[exalsG4]

Hey everybody!

My first SGI machine is finally home. I recovered it from an old warehouse, were it sat for more than 10 years.
It's a green Octane "restyling". As you can see in the photos the computer is not in really good cosmetic shape. Missing front cover, glue residue and A LOT of dust.

This was a former GE machine, so the HDD was removed for obvious privacy reasons. However I have the original GE IRIX CDs, I just have to find a drive bay and a SCSI drive...
However, according to the sticker it's been manufactured in February 2000.

Now, as I already said I'm not an SGI expert, so I'm having troubles identifying some components. I know there is the PCI upgrades modules with fiber card and an external SCSI card, and I know that the Graphics board it's a VPro, but didn't understand which VPro this is. Also I can't identify the CPU or the quantity of RAM installed.

[ColanderCombo]

Now, as I already said I'm not an SGI expert, so I'm having troubles identifying some components. I know there is the PCI upgrades modules with fiber card and an external SCSI card, and I know that the Graphics board it's a VPro, but didn't understand which VPro this is. Also I can't identify the CPU or the quantity of RAM installed.

Based on the model number CMNB015ANG270, it's a single 270MHz R12000, right about at the middle of the possible processor options. I can't identify the ram modules, but there should be a part number on them. Alternately, you should be able to get an hinv from the prom once you turn it on.

Based on the part number 030-1241-002, it looks to me like you have SE graphics rather than VPro

[Jacques]

Now, as I already said I'm not an SGI expert, so I'm having troubles identifying some components. I know there is the PCI upgrades modules with fiber card and an external SCSI card, and I know that the Graphics board it's a VPro, but didn't understand which VPro this is. Also I can't identify the CPU or the quantity of RAM installed.

Based on the model number CMNB015ANG270, it's a single 270MHz R12000, right about at the middle of the possible processor options. I can't identify the ram modules, but there should be a part number on them. Alternately, you should be able to get an hinv from the prom once you turn it on.

Based on the part number 030-1241-002, it looks to me like you have SE graphics rather than VPro

Correct, SE gfx with Texture Option RAM.

You also have a later 1467 motherbodoard, which is good from an upgrades and RAM point of view. You can take dual 600Mhz CPU PIMM and 8Gig RAM.

Another + is you have a Cherokee PSU, which means you can run VPro gfx cards.

Check in your hinv if you have a 1.3 or 1.4 XBow, this will determine if you can run V6/V8 (1.2/1.3 xbow) or V10/V12 (1.4 xbow). I highly suspect you'll be running a 1.3 xbow.

Those look like non-sgi branded dimms, so they may have a sticker somewhere to indicate the ram kit size. Ram is installed in pairs or 'kits' so it could be anything from 64mb kits to 2Gb kits (unlikely though...)

Sticker residue / glue can be removed with a bit of white spirit (turpentine) on a cloth, do not use a scourer. Clean off with general household cleaner and water after.

Bit of spit and polish and you should be good to go! With a gig of Ram that Octane will be fine for general late 90's software use. Don't expect it to run Firefox well as just about any mips SGI system struggles with gtk2+. If you use it with a late 90's software mindset you'll enjoy it.

[exalsG4]

Now, as I already said I'm not an SGI expert, so I'm having troubles identifying some components. I know there is the PCI upgrades modules with fiber card and an external SCSI card, and I know that the Graphics board it's a VPro, but didn't understand which VPro this is. Also I can't identify the CPU or the quantity of RAM installed.

Based on the model number CMNB015ANG270, it's a single 270MHz R12000, right about at the middle of the possible processor options. I can't identify the ram modules, but there should be a part number on them. Alternately, you should be able to get an hinv from the prom once you turn it on.

Based on the part number 030-1241-002, it looks to me like you have SE graphics rather than VPro

Correct, SE gfx with Texture Option RAM.

You also have a later 1467 motherbodoard, which is good from an upgrades and RAM point of view. You can take dual 600Mhz CPU PIMM and 8Gig RAM.

Another + is you have a Cherokee PSU, which means you can run VPro gfx cards.

Check in your hinv if you have a 1.3 or 1.4 XBow, this will determine if you can run V6/V8 (1.2/1.3 xbow) or V10/V12 (1.4 xbow). I highly suspect you'll be running a 1.3 xbow.

Those look like non-sgi branded dimms, so they may have a sticker somewhere to indicate the ram kit size. Ram is installed in pairs or 'kits' so it could be anything from 64mb kits to 2Gb kits (unlikely though...)

Sticker residue / glue can be removed with a bit of white spirit (turpentine) on a cloth, do not use a scourer. Clean off with general household cleaner and water after.

Bit of spit and polish and you should be good to go! With a gig of Ram that Octane will be fine for general late 90's software use. Don't expect it to run Firefox well as just about any mips SGI system struggles with gtk2+. If you use it with a late 90's software mindset you'll enjoy it.

Thank you for being such clear in the details! In the same warehouse were I rescued this machine there's a blue Octane2.
These computer are 25kg monsters, so my plan is to also rescue the other Octane, check the specs, swap the better components in one of the two (I can't decide which!) and sell the other to a good home.
I would love to keep both, but I literally don't have the space :(

[Jacques]

Now, as I already said I'm not an SGI expert, so I'm having troubles identifying some components. I know there is the PCI upgrades modules with fiber card and an external SCSI card, and I know that the Graphics board it's a VPro, but didn't understand which VPro this is. Also I can't identify the CPU or the quantity of RAM installed.

Based on the model number CMNB015ANG270, it's a single 270MHz R12000, right about at the middle of the possible processor options. I can't identify the ram modules, but there should be a part number on them. Alternately, you should be able to get an hinv from the prom once you turn it on.

