Indigo 2 query...

[Atariflops]

I bought a SGI Indigo 2 a little while back when I had more money than sense, I know very little about it, when it was delivered the monitor was smashed to bits, the eBay seller promised a part refund but alas, none came. As a result it has never been used, I'm partially aware that it has a RISC processor, albeit a weedy one, but is there any chance of getting a RISC based OS on it apart from IRIX? Thanks!

[AJCopland]

There's some links to Linux and BSD on the wikipedia Indigo2 entry.

Do you know what MIPS cpu it has and the clockspeed? The older R3000 ran at about 200Mhz but whilst the R10000 ran at similar speeds it was apparently a much better design.

Andy

[gazgod]

You can use a pc monitor on a SGI if you get a 13W3 to VGA adapter. But your monitor should support sync on green as well.

Or you can use a serial console.

As for alternatives to IRIX, yes you can use Linux or BSD but as SGIs use none iso discs for the boot media you'll probably have to net boot it.

Personally I'd stick to IRIX.

Gary

[darksun9210]

i'd stick with Irix too.
the monitors that they came with were rebranded Sony Trinitron flat tube jobbies. with a VGA to BNC adapter, a BNC to 13W3, and a load of 10base2 "T" pieces, i fasioned a cable that allowed my CV64/3D to drive one.

very nice screens. you can actually get VGA213W3 adapters for them that sort all the sync signals out to the right pins. i think that 2 adapters and 2 cables cost me £40 about 9 years ago. one for the CV64/3D one for the CVPPC.
thing is, that with all this flat panal madness, these CRTs are going for a song. but they were ma-hoo-sive, and had enough shielding in them to protect from a nuclear pulse.
and i dunno what the current draw was when the thing switched on, but it made the lights in my house dim!

the indigo2 isn't a bad machine, you can get CPU upgrades, etc. and just cos it runs at 200 odd Mhz, it still packs some punch :-) max out the memory if you can! Irix will thank you for it plus its got a wicked little openGL multiplayer tanks game....
i was on the look out for an o2+ with an R12000 :-D

[alexh]

I think it has a MIPS RS4000?

[lorddef]

I've got a few qube2's with RM5231s (mipsel) in them, both netbsd and debian run nicely on them.

They're not exactly powerful, but they do their job as pgsql / mysql test machines. One of them hosts my web site and email.

[Atariflops]

Ok peeps, thanks for the help, was guessing MorphOS is too much for it anyway... guess I'll store it until I get the monitor sorted... :-D

[skurk]

IIRC, you can use one of these, actually.  With free shipping, it's definitely worth the try.

[jj]

How would MorphOS ever work on this ??

[Atariflops]

I don't know, you tell me? That's why I started this thread...

[jj]

It wouldnt  :-D

[Atariflops]

Righty ho.  :crazy:

[justthatgood]

Well I to guess I join the ranks of the Amiga group that owning a SGI machine.

I sure you might see my Silicon Graphics Indigo 2 R10000 (I'll just refer to it as Indy2 or Barney Machine) in my picture.
 
The monitors are Cheap! Just look for a electronics surplus store or a university that might be getting rid of their old Sun systems (thats were the monitor I using on my computer came from)

If you don't relish the idea of stacking a monitor that weighs as much as a ten year old on your desk, you are going to have to get the 13w3 adapter to VGA to make it work.

Be warned if you get a free Trinton type monitor try to get one with an attached video cable. If you have the misfortune of having some that need the 13w3 female cable you aren't going to like it (I didnt)

Irix is a bit if an enigma. So much of the systems are so non standard. To get a lot of the software working you need patches and licenses. I think I have 6.5. Those are the days of secrecy, software monopolies and expensive hardware we need to avoid.

I never got around to really using mine. Had to get a cd sled for it, couldn't get stands for it. It only had the Impact graphics card ( people want too much for the top one) and some how the audio card blew on it. I miss the power up guitar chime.

[pan1k]

Heck yea! I own a Octane2. Love that machine, makes me think of digging it out again! Sucks electricity like there's no tommorow tho... ;-) If you need help with IRIX, PM me..!

[Atariflops]

When I get round to getting a display for it I just might, thanks guys!