[GRudolf94]

<QUOTE author="commodorejohn" post_id="540" time="1527489638" user_id="106">

There are two things I don't like about the O2: <B>A.</B> the ZIF lever system for not just expansion slots, but the main board as well, because ZIF just never, ever works properly and once you get it properly seated you'd better just never ever touch it again,

I feel like SGI has always sort of screwed the pooch when it comes to connectors, or expansion as a whole, on both the hardware and software sides. The O2's ZIF stuff can't be any worse than the bristled pad compression connectors on the Octane family, can it?
But yeah, if I were starting a SGI collection, and could pick anything, money not being an object, it'd go in this order, reasons usually given alongside:

<E>:Indigo2_IMP:</E> Indigo2 IMPACT (#1 for looks and overall coolness, decent performer too)
<E>:Fuelb:</E> Fuel (great-looking new SGI, sort of compact, I can fix its shortcomings, last gen of single CPU SGI MIPS systems)
<E>:Octane:</E> Upgraded early Octane (Good performance on an old style SGI, however bulky)
<E>:Octane2c:</E> Octane2 (same as above, blue skin is nice but new SGI logo is a turn-off, though)
<E>:Indigo2:</E> Indigo2 R8000
<E>:Indigo2:</E> Non-IMPACT Indigo2 R10000
<E>:Octane:</E> Early Octane
<E>:Octane:</E> Late Octane
<E>:Indigo2:</E> Indigo2 IP22 (R4K)
<E>:O2:</E> O2 (tiny and cute and practical, but plastics are fragile, performance suffers due to UMA. A modernized, glorified Indy, if you will)
<E>:Indy:</E> And lastly, the Indy. With an R5000 or at least R4600SC. Why the Indy comes last? Simply this: the case is made of eggshells, or has turned to eggshells after all these years. As we all also know, it's not particularly capable. It looks great and I love it with all my heart, but the case shatters much too easy, and with that, my trust in it.

In short: I value coolness/good looks/performance/practicality the most. In a real life scenario, price would also come into play. I have considered space, I'd love to own a deskside, but no chance I could give a home to one right now.

What's the best SGI to start with? The first one you can fit in your computer room and wallet at the same time. All the rest can be solved afterwards

[gijoe77]

I honestly think o2's are nice beginner systems because they are small, pretty quite, aren't heaters and can give someone a good introductory experience with sgi (granted not the 180mhz r5k version - that one is just too slow - R5k 200mhz is minimum). If someone can get their hands on a nice R10k version it's not bad at all, but the plastics are a problem - its almost impossible for average joe shmoe on ebay to pack these things properly so they don't arrive in pieces, unless its someone very familiar with how to package these properly.

my next on the list is Indigo2 - only reason It's not number one is because o2 has discreet logic effect and the video in/out (btw effect works with both the AV1 and AV2 boards for the preview monitor), otherwise an Indigo2 can do just about everything an o2 can. These things are tanks and the R10k Max Impact series (Mini-Octane!) can outperform an o2 easily.

The octanes are obviously superior to both, but they are heavy, loud and space heaters, and obviously Tezro/Onyx350 are the ideal systems but will cost the most

[opcode]

Onyx 1 Reality Engine 2 Rack would be a great starter system. I would go with quad R10000s. The only problem is, you wouldn't be able to run the clothes dryer while you were computing

[gijoe77]

<QUOTE author="opcode" post_id="1914" time="1533240007" user_id="73">

Onyx 1 Reality Engine 2 Rack would be a great starter system. I would go with quad R10000s. The only problem is, you wouldn't be able to run the clothes dryer while you were computing

If we are gonna go there, might as well get a Tezro as a starter system

[Irinikus]

<QUOTE author="gijoe77" post_id="1925" time="1533250732" user_id="243">

<QUOTE author="opcode" post_id="1914" time="1533240007" user_id="73">

Onyx 1 Reality Engine 2 Rack would be a great starter system. I would go with quad R10000s. The only problem is, you wouldn't be able to run the clothes dryer while you were computing

If we are gonna go there, might as well get a Tezro as a starter system

As you don't necessarily need to start small, I agree that a Tezro would be a good starting system in an ideal world, especially if you intend doing some 3D work with your system, as my Tezro seems to have no problem in shunting 1000's of vertices around at a time. (I will just have to see how far I can push it in the future.)

If you want something more interesting than a Tezro, then a fully loaded Onyx2 would also make a good starting system, as it's powerful enough to do some good 3D work. (I personally think that the Onyx2 is the most bulletproof system that SGI made!)

If you just want to klick around in IRIX, then I maintain that a fully loaded R12K O2 system is the machine for you.

[Trippynet]

In short, it depends on what you want from a starter system. Want to play Quake 3 and do modelling? Octane or something like that. Want to play with IRIX, play with Perl and use a proper 90s system for it, Indigo 2 or similar.

There's no such thing as a good starter system for everyone, it depends on what you want to do...

[gijoe77]

<QUOTE author="Trippynet" post_id="2034" time="1533490531" user_id="67">

In short, it depends on what you want from a starter system. Want to play Quake 3 and do modelling? Octane or something like that. Want to play with IRIX, play with Perl and use a proper 90s system for it, Indigo 2 or similar.

There's no such thing as a good starter system for everyone, it depends on what you want to do...

I would throw in noise tolerance. If one isn't bothered with noise and heat, go big. If that stuff matters than maybe something small like o2

[kikems]

I think you have lot of SGI machines in USA but here in Europe Octane 1 and Octane 2 machines are more cheap than O2 or Indigo2 machines. You can find Octane for around 200 €. I think that Octane It's the most powerfull/lowerprice SGI you can obtain today in the European market.
Indy, Indigo2 or O2 machines usually double the actual price of Octane.
In specs terms the lower Octane model you can find usually have more ram, cpu speed and power of gfx card than the best upgraded of Indy, O2 or Indigo2 configs than you can find.
This is the reasons because I think that Octane is the best option if you want buy only 1 SGI machine to explore and experience with SGI stuff. Obviously if you like SGI machine , soon or later, you want all models as you can .

[gijoe77]

I would honestly pick an octane over o2/indigo2 anytime if noise is not an issue. A low end octane will blow away an indigo2 or o2, but man are Octanes big and heavy and noisy...

edit: and honestly I would pick a Tezro over an Octane anytime/everytime if noise is not an issue...

[Irinikus]

<QUOTE author="gijoe77" post_id="2213" time="1533989841" user_id="243">

I would honestly pick an octane over o2/indigo2 anytime if noise is not an issue. A low end octane will blow away an indigo2 or o2, but man are Octanes big and heavy and noisy...

edit: and honestly I would pick a Tezro over an Octane anytime/everytime if noise is not an issue...

The Tezro isn't actually that noisy. (My Octane2 isn't much quieter!)