SGI Indy
| Industry | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 1, 1982 |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California , United States |
| Products | Indy workstation |
The Indy, internally known as "Guinness", is an entry-level multimedia workstation introduced by Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI) on July 12, 1993. Serving as SGI's budget-friendly option, the Indy was designed to appeal to users in the computer-aided design (CAD), desktop publishing, and multimedia sectors. It competed against Intel x86 systems running Microsoft Windows and Macintosh platforms by providing software emulation for compatibility. A distinctive feature of the Indy was its inclusion of the IndyCam, the first standard video camera integrated into a computer.
Additionally, the Indy was marketed under the Challenge S server designation. Its production ceased on June 30, 1997, with official support concluding on December 31, 2011.
Hardware
Encased in a compact "pizza box" style chassis measuring 41 cm by 36 cm by 8 cm, the Indy was engineered to fit conveniently beneath large CRT displays. Tailored for multimedia use, it offered a variety of analog and digital input/output options, including 6-channel digital audio processing, SCSI, composite and S-Video inputs, alongside ISDN and Ethernet connectivity. The built-in IndyCam further enhanced its multimedia functionality.
At its initial release in July 1993, the base configuration was priced around , supporting diskless operation optimized for network environments and equipped with 16 MB of RAM expandable up to 256 MB. A version featuring a 2 GB hard disk was available for approximately . Subsequent revisions introduced a base model with a 535 MB hard drive retailing at $5995 in early 1994, and a premium setup boasting 24-bit color depth, 32 MB RAM, and a 1 GB hard disk priced at $16,495 during the same period. In March 1994, SGI updated the lineup with a faster R4400 processor clocked at 150 MHz. Configurations ranged from an entry model with 8-bit color, 32 MB RAM, and a 535 MB hard drive bundled with a 16-inch monitor for $15,495 to a high-end system featuring 24-bit color, 64 MB RAM, and a 1 GB hard drive costing $22,995.
The market demand for cost-effective yet powerful workstations was projected to triple between 1994 and 1999 amid intensifying competition from firms like Sun Microsystems. In February 1995, SGI aimed at junior engineering professionals by launching updated Indy Modeler PC and SC versions starting at $15,800. These models included a 133 MHz R4600 CPU, a 1 GB hard drive, 32 MB RAM, and a 20-inch monitor. Moreover, organizations such as Time Warner Cable and US West leveraged the Indy platform to experiment with interactive video-on-demand services delivered via cable networks.
An optional floptical drive allowed users to read both conventional 3.5" magnetic floppy disks and higher-capacity floptical disks holding up to 21 MB.
CPU
The Indy's motherboard incorporated a socket designed for the Processor Module (PM). Initially launched with an upgrade option featuring a 100 MHz MIPS R4000PC microprocessor, it later received enhancements including the MIPS R4400 and the cost-effective, energy-efficient Quantum Effect Devices (QED) R4600. While the R4600 delivered superior integer processing performance, it exhibited weaker floating-point capabilities and briefly appeared outside the Indy series in models like the SGI Indigo². Due to factors such as microprocessor constraints, relatively modest graphics power, limited maximum RAM capacity, and fewer expansion options compared to the SGI Indigo, industry experts often referred to the Indy as "An Indigo without the 'go.'"
Because the R4600 lacks an integrated L2 cache controller, an external controller was added to provide 512K of L2 cache memory. Processor modules were produced both with (SC) and without (PC) this L2 cache; modules equipped with SC typically achieved performance gains of between 20% to 40% over PC versions at identical clock speeds due to this cache.
The Indy was also SGI's inaugural platform to incorporate the QED R5000 microprocessor, which offered significant improvements over both the R4400 and R4600 models.
Benchmarks indicated that the base model featuring a 100 MHz R4000 processor paired with a 500 KB secondary cache (not included in entry-level units) delivered performance roughly comparable to Intel's then-upcoming Pentium running at 66 MHz. SGI positioned the Indy as a competitor to high-end Macintosh systems in terms of graphics rendering power, asserting that it provided "40 times the performance of a machine with a 68030."
Graphics
The Indy system provides three distinct graphics configurations: 8-bit XL, 24-bit XL, and 24-bit XZ. Each option supports display resolutions up to 1280 × 1024 pixels at a 76 Hz refresh rate through a 13W3 monitor interface. These graphics solutions interface via a GIO32bis bus connection.
8-bit XL
Known also as "Newport" graphics and built on the REX3 chipset, this variant is designed primarily for standard 2D X11 environments without any hardware-based 3D acceleration. It was pioneering in introducing object-oriented antialiasing and precise sub-pixel rendering employing Bresenham's line algorithm.
24-bit XL (XGE)
Sharing the same PCB as the 8-bit XL, the 24-bit XL expands framebuffer capacity threefold to enable full 24-bit color support.
