twenty others, including [[Compaq]], [[Digital Equipment Corporation]], [[MIPS Computer Systems]], Groupe Bull, Siemens AG, NEC Corporation, NetPower, [[Microsoft]] and Santa Cruz Operation to introduce workstations based on the [[MIPS architecture]] and capable of running Windows NT and SCO UNIX. The group produced the Advanced RISC Computing or ARC specification. The consortium fell apart, apparently for political rather than technical reasons.
    
===Entertainment Industry===
 
===Entertainment Industry===
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In 1995, SGI purchased Alias Research and Wavefront Technologies and merged the companies into Alias|Wavefront, now known as Alias Systems Corporation. Later, in June 2004, SGI sold Alias to the private equity investment firm Accel-KKR for $57.1 million. On October 4, 2005, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Alias for $182 million in cash.
 
In 1995, SGI purchased Alias Research and Wavefront Technologies and merged the companies into Alias|Wavefront, now known as Alias Systems Corporation. Later, in June 2004, SGI sold Alias to the private equity investment firm Accel-KKR for $57.1 million. On October 4, 2005, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Alias for $182 million in cash.
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In February 1996, SGI purchased the well-known supercomputer manufacturer Cray Research for $740 million[http://www.forbes.com/2000/03/03/mu4.html], and began to use marketing names such as "CrayLink" for (SGI-developed) technology integrated into the SGI server line. Three months later, it sold the SPARC/Solaris part of the Cray business to Sun Microsystems for an undisclosed amount (widely assumed to be $50 million).  SGI sold most of the remaining Cray business and the Cray brand to Tera Computer Company on March 31, 2000 for $35 million plus one million shares[http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2002/11/18/focus2.html]. SGI also distributed its remaining interest in MIPS Technologies through a spin-off effective June 20, 2000.
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In February 1996, SGI purchased the well-known supercomputer manufacturer [[Cray Research]] for $740 million[http://www.forbes.com/2000/03/03/mu4.html], and began to use marketing names such as "CrayLink" for (SGI-developed) technology integrated into the SGI server line. Three months later, it sold the SPARC/Solaris part of the Cray business to [[Sun Microsystems]] for an undisclosed amount (widely assumed to be $50 million).  SGI sold most of the remaining Cray business and the Cray brand to Tera Computer Company on March 31, 2000 for $35 million plus one million shares[http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2002/11/18/focus2.html]. SGI also distributed its remaining interest in [[MIPS Technologies]] through a spin-off effective June 20, 2000.
    
In September 2000, SGI acquired the Zx10 series of Windows workstations and servers from Intergraph Computer Systems. These models were rebadged as SGI systems, but discontinued in June 2001.
 
In September 2000, SGI acquired the Zx10 series of Windows workstations and servers from Intergraph Computer Systems. These models were rebadged as SGI systems, but discontinued in June 2001.
    
===Late 1990s and recent developments===
 
===Late 1990s and recent developments===
Another attempt by SGI in the late 1990s to introduce its own family of Intel-based workstations running Windows NT (see also [[SGI Visual Workstation]]) proved to be a financial disaster, and shook customer confidence in SGI's commitment to its own MIPS-based line.
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Another attempt by SGI in the late 1990s to introduce its own family of Intel-based workstations running Windows NT (see also [[SGI Visual Workstation]]) proved to be a financial disaster, and shook customer confidence in SGI's commitment to its own [[MIPS]]-based line.
    
SGI has also been a big booster of Free Software, supporting several projects (such as Linux and Samba) and providing some previously proprietary code (such as [[XFS]]) to the free software world.
 
SGI has also been a big booster of Free Software, supporting several projects (such as Linux and Samba) and providing some previously proprietary code (such as [[XFS]]) to the free software world.
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=====Workstations=====
 
=====Workstations=====
* Professional IRIS series (IRIS 4D/50/60/70/80/85)
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* Professional IRIS series ([[IRIS 4D]]/50/60/70/80/85)
* [[SGI Personal Iris|Personal IRIS]] series (IRIS 4D/20/25/30/35)
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* [[SGI Personal Iris|Personal IRIS]] series ([[IRIS 4D]]/20/25/30/35)
* IRIS Power Series (IRIS 4D/1x0/2x0/3x0/4x0)
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* IRIS Power Series ([[IRIS 4D]]/1x0/2x0/3x0/4x0)
 
* [[IRIS Crimson|IRIS Crimson (deskside workstation/server)]]
 
* [[IRIS Crimson|IRIS Crimson (deskside workstation/server)]]
 
* [[SGI Indigo|IRIS Indigo series (Indigo, Indigo R4000)]]
 
* [[SGI Indigo|IRIS Indigo series (Indigo, Indigo R4000)]]
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* Onyx R10000 (deskside and larger workstations)
 
* Onyx R10000 (deskside and larger workstations)
 
* [[SGI Onyx 350|Onyx 350]] (Origin 350 with graphics hardware)
 
* [[SGI Onyx 350|Onyx 350]] (Origin 350 with graphics hardware)
* Onyx 3000 (Origin 3000 with graphics hardware)
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* [[SGI Onyx 3000]] (Origin 3000 with graphics hardware)
* Onyx4 visualization system
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* [[SGI Onyx4]] visualization system
    
=====Servers=====
 
=====Servers=====
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* [[Altix 330]] mid-range server
 
* [[Altix 330]] mid-range server
 
* [[Altix 350|Altix 350 mid-range server]]
 
* [[Altix 350|Altix 350 mid-range server]]
* Altix 3000 high-end server
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* [[Altix 3000]] high-end server
 
* [[Prism|Prism high-end workstation]]
 
* [[Prism|Prism high-end workstation]]
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General Unofficial SGI Information
 
General Unofficial SGI Information
* [http://www.nekochan.net/ Nekochan - SGI enthusiast resource]
   
* [http://www.schrotthal.de/sgi/ Schrotthal.de - images of SGI systems]
 
* [http://www.schrotthal.de/sgi/ Schrotthal.de - images of SGI systems]
 
* [http://sgistuff.g-lenerz.de/ SGIstuff - information on SGI systems and technologies]
 
* [http://sgistuff.g-lenerz.de/ SGIstuff - information on SGI systems and technologies]
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[[Category:SGI]]
 
[[Category:SGI]]
 
[[Category:Computing]]
 
[[Category:Computing]]
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[[Category:Companies]]