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Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - Printable Version

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Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - Mario9501 - 06-21-2020

I just bought a SGI Indigo that has 2 SCSI HDDs, 256MB of ram, a R4000SC, with a Elan Graphics subsystem. I am completely new to SGI computers. But have been in the vintage computer collecting for about 5-8 years now.

RE: Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - hamei - 06-21-2020

(06-21-2020, 06:37 AM)Mario9501 Wrote:  I just bought a SGI Indigo that has 2 SCSI HDDs, 256MB of ram, a R4000SC, with a Elan Graphics subsystem. I am completely new to SGI computers. But have been in the vintage computer collecting for about 5-8 years now.

It is what it is, I guess ... I bought a nice dual 400 V10 Octane 2 for $300 a few years ago and it wasn't even a bargain, looks like prices are skyrocketing.

But the Indigo is one of the nicest SGI's ever, imo. If you can find the 150 mhz pimm from an Indigo2 that makes them pretty useful, about as fast as a dual PPro peecee and more enjoyable. Plenty good enough for lots of stuff and the cutest box in the lineup.

Whatever you do, just stick at 6.5.23 or below. There is no advantage for an Indigo in going any higher. In fact, I'm not sure they even will.

RE: Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - Raion - 06-21-2020

I would say that's well and truly overpriced unless it's a good spec model with no damage.

RE: Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - weblacky - 06-21-2020

With these older machines, top specs, condition of skins, installed options, fully working front door (peanut brittle), and fully working electronics (clean inside) might push it that far. Most of the time Indigo Iris machines that come up have broken front clips, broken door latches, and broken door pin(s) and don't run (PSU too old) and the soldered on battery has died. So in that kind of above described, poor, condition, maybe like $130?

If someone put a lot of effort into cleaning everything, got very good to mint skins, had a fully working PSU, fully booting system (preinstalled software). I'd say that might justify that price (condition is everything). Most people look to the later models (Octane or higher) because they run the last software versions.

But to be real, it's about your satisfaction level. If you got what you wanted out of the deal (no surprises) and didn't mind throwing down the cash for the asking price, then you did well in my book. Sometimes you pay up for the items you want.

Many of us collectors got going decades ago, when this stuff was more common, and it's much more common to see "newer machines". So if the machine you bought is in very fine condition...they've gone up in value (because of scarcity and condition) compared to newer models. Perspective...as I tell other people...find another one like it.

Without pictures or a better description, we can't fully justify the price. But if it was maxed out, had all the great options, and in mint, working, condition, yes $500 would be the top-end. But sometimes we pay to learn. I can tell you I overpaid for my first SGI, but I don't regret it. I gained knowledge and was able to do better next time (assuming you're a collector). If you stay on it, refurbish it, and are successful...you'll get your money's worth in education out of it.

Have fun.

RE: Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - Irinikus - 06-21-2020

If it’s in good, working condition, then you paid the right price!

RE: Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - Mario9501 - 06-21-2020

Well there was one that was a bit cheaper $354. But it was in worse condition, missing the front cover, weaker GFX (entry level card), less ram (64 MB), no drives or it's bays, and just looked in worse condition overall.
These are the pics of the good unit.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
and here are the pics of the questionable unit ( I also didn't get this one because the bays require a special bay that wasn't in the unit and I wasn't going to go finding one only for it to be 100 or more.)
   
   
   
   
   
   

RE: Is $500 a good for a Indigo? - callahan - 06-21-2020

You can't compare memory between the R4K and R3K units. The R4K uses commodity 72 pin SIMMs, so having a bunch isn't too valuable.

The R3k ram is propietary and rare. High density R3K memory is very rare. So one 64MB ram kit (4 Simms) for a R3k is probably worth up to a couple hundred dollars in today's market.

That said, most people probably aren't doing real work on R3k machines nowadays and Irix 4.0.5 (the best release for these machines) will run just fine on 16MB.

I have a R3K indigo with 16MB of ram, one HD (original 525MB SGI unit), express graphics (between entry and Elan), and pretty good skins I'm planning on selling soon. It also has a working PSU and I replaced the TOD clock battery, so it should be good to go. If anyone is interested let me know. Otherwise it will go on eBay.