SGI Crimson
| Industry | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | SGI IRIS 4D |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Products | Workstation computers |
| Parent | Silicon Graphics (SGI) |
The IRIS Crimson (internally designated as Diehard2) is a Silicon Graphics (SGI) computer introduced in 1992, acknowledged as the first-ever 64-bit workstation globally.
Belonging to the SGI SGI IRIS 4D deskside lineup, also identified as the 4D/510 workstation, the Crimson offers compatibility with numerous graphics configurations, including the sophisticated RealityEngine. Additionally, it was promoted as a file server option lacking graphical functionality.
The Crimson gained prominence through its appearance in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, where it demonstrated the IRIX filesystem alongside the fsn 3D navigation tool. In 1994, SGI introduced a limited-edition Crimson R4400/VGXT variant called the Jurassic Classic, distinguished by a unique emblem and co-founder James H. Clark’s autograph on the drive bay.
Features
- Equipped with a single MIPS processor: either a 100 MHz R4000 or a 150 MHz R4400
- Offers seven high-end 3D graphics options: Entry, XS, XS24, Elan, Extreme, Reality Engine, and VGXT
- Supports up to 256 MB of RAM; internal storage reaches 7.2 GB and can be expanded beyond 72 GB via external enclosures
- Input/output capabilities include four VMEbus expansion slots, integrated Ethernet, and dual SCSI interfaces with support for disk striping
The Crimson utilizes proprietary memory modules specifically designed for this system.