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SGI Onyx 4

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SGI Onyx 4
SGI Onyx4 graphics brick on a base compute module (User's Guide Figure 2-1)
A two-brick Onyx4: a graphics brick standing on a base compute module (SGI User's Guide drawing)
Specifications
ManufacturerSilicon Graphics
TypeVisualisation system
ReleasedAnnounced July 2003[1]
DiscontinuedEnd of the series announced July 2006; last systems shipped by the end of March 2007[1]
CPUMIPS R16000 in the host module and G2N-bricks; two or four per G2N-brick[2][3]
MemoryUp to 8 DIMMs per G2N-brick, 1 GB and 2 GB kits; G2-bricks hold no memory[4]
Storage—
Display—
Sound—
GraphicsTwo pipes per brick, on SG2 or SG2.1 graphics boards with two DVI-I outputs each; 2 to 32 pipes depending on configuration[2][5][1]
PowerEach brick 90–132 or 180–264 V AC; G2-brick 150 W, G2N-brick 350 W maximum[6]
DimensionsEach brick 2U: 68 × 43.4 × 8.8 cm[6]
WeightG2-brick 13.6 kg, G2N-brick 15.9 kg[6]
OS / FirmwareIRIX 6.5.22 or later recommended (6.5.22 and 6.5.23 with patch 5448)[5]
PredecessorSGI Onyx 350
Model no.Onyx4 UltimateVision: G2-brick (graphics) and G2N-brick (graphics and compute) with a host compute module[2]

The SGI Onyx 4, sold as the Onyx4 UltimateVision, is a visualisation system Silicon Graphics announced in July 2003. It adds 2U graphics bricks to a host system built from the compute modules of the SGI Onyx 350 and SGI Origin 350, and sgistuff.net counts it in the same hardware family.[1][2][7] Each graphics brick carries two graphics pipes. The G2-brick holds only graphics and connects to the host as an I/O device over XIO; the G2N-brick also holds a node board with two or four processors and up to eight DIMMs, and joins the host's compute fabric over NUMAlink. The two look the same from outside.[2] SGI announced the end of the Origin 350, Onyx 350 and Onyx4 line in July 2006.[1]

kaigan, who rebuilt an Onyx4 in 2020, describes the base compute module as an Origin 350 in all but name, and an Onyx4 expansion module as the same as an Origin 350 one with a white front plate.[8][3]

Configurations

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sgistuff.net lists SGI's three standard configurations:[1]

Onyx4 UltimateVision configurations (sgistuff.net)
Configuration Processors Graphics pipes Memory Rack
Power 2–8 2–4 Up to 16 GB Short
Team 8–16 4–8 Up to 64 GB Short
Extreme 16–64 8–32 Up to 128 GB Tall

SGI recommends a rack, but allows a system of two or three bricks to stand on a flat surface.[7] In a rack, the position of each brick sets the boot brick and the order of the pipes; each brick's L1 controller must be programmed with its rack and slot.[7]

Graphics

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Each brick has two graphics boards, one per pipe, each with two DVI-I outputs and a stereo sync connector, plus three ImageSync connectors for an optional SGI ImageSync card in the host. SGI shipped two board versions: the SG2.1, identified by a sticker with part number 030-2003-xxx, can drive digital or analogue monitors from both outputs; on the earlier SG2 only the first output can be digital, and the second is analogue only. SGI warns that some IRIX versions report both boards as SG2 in hinv, so the sticker is the only reliable check, and the two versions can be mixed in one system.[2][5]

kaigan describes the boards as ATI cards, which IRIX drives through XFree86; programs written for IRIS GL do not run on them, and hinv lists each board as a PCI graphics processor with vendor ID 1002.[3] Display set-up, stereo, full-scene anti-aliasing, dual-channel, genlock and multiple X servers are configured in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.[5] SGI's default video modes run up to 1920 × 1200 at 60 Hz, with 1280 × 1024 at 96 Hz for stereo.[6]

Power and control

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Unlike the Onyx 3000 bricks, the G2-brick and G2N-brick take AC power directly, normally from a PDU at the rear of the rack. Each has one sled-mounted power supply with an inrush current of 20 A; SGI gives the maximum power of a G2-brick as 150 W and of a G2N-brick as 350 W.[7][4][6]

Every brick has an L1 controller with a front display, a DB-9 console port and a USB port for an L2 controller. The front panel carries the power, reset and NMI buttons and the service-required and failure LEDs.[2] The system is powered from the L1 of the master compute module with * pwr u, or from an L2 with pwr u.[7]

Known faults

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  • The host compute modules share the Origin 350's faults: the Delta power supplies' PFC diode, interface board regulators, Dallas DS1780 monitoring chips and flat clock batteries. See SGI Origin 350 Troubleshooting Guide.
  • The G2-brick and G2N-brick power supply is changed in the same way as the Onyx 350's, through the bezel door at the front right.[4] No owner reports of failures specific to the Onyx4 graphics bricks have been found.

Documentation

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See SGI Onyx 4 Documentation for contents.

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  • Graphics brick on a base compute module (SGI drawing)
    Graphics brick on a base compute module (SGI drawing)
  • G2-brick and G2N-brick rear panel (SGI drawing)
    G2-brick and G2N-brick rear panel (SGI drawing)
  • Inside a G2N-brick (SGI drawing)
    Inside a G2N-brick (SGI drawing)
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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Gerhard Lenerz, "Origin 350 / Onyx 350 / Onyx 4 (Chimera)", sgistuff.net, sgistuff.net (accessed 22 October 2026). Announcement and end dates, configurations, G2 module.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Silicon Graphics, Silicon Graphics Onyx4 UltimateVision User's Guide, 007-4634-002, June 2004, chapter 1, pp. 1–7 (File:SGI Onyx4 UltimateVision User's Guide (007-4634-002).pdf). G2-brick and G2N-brick, XIO and NUMAlink connection, front and rear panels.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 kaigan, "It Lives! SGI Onyx350 Prototype/Onyx4 - "Artemis"", IRIX Network forum, 5–6 July 2020, forums.irixnet.org. hinv of an Onyx4, ATI boards under XFree86, IRIS GL.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 SGI, 007-4634-002, appendix A, pp. 81–118. Troubleshooting, L1 messages, power supply, memory, L1 display and graphics card replacement.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 SGI, 007-4634-002, chapter 3, pp. 35–79. IRIX requirements, XF86Config-4, SG2 and SG2.1 boards, monitors.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 SGI, 007-4634-002, appendix B, pp. 119–120, Tables B-1 and B-2. Video modes and specifications.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 SGI, 007-4634-002, chapter 2, pp. 9–33. Rack locations, L1 rack and slot numbers, cabling, PCI card locations, power, booting.
  8. ↑ kaigan, reply of 18 June 2020 in "O350 Interface Board L1 Issues", IRIX Network forum, forums.irixnet.org.


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