SGI Indy

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For a time, SGI was an industry leader in graphical design and computer-aided design (CAD) workstations, but this performance came at a very high cost. Many workstation configuration prices reached into the six-figure range.

Introduced in 1993, the SGI Indy, code-named "Guinness", was SGI’s attempt at garnering a share in the low-end CAD market, dominated by Apple. Like many other offerings from SGI, the price of the Indy was completely based on customer configuration, but the Indy was a low-end option with a budget configuration of around of around $5,000 (USD).

Contained in a small form factor, the Indy belongs to the group of colourful and iconic workstations meant to fit underneath a monitor. In an era ruled by beige, the Bondi Blue "pizza box” case of the Indy was definitely striking. Indys could be found in various configurations depending on customer needs and the specific year of production, with the Challenge S being the server version. The SGI Indy ran from July 1993 to June 1997, from the R4000 to the R5000 models.

Dimensions  41 cm × 36 cm × 8 cm

Operating System  IRIX 6.2 IRIX 6.5.22

Processor  R4000, R4400, R4600 or R5000
Frequency  100 MHz, 133 MHz, 150 MHz, 175 MHz, 180 MHz, or 200 MHz
Memory  16 or 32 MB - Upgradeable to  a maximum configuration: 256 MB  via 8 * 32 MB SIMMs

Graphics  Newport Graphics (XL/XGE) or Express Graphics (XZ)

Connectors (Indy workstation):

Multimedia:
5 stereo 1/8" phone jacks, for headphone, microphone, speakers, etc.
1 composite video input
SVideo 4 pin Mini-DIN
60 pin Indycam connector
Networking:
15 pin AUI network connector
RJ45 ISDN connector
RJ45 10BaseT network connector
Input/Output:
2 Mini-DIN 6 pin PS/2 compatible mouse and keyboard ports
2 Mini-DIN 8 pin Mac compatible serial ports
50 pin SCSI-2 connector
DB25 female bidirectional parallel port
 

Connectors (Challenge S server):

Networking:
15 pin AUI network connector (primary interface)
RJ45 10BaseT network connector (secondary interface, IOPLUS)
RJ45 ISDN connector
Input/Output:
2 Mini-DIN 8 pin Mac compatible serial ports
50 pin SCSI-2 connector
68 pin SCSI-2 connector (IOPLUS)
68 pin SCSI-2 connector (IOPLUS)
DB25 female bidirectional parallel port

Workstation Owner’s Guides

Indy

http://www.sgistuff.net/hardware/systems/documents/007-9804-060-indy.pdf

Challenge S Server

http://www.sgistuff.net/hardware/systems/documents/007-2314-005-challenges.pdf

Manufacturer: SGI
Date: 12th July 1993



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SGI Indy Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
Challenge S Technical Report Silicon Graphics Jul 1994

SGI Indy Articles:

Item Manufacturer Date
Memories - Recollections of a Typewriter Mechanic John Holman 22 Aug 2012

Magazines RELATED to SGI Indy in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 9 - February 1983 Beebug Feb 1983
ZZap! 64 - September 1989 Newsfield May 1989
Zero - August 1991 Dennis Publishing 1 Aug 1991
Edge - Issue 122 - April 2003 Future Publishing Apr 2003
Edge - Issue 125 - July 2003 Future Publishing Jul 2003

Catalogues RELATED to SGI Indy in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
The Atari Video Computer System Catalog Atari 1981

Other Systems Related To SGI Indy:

Item Manufacturer Date
SGI Indigo SGI 1991
SGI Indigo 2 xZ SGI 1993
SGI Indigo 2 SGI 1993
SGI Indigo 2 Impact SGI 1993
SGI Origin 2000 SGI 1996
SGI Origin 200 SGI 1996
SGI O2 SGI 1996
SGI Challenge 10000 SGI 1996
SGI Octane SGI 1997
SGI 540 Visual Workstation SGI 2000
SGI 320 Visual Workstation SGI 1st January 2000
SGI Octane 2 SGI 2003
SGI Origin 350 SGI April 2003

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH11261. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

SGI Indy

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