SGI Tezro

Last updated
SGI Tezro SGI Tezro.jpg
SGI Tezro
SGI Tezro front Silicon Graphics Tezro Workstation.jpg
SGI Tezro front
SGI Tezro workstation - rack mount version Silicon Graphics Tezro (1) Rackmount.jpg
SGI Tezro workstation - rack mount version

The SGI Tezro is a series of high-end computer workstations sold by SGI from 2003 until 2006. Using MIPS CPUs and running IRIX, it is the immediate successor to the SGI Octane line. The systems were produced in both rack-mount and tower versions, and the series was released in June 2003 with a list price of US$20,500. The Tezro was released alongside the SGI Onyx4 and rack-mountable Tezros share many components with it, [1] including plastic skins. The rack-mounted Tezros are functionally very similar to an Infinite Performance-equipped SGI Onyx350. Tezro marked the return of the original cube logo to SGI machines.

Contents

It was replaced in 2008 by the SGI Virtu product line.

Technical specifications

Architecture

Similar to other SGI systems, the Tezro uses a non-blocking crossbar interconnect to connect all subsystems together. Tezro is based on SGI's Origin 3000 architecture. [2]

ARCS is provided as the boot firmware, as with other SGI computer systems of that era.

Processors

Tezro systems use two or four 64-bit MIPS R16000 microprocessors.

The following R16000 processor types were available options:

L2 Cache:Dual (MHz):Quad (MHz):
4 MB700; 800700; 800
8 MB700; 800700; 800
16 MB10001000

Node boards from Onyx/Origin 350/3900 systems are compatible and use the same RAM. For example, a quad-R16K/700 MHz (8 MB L2) board from a CX-Brick will work in a Tezro; likewise, other boards up to the same quad-1 GHz edition. [3]

Memory

The Tezro shipped with 512 MB of DDR SDRAM. It can be expanded using proprietary DIMMs. The tower version can hold up to 8 GB of main memory total, and the rack version can hold up to 8 GB per brick (2 bricks can be directly linked by NUMAlink cables, or up to 8 with the use of a NUMAlink Router).

Graphics

Tezro supports the VPro V10 and V12 graphics options. Dual-channel options were produced for the desktop variants allowing up to two 1920x1200 displays, while dual-head, dual-channel were available for the rack version, allowing a fully equipped rackmount Tezro to drive up to four 1920x1200 displays at once.

Audio

Tower systems shipped with analog audio output as standard, and PCI cards provide audio capabilities (including 2-channel 24-bit AES and 8-channel ADAT connectors) on rack-mountable versions.

Expansion

The number of available 64-bit PCI slots included in a Tezro system depends upon the number of CPUs installed in the system:

All PCI slots in each Tezro model are 3.3V card slots.

A single U160 SCSI connector was produced for attaching external peripherals, as was an optional FireWire card.

SGI timeline

SGI PrismSGI Origin 3000 and Onyx 3000Origin 2000SGI ChallengeOnyx 300Onyx 2SGI OnyxSGI CrimsonSGI AltixSGI Origin 200SGI Indigo² and Challenge MSGI TezroSGI Octane2SGI OctaneSGI Indigo² and Challenge MSGI IRIS 4DSGI FuelSGI IndigoSGI IRIS 4DSGI O2SGI O2SGI IndySGI IRIS 4DSGI IRISSGI IRISSGI IRISVisual WorkstationSGI IRISSGI IRISSGI Tezro

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IRIX</span> Computer operating system

IRIX is a discontinued operating system developed by Silicon Graphics (SGI) to run on the company's proprietary MIPS workstations and servers. It is based on UNIX System V with BSD extensions. In IRIX, SGI originated the XFS file system and the industry-standard OpenGL graphics system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicon Graphics</span> Former American computing company

Silicon Graphics, Inc. was an American high-performance computing manufacturer, producing computer hardware and software. Founded in Mountain View, California in November 1981 by Jim Clark, its initial market was 3D graphics computer workstations, but its products, strategies and market positions developed significantly over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Indigo² and Challenge M</span> Workstation computers

The SGI Indigo2 and the SGI Challenge M are Unix workstations which were designed and sold by SGI from 1992 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Octane</span> Computer series

Octane series of IRIX workstations was developed and sold by SGI in the 2000s. Octane and Octane2 are two-way multiprocessing-capable workstations, originally based on the MIPS Technologies R10000 microprocessor. Newer Octanes are based on the R12000 and R14000. The Octane2 has four improvements: a revised power supply, system board, and Xbow ASIC. The Octane2 has VPro graphics and supports all the VPro cards. Later revisions of the Octane include some of the improvements introduced in the Octane2. The codenames for the Octane and Octane2 are "Racer" and "Speedracer" respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Indy</span> 1993 graphics workstation computer

The Indy, code-named "Guinness", is a low-end multimedia workstation introduced on July 12, 1993. Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI) developed, manufactured, and marketed Indy as the lowest end of its product line, for computer-aided design (CAD), desktop publishing, and multimedia markets. It competed with Intel x86 computers, and with Windows and Macintosh, including using their files and running their applications via software emulation. It is the first computer to come standard with a video camera, called IndyCam. Indy was repackaged as a server model called Challenge S. Indy was discontinued on June 30, 1997 and support ended on December 31, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Fuel</span> Workstation computer from Silicon Graphics

The SGI Fuel is a mid-range workstation developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI). It was introduced in January 2002, with a list price of US$11,495. Together with the entire MIPS platform, general availability for the Fuel ended on December 29, 2006. An equivalent product for the same market segment was not provided until 2008, when the Virtu product line was introduced, based on x86 microprocessors and Nvidia graphics.

