Hot-Rod SGI Indigo in original box, w/Galileo Video, FDDI +
Whether you're a collector of SGI history or just an Indigo nut, you
might be interested in this auction. I have finally decided to sell off
my beloved old SGI Indigo; this is a pristine machine that has been a
hobby computer for nearly a decade, and I have had a great time
building it up into what it is today.
This is more than just a computer, it is an old friend. Would
you believe I was the first owner of this Indigo? Well, okay, maybe I
wasn't, but I was only the second owner, and the first owner never
deployed it before they decided that it needed to be liquidated. I
bought it in 1996, when Indigos still cost real money, and it was
delivered to me in the original box, with all original manuals and
literature, which is part of this ensemble. This Indigo has provided a
lot of joy over the years -- not to mention the fact that it earned me
a fair amount of scratch via freelance work -- but I haven't seriously
worked with it in more than six months, so I'm thinking it's time that
I finally found it a new home. I'm hoping that someone out there is
willing to provide the love it deserves.
Tricked Out and Looking Sharp
It's been a consuming hobby of mine to find charming old pieces
of technology, trick them out to the limit, and then try to put them to
good use. Of all the computers I did this with, the Indigo provided the
most fun. Some of the parts and software have been difficult to find,
but it's been an enjoyable scavenger hunt.
This isn't one of those eBay garbage Indigos with a dead TOD
battery, no hard drive, a missing drive-bay door, a bare minimum of
RAM, and happens to look like it was dragged behind a pickup-truck down
a gravel road. I went through a lot of hardware to assemble this guy,
including several storage spaces filled with SGI gear. This computer
runs like a champ, it's loaded for bear, and I'd tout it as being
"museum-quality" if it wasn't for the fact that most of the stuff you
see in museums looks like crap.
I'm very fussy about the appearance of my computers, so this
Indigo is in outstanding cosmetic condition. Looking at it, you'd think
that it sat neglected in a warehouse for the last decade and a half. In
most cases when I play around with old computers, I collect multiple
units to cannibalize bits and pieces -- sometimes for
maintenance/repair, but commonly for the sake of digging up a pristine
plastic part. In this instance, with an Indigo that was essentially new
out of the box, that wasn't the case. Instead, the chassis went through
many, many upgrades while the skins stayed the same.
And I built it up to the best of my ability, which means it's max'd out
wherever possible, and then some. It's been a lot of fun.
CPU: This Indigo has a 150MHz R4400 CPU, the fastest it can take. This particular CPU has been modified with the heat-sink hack
to preserve the lifespan of the power supply, and to make it run more
silently. It has been running with this hack for two years now and
going great. I have been a strong advocate of this hack; the difference
in the noise levels is substantial.
Speaking of power supplies, a lot of R4k Indigo power supplies
died off in the late 90s, apparently perishing in droves as a result of
a design failure. This power supply was one of the casualties, but was
then repaired by an SGI service technician, with the failure rectified
so it won't happen again.
Memory: This computer has a full 384MB of RAM.
CPU options: It has a DAS (dual-attach station) FDDI networking card attached to the CPU board.
Graphics: It has an Elan graphics boardset with a VB1.2
mainboard; this is the uncommon version with additional connectors that
allow the coupling of a Galileo Video board. Furthermore, this VB1.2
board is a very rare variant that has two Genlock ports.
Video options: Attached to this VB1.2 is a Galileo Video board.
This is a full broadcast-quality Galileo Video, not the "cute toy"
Starter Video boards that are occasionally sold under the same name.
Unlike the Starter Video, the GV is supported beyond IRIX 5.3 and into
6.5.x, to the end of its OS path.
Drives: Internally, it has the original ArDAT Python 4320 DAT
drive that allows the playback of DAT audio over SCSI, and an Insite
floptical drive -- originally for the Indigo2, but adapted for this
computer. Both of these drives have black bezels and look (and work)
great.
Also mounted internally is a hard disk. You probably know that
this computer uses narrow SCSI drives, and it's hard to find these in
capacities greater than 8GB. Well, this auction includes two hard
drives, one of them a near-duplicate of the other (think of it as a
back-up), each with their own drive sled. Both of these hard disks are
about 18GB in size; one of them is a full-height SCA drive with an
SCA-to-SCSI adaptor attached, and it still fits in the internal drive
slot and works fine.
The keyboard and mouse are of the granite variety, rather than
the beige variety, since I thought they were more distinctive. If this
upsets your purist sensibilities, I can replace them with beige ones
instead (albeit badged as "Control Data").
I am also including the original maroon-colored mousepad,
complete with the Silicon Graphics logo in the upper left corner. It's
in terrific condition and very clean, despite the fact that it's been
used non-stop for almost a decade.
If you're not convinced that this isn't the niftiest Indigo ever, it even comes with the original lockbar. Top that!
An Octopus of Peripherals
External drives: included are a 12x Toshiba XM5701B CD-ROM drive
in an original SGI granite external case, plus an Iomega Zip drive
(supported by IRIX 6.2 and above) that color-matches the Indigo.
Video peripherals: A Galileo Video board does nothing by
itself, so this computer comes with an Indycam and a GV analogue
breakout box (ABOB), complete with cable. Both of them can be hooked up
simultaneously. The ABOB is rev. C, so it doesn't have the signal-noise
problems found in the earlier revisions.
