SGI Onyx

Onyx
Deskside Onyx
ManufacturerSilicon Graphics, Inc.
TypeGraphics supercomputer
Release dateJanuary 1993 (January 1993)
Introductory price
  • US$119,900–594,900 (with VTX graphics)
  • US$159,900—634,900 (with RealityEngine2)
DiscontinuedMarch 31, 1999 (1999-03-31)
Operating systemIRIX 5.0–6.5.22 (for R10000 CPU models)
CPUMIPS R4400, MIPS R10000
Memory64 MB to 16 GB
StorageUp to 30 GB internal disk; expandable to 2 TB total storage
Graphics
PlatformMIPS
PredecessorSGI Crimson
SuccessorSGI Onyx2
RelatedSGI Challenge
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/19970605012949/http://www.sgi.com/Products/hardware/Onyx/Products/sys_lineup.html
Onyx IO Ports

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.

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[1]US$250,000[2] for such kits.

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

  1. ^ "Silicon Graphics: showing off". Edge (7): 18–19. April 1994. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  2. ^ Gaming Gossip. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Issue 69. Pg.52. April 1995.