XIO is a packet-based, high-performance computer bus employed by the SGI Origin 2000, Octane, Altix, Fuel and Tezro machines. The XIO forms a bus between high-performance system devices and the memory controller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI O2</span> Unix workstation from Silicon Graphics

The O2 was an entry-level Unix workstation introduced in 1996 by Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) to replace their earlier Indy series. Like the Indy, the O2 used a single MIPS microprocessor and was intended to be used mainly for multimedia. Its larger counterpart was the SGI Octane. The O2 was SGI's last attempt at a low-end workstation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altix</span> Supercomputer family

Altix is a line of server computers and supercomputers produced by Silicon Graphics, based on Intel processors. It succeeded the MIPS/IRIX-based Origin 3000 servers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Visual Workstation</span> Series of workstation computers

SGI Visual Workstation is a series of workstation computers that are designed and manufactured by SGI. Unlike its other product lines, which used the 64-bit MIPS RISC architecture, the line used Intel Pentium II and III processors and shipped with Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 as its operating system in lieu of IRIX. However, the Visual Workstation 320 and 540 models deviated from the architecture of IBM-compatible PCs by using SGI's ARCS firmware instead of a traditional BIOS, internal components adapted from its MIPS-based products, and other proprietary components that made them incompatible with internal hardware designed for standard PCs and hence unable to run other versions of Microsoft Windows, especially Windows 9x. By contrast, the remaining models in the line are standard PCs, using VIA Technologies chipsets, Nvidia video cards, and standard components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Indigo</span> Workstations family by Silicon Graphics

The Indigo, introduced as the IRIS Indigo, is a line of workstation computers developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI). SGI first announced the system in July 1991.

The SGI Origin 350 is a mid-range server computer developed and manufactured by SGI introduced in 2003. Their discontinuation in December 2006 brought to a close almost two decades of MIPS and IRIX computing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Crimson</span> Workstation computer

The IRIS Crimson is a Silicon Graphics (SGI) computer released in 1992. It is the world's first 64-bit workstation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra 80</span>

The Sun Microsystems Ultra 80 is a computer workstation that shipped from November 1999 to 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Onyx</span> Supercomputers

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Origin 2000</span> Series of server computers

The SGI Origin 2000 is a family of mid-range and high-end server computers developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics (SGI). They were introduced in 1996 to succeed the SGI Challenge and POWER Challenge. At the time of introduction, these ran the IRIX operating system, originally version 6.4 and later, 6.5. A variant of the Origin 2000 with graphics capability is known as the Onyx2. An entry-level variant based on the same architecture but with a different hardware implementation is known as the Origin 200. The Origin 2000 was succeeded by the Origin 3000 in July 2000, and was discontinued on June 30, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SGI Origin 200</span> Entry-level server by Silicon Graphics

The SGI Origin 200, code named Speedo, was an entry-level server computer developed and manufactured by SGI, introduced in October 1996 to accompany their mid-range and high-end Origin 2000. It is based on the same architecture as the Origin 2000 but has an unrelated hardware implementation. At the time of introduction, these systems ran the IRIX 6.4, and later, the IRIX 6.5 operating systems. The Origin 200 was discontinued on 30 June 2002.

The Origin 3000 and the Onyx 3000 is a family of mid-range and high-end computers developed and manufactured by SGI. The Origin 3000 is a server, and the Onyx 3000 is a visualization system. Both systems were introduced in July 2000 to succeed the Origin 2000 and the Onyx2 respectively. These systems ran the IRIX 6.5 Advanced Server Environment operating system. Entry-level variants of these systems based on the same architecture but with a different hardware implementation are known as the Origin 300 and Onyx 300. The Origin 3000 was succeeded by the Altix 3000 in 2004 and the last model was discontinued on 29 December 2006, while the Onyx 3000 was succeeded by the Onyx4 and the Itanium-based Prism in 2004 and the last model was discontinued on 25 March 2005.

The Ultra 60 is a fairly large and heavy computer workstation in a tower enclosure from Sun Microsystems. The Ultra 60 was launched in November 1997 and shipped with Solaris 7. It was available in several specifications.

Since 1985, many processors implementing some version of the MIPS architecture have been designed and used widely.

References

  1. Seymour, Mike (July 14, 2003). "Exclusive Coverage of SGI 2003 New Product Line – Part 1 – Overview". fxguide. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  2. "sgistuff.net : Hardware : Systems : Tezro". sgistuff.net. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  3. "Nekochan Net • View topic - Tezro: 4x700mhz | 8GB | DCD | V12 | SAS | FIBER". forums.nekochan.net. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16.