When paired with an R5000 CPU, these graphics are referred to as XGE since the R5000’s processor handles 3D geometry computations more efficiently than the XZ subsystem’s four dedicated Geometry Engines. Consequently, all 3D processing is managed via software. For scenarios requiring full-screen rendering with z-buffer functionality—which the XL lacks—the XZ graphics are favored. This makes the XZ option uncommon in systems equipped with an R5000.
XZ
The XZ graphics module is an adaptation of the Indigo²’s Elan Graphics tailored for the Indy platform, offering robust non-textured 3D capabilities at some expense to 2D performance. It is less frequently used with R5000-based Indys because the CPU’s advanced floating-point MIPS IV design accelerates coordinate transformations beyond what the XZ board can achieve. Nonetheless, offloading transformations to the XZ frees up CPU cycles for other processes. When applications are not limited by transformation speed, XZ can surpass XL models in rasterization tasks.
This option consists of two vertically stacked circuit boards occupying both GIO slots, which restricts expansion possibilities such as adding 10/100 Ethernet or JPEG compression hardware.
Video
The Indy marked SGI’s initial system to include integrated video inputs alongside a built-in video camera. Each unit is equipped with composite, S-Video, and proprietary digital video inputs collectively termed "Vino." The digital input utilizes an SGI Digital Video Interface (a 60-pin D-sub connector), primarily intended for use with the IndyCam and supporting protocols similar to CCIR 601 standards.
The maximum supported input resolution is 640×480 for NTSC or 768×576 for PAL formats. Higher resolutions demand faster processors; slower R4600PC variants may require reduced input resolution settings. The Vino hardware facilitates direct memory access (DMA) of video fields into the framebuffer with minimal CPU involvement.
Co-developed by SGI and Teleview Research, the IndyCam is a compact fixed-focus digital camera bundled with every Indy system. It enables functionalities such as video conferencing, editing, and video email through accompanying software packages.
Indy systems do not include built-in video output capabilities by default; this functionality requires installation of the Indy Video GIO32 card. Additionally, real-time JPEG video compression and decompression can be achieved using the optional CosmoCompress module installed in another GIO32 slot.
Storage
The Indy chassis contains two drive bays measuring one inch in height and designed for 3.5" drives. The upper bay is externally accessible and can accommodate a SCSI floptical drive. All internal drives share a single Fast SCSI bus unless supplemented by a GIO32 SCSI expansion card. External CD-ROM drives connect through a rear SCSI port and typically support booting, operating system installation, and audio playback functions. Some CD-ROM units include firmware enabling audio streaming over SCSI connections.
Networking
Every Indy system comes equipped with standard AUI/10BASE-T Ethernet interfaces and ISDN connectivity. The Ethernet connections function in half-duplex mode, with the 10BASE-T interface taking precedence over the AUI port when both are enabled simultaneously. Compatible 100BASE-TX Ethernet cards utilizing the GIO32 bus were produced by two vendors: Set Engineering, which employed the Texas Instruments ThunderLAN chipset, and Phobos, offering models G100 and G130. For use within North America, the ISDN interface necessitates an external NT1 device.
Software
The Indy debuted running the IRIX 5.1 operating system, providing consistent binary compatibility across SGI hardware. Initially, memory management restricted full hardware utilization; however, SGI increased the base memory capacity to 32 MB in 1993. Subsequent IRIX releases starting from version 5.2 enhanced system efficiency, with the final Indy-compatible version being 6.5.22. The workstation package also included a CD featuring video games.
Positioned against Windows and Macintosh platforms, Indy supported their file formats and applications through emulation layers. Leveraging Quorum's Latitude technology, it was recognized for superior performance compared to Macs when running native software, while SoftPC facilitated Windows application compatibility. In 1994, Autodesk targeted cost-sensitive CAD users by offering AutoCAD Designer at a $1,500 price point, fully compatible with Indy workstations.
Challenge S
The Challenge S serves as a budget-oriented server variant of the Indy, sharing its chassis and a similar motherboard design but omitting graphics and audio components. It includes an ISDN interface alongside a 10 Mbit/s AUI Ethernet port. Local management is conducted via serial console access through one of two DIN-8 serial ports, which conform to Macintosh serial pin configurations.
Reception
Upon introduction, SGI anticipated reaching $1 billion in sales revenue from the Indy line. Electronic Design praised the inclusion of the IndyCam and video input capabilities as establishing a new benchmark for workstations. Jonathan Chevreau of the National Post highlighted the integration of a video camera within the Indy as a significant advancement in multimedia convergence, positioning SGI at the vanguard of desktop multimedia innovation. He commended its video functionality and Indigo Magic Desktop graphical user interface as distinctive features unlikely to be quickly matched by competitors.
Machine Design recognized the Indy as uniquely shipping standard with a color digital video camera (IndyCam). Mechanical Engineering emphasized its built-in digital media support tailored for video conferencing and multimedia content creation. Byte magazine identified Apple and SGI as trailblazers in embedding audio and video capabilities as standard features on desktop computers, potentially revolutionizing business communications. In 1994, Byte described the Indy as "affordable yet delivering high graphics performance," with robust compatibility across Windows and Macintosh environments.