Get this: the Indigo originally came with a set of headphones,
labeled as Silicon Graphics but designed by Sony. These headphones are
included and they sound great.
As odd as it might seem, the Indigo didn't originally come
packed with a microphone. Instead, I am including one a of the grey
Octane variety, because it's purdy and matches the granite color
scheme.
Just because: a 28.8 US Robotics modem. Maybe you won't need
it; I used it for Hylafax, and this is one of the modems (with
requisite cable) that is compatible with the Indigo.
If this hasn't been implied thus far, all necessary cables are included.
Software
Installed on that 18GB hard disk is the sweetest 14GB of
applications, utilities, and games that I could scrape up and install
over the past nine years.
Operating System: It is running a complete, clean installation of IRIX
6.5.22, the last version of the operating system to run on the Indigo.
Utilities and applications: I've been a techno-packrat with SGI
software ever since I picked this guy up, so it's impossible for me
describe every piece of software that's installed on this computer.
That said, the major points include:
- The complete suite of v7.3 MIPSpro compilers, including C, C++, and F77/F90.
- GNAT Ada 95 1.3.
- Various development tools, including SpeedShop, CaseVision, ProDev, ViewKit, OpenInventor, and WorkShop.
- Licensed and working copies of Adobe Photoshop v3.0, Illustrator v5.5, and FrameMaker v5.5, plus Kai's Power Tools.
- LightWave 3D v5.5.
- Full installs from all three IndiZone releases.
- SoftWindows 95 v5.0.
- Pretty much everything from the SGI Surfzone site that will install on an Indigo.
- The final installment of the Developer's Toolbox.
- Scads of useful/fun software collected from sundry locations over the last ten years.
Finally, just for fun, this computer also has a complete
installation of the May 2004 freeware distribution. This was the last
update supplied by SGI.
Paper Manuals
In SGI's bronze age (i.e. 1993 and earlier), they used to bundle
actual paper manuals with their computers. All of these original
manuals are included, and then some. Specifically:
- IRIS Indigo Owner's Guide
- IRIS Showcase User's Guide
- IRIS Workspace User's Guide
- IRIS Software Installation Guide
- IRIS Utilities Guide
- Indigo Magic Desktop: Understanding the Basics
- The original poster/installation guide (!) in very good condition
- 4D1-4.0.5 Release Notes
- A photocopy of the Apex Field Service Handbook for the SGI Indigo
- Various other documentation
More Accessories Than You Can Shake a RAM-stick At
As this computer was my One True Love for nearly a decade, it
comes highly accessorized. Certainly, I could make more money by
selling it off individually, but I just can't shake the feeling that
they all belong together.
These items will add to the shipping expense, so if you win the
auction and decide that any of it's not worth shipping, you can opt out
of it completely, or your can pick and choose. Think of it as a
retro-tech all-you-can-ship buffet. (Not all of these accessories are
shown in the photos.)
- Original manuals and documentation.
- The original poster/installation guide (!) in very good condition.
- The original box, and all original packing materials therein. (Including the original Indigo-colored packaging foam!)
- All block-out plates and support arms (removed back when the option boards and drives were installed).
- A new, boxed Phobos G130 10/100baseT networking card (in case you'd rather use 100mbit ethernet than FDDI).
- The Indigo "Elan" and "XS-24" badges, in case you like them.
- An external (bootable) 4x Toshiba XM3401B CD-ROM drive and a caddy, for performing system software installations.
- A spare R4k CPU board with R4400 CPU.
- A spare R3k CPU board.
- A spare R4400 CPU.
- A spare R4000 CPU.
- Several spare drive sleds.
- Miscellaneous other parts (e.g., boot EEPROMs, graphics jumpers).
Please note that the monitor shown in the photo is not included in
this auction, although it can be purchased for $50 (plus shipping).
Supplementary Information
If you'd like to read up on the merits and fun-facts about this
spiffy computer, there are lots of places to look. Here are some
starting points:
GUARANTEES:
I'm not in this for the money. I'm a hobbyist, trying to find a
beloved computer a home with another hobbyist or a collector. My
primary goal with this auction is to ensure that you are happy with
your purchase.
This computer has been a reliable champ for a very long time,
and I trust that it won't fail me now. As such, I will guarantee it
against DOA. But since this computer is almost 15 years old, and it
needs a little more TLC than a 21st Century workstation, I can't
guarantee it for more than that.
None of the accessories are guaranteed, except for being
described adaquately in the auction listing. If it's listed, it's
available. And possibly then some.
TERMS:
The winner of this auction will be responsible for all shipping
costs. (This include boxes and packing materials, for what I don't have
on-hand. This amount will be determined by how much of the material you
want to keep. Regardless, I will probably need to purchase at least one
large box.) I will cover insurance for my own piece of mind.
I'll happily ship world-wide, although international shipments may not be
insurable, and duties/customs fees are the responsibility of the buyer.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this.
(An international shipment of all the accessories may also be insanely expensive, depending on your location. Be warned.)
Payment in U.S. Funds is required. Certified funds are preferred; personal cheques are okay, but may require time to clear.
Sorry, I don't accept PayPal. (Here's why.) And I mean it, no PayPal. If you email me complaints about this, I'll only think you're a dork.
I have the right to cancel your bid if your feedback makes me nervous.
That's it. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Thanks!
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