Based on the part number 030-1241-002, it looks to me like you have SE graphics rather than VPro

Correct, SE gfx with Texture Option RAM.

You also have a later 1467 motherbodoard, which is good from an upgrades and RAM point of view. You can take dual 600Mhz CPU PIMM and 8Gig RAM.

Another + is you have a Cherokee PSU, which means you can run VPro gfx cards.

Check in your hinv if you have a 1.3 or 1.4 XBow, this will determine if you can run V6/V8 (1.2/1.3 xbow) or V10/V12 (1.4 xbow). I highly suspect you'll be running a 1.3 xbow.

Those look like non-sgi branded dimms, so they may have a sticker somewhere to indicate the ram kit size. Ram is installed in pairs or 'kits' so it could be anything from 64mb kits to 2Gb kits (unlikely though...)

Sticker residue / glue can be removed with a bit of white spirit (turpentine) on a cloth, do not use a scourer. Clean off with general household cleaner and water after.

Bit of spit and polish and you should be good to go! With a gig of Ram that Octane will be fine for general late 90's software use. Don't expect it to run Firefox well as just about any mips SGI system struggles with gtk2+. If you use it with a late 90's software mindset you'll enjoy it.

Thank you for being such clear in the details! In the same warehouse were I rescued this machine there's a blue Octane2.
These computer are 25kg monsters, so my plan is to also rescue the other Octane, check the specs, swap the better components in one of the two (I can't decide which!) and sell the other to a good home.
I would love to keep both, but I literally don't have the space :(

Just make sure the blue Octane2 has a VPro gfx card, not all of them have VPro as some were used with MXE + video capture boards for editing. Either way, your SE + Tram is nice as a backup as the Tram option is quite hard to come by.

I prefer the blue skins to the later green ones, but I prefer the original logo green ones above all of them.

[exalsG4]

Just make sure the blue Octane2 has a VPro gfx card, not all of them have VPro as some were used with MXE + video capture boards for editing. Either way, your SE + Tram is nice as a backup as the Tram option is quite hard to come by.

I prefer the blue skins to the later green ones, but I prefer the original logo green ones above all of them.

These machines were used for rendering 3D scans in the early 2000s SIGNA Magnetic Resonance Series by General Electric, so they needed Texture RAM to work!

[Irinikus]

I don't know if the GE Octane and Octane2 had specially modified mother boards to allow them to interface with GE MRI machines, but Mashek is selling a GE Indigo2 mother board for allot of money: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Indigo2-Mot...XQKAtRJxS9

You may want do do some research on this, as this may be a very nice find!

[exalsG4]

I don't know of the GE Octane and Octane2 had specially modified mother boards to allow them to interface with GE MRI machines, but Mashek is selling a GE Indigo2 mother board for allot of money: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Indigo2-Mot...XQKAtRJxS9

You may want do do some research on this, as this may be a very nice find!

I found this complete GE Octane2 on ebay for almost 4k$... https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Silicon-Gra...Swv9FXgweW

Onestly I think they're worth so much because of the configuration already setted and compatible with old GE MRs software. I also own original and sealed GE software for IRIX. I'm wondering how much that is worth

[jan-jaap]

I don't know of the GE Octane and Octane2 had specially modified mother boards to allow them to interface with GE MRI machines, but Mashek is selling a GE Indigo2 mother board for allot of money: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Indigo2-Mot...XQKAtRJxS9

You may want do do some research on this, as this may be a very nice find!

I found this complete GE Octane2 on ebay for almost 4k$... https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Silicon-Gra...Swv9FXgweW

Onestly I think they're worth so much because of the configuration already setted and compatible with old GE MRs software. I also own original and sealed GE software for IRIX. I'm wondering how much that is worth

The GE Medical Systems ("GEMS") Indigo2 was definitely modified. It had more GIO64 slots for what looks like dual head High IMPACT graphics plus some custom boards. I imagine this required some modifications to the mainboard and/or PROM firmware.

That Octane labeled as a GE system looks standard as far as I can see, though it probably has a certain configuration that happens to work with the GE software or maybe it has a system serial number that happens to be licensed for the GE software.

There is also O2 mainboard revisions often labeled as "for GE MR equipment". This is the last ('1327') revision found in O2+, it has updated serial port chips required for the MR machine I believe.

[exalsG4]

I don't know of the GE Octane and Octane2 had specially modified mother boards to allow them to interface with GE MRI machines, but Mashek is selling a GE Indigo2 mother board for allot of money: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Indigo2-Mot...XQKAtRJxS9

You may want do do some research on this, as this may be a very nice find!

I found this complete GE Octane2 on ebay for almost 4k$... https://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Silicon-Gra...Swv9FXgweW

Onestly I think they're worth so much because of the configuration already setted and compatible with old GE MRs software. I also own original and sealed GE software for IRIX. I'm wondering how much that is worth

The GE Medical Systems ("GEMS") Indigo2 was definitely modified. It had more GIO64 slots for what looks like dual head High IMPACT graphics plus some custom boards. I imagine this required some modifications to the mainboard and/or PROM firmware.

That Octane labeled as a GE system looks standard as far as I can see, though it probably has a certain configuration that happens to work with the GE software or maybe it has a system serial number that happens to be licensed for the GE software.

There is also O2 mainboard revisions often labeled as "for GE MR equipment". This is the last ('1327') revision found in O2+, it has updated serial port chips required for the MR machine I believe.

I understand, I think that the Optic Fiber PCI card is labeled GEMS, but I need to check. I will also try to find the GE service manuals for these Octane to spot peculiar modifications/hardware.