Power Series: Difference between revisions
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The PowerSeries systems are the first multiprocessor computers made by Silicon Graphics and were typically shipped in a single or twin tower case. PowerSeries systems were first produced in twin tower shaped chassis, and later on single tower chassis was introduced. The high-end systems (more than 4 CPUs) were shipped in a | The PowerSeries systems are the first multiprocessor computers made by Silicon Graphics and were typically shipped in a single or twin tower case. PowerSeries systems were first produced in twin tower shaped chassis similar to the [[Professional IRIS]], and later on single tower chassis was introduced. The high-end systems (more than 4 CPUs) were shipped in a full size rack due to space limitations in the desk-side cases. | ||
== Hardware == | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|Model | |||
|CPU board | |||
|CPU | |||
|CPU Count | |||
|Chassis | |||
|- | |||
|4D/120 | |||
|IP5 | |||
|R2000 16.7 MHz | |||
|2 | |||
|Deskside | |||
|- | |||
|4D/210 | |||
|IP9 | |||
|R3000 25MHz | |||
|1 | |||
|Deskside | |||
|- | |||
|4D/2x0 | |||
|IP7 | |||
|R3000 25MHz | |||
|1-8 | |||
|Deskside or Rack | |||
|- | |||
|4D/3x0 | |||
|IP7 | |||
|R3000 33MHz | |||
|1-8 | |||
|Deskside or Rack | |||
|- | |||
|4D/4x0 | |||
|IP15 | |||
|R3000 40MHz | |||
|1-8 | |||
|Deskside or Rack | |||
|} | |||
[[File:4d380 rack.jpg|thumb|A 4D/380 owned by Jan-Jaap on the IRIXNet forums]] | |||
The second digit indicates the original CPU configuration, e.g. a 4D/440 has 4 CPUs, a 4D/280 has 8. | |||
=== System Bus === | |||
The Processor Bus is a local bus that includes both an 100MB/s data and 100MB/s address bus which connects each processor with it's associated cache. The Sync Bus synchronizes the processors of the system and thus helps in parallel processing of data/programs. MPLink is an asynchronous bus that connects the CPUs and Memory as well as the other Subsystems of the PowerSeries computer. | |||
=== CPU Boards === | |||
Systems are allowed to have 1 singleprocessor CPU board or up to 2/4 (deskside/rack) dualprocessor CPU boards. So valid numbers of CPUs are 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8. Mixing singleprocessor CPU boards with dualprocessor boards is not supported, but still may work. | |||
The processor boards installed should be of the same type (e.g. all 25MHz IP7) but this is not a requirement. It is known that mixed setups can boot and operate just fine. Implications on CPU performance have not been tested yet but the basic operation is confirmed. The recommended setup is to have the faster CPU board goes into the first slot so that IRIX itself boots on the fastest CPU in the machine. | |||
=== Graphics === | |||
[[File:4d380 open rack.jpeg|left|thumb|A 4D/380 open ]] | |||
The systems support GTX/GTXB, VGX/VGXT and Reality Engine configurations as well as headless units. | |||
== Operating System Support == | |||
The final release to support these was IRIX 5.3, however the early models support [[4D1-3.x]]. The middle ground is [[IRIX 4.0]]. | |||
== Final Notes == | |||
The photos of the rack unit were provided by Jan Jaap of IRIXNet. His thread can be found [https://forums.irixnet.org/thread-1471.html here]. | |||
[[Category:Hardware]] | [[Category:Hardware]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:28, 24 February 2025
The PowerSeries systems are the first multiprocessor computers made by Silicon Graphics and were typically shipped in a single or twin tower case. PowerSeries systems were first produced in twin tower shaped chassis similar to the Professional IRIS, and later on single tower chassis was introduced. The high-end systems (more than 4 CPUs) were shipped in a full size rack due to space limitations in the desk-side cases.
Hardware
| Model | CPU board | CPU | CPU Count | Chassis |
| 4D/120 | IP5 | R2000 16.7 MHz | 2 | Deskside |
| 4D/210 | IP9 | R3000 25MHz | 1 | Deskside |
| 4D/2x0 | IP7 | R3000 25MHz | 1-8 | Deskside or Rack |
| 4D/3x0 | IP7 | R3000 33MHz | 1-8 | Deskside or Rack |
| 4D/4x0 | IP15 | R3000 40MHz | 1-8 | Deskside or Rack |
The second digit indicates the original CPU configuration, e.g. a 4D/440 has 4 CPUs, a 4D/280 has 8.
System Bus
The Processor Bus is a local bus that includes both an 100MB/s data and 100MB/s address bus which connects each processor with it's associated cache. The Sync Bus synchronizes the processors of the system and thus helps in parallel processing of data/programs. MPLink is an asynchronous bus that connects the CPUs and Memory as well as the other Subsystems of the PowerSeries computer.
CPU Boards
Systems are allowed to have 1 singleprocessor CPU board or up to 2/4 (deskside/rack) dualprocessor CPU boards. So valid numbers of CPUs are 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8. Mixing singleprocessor CPU boards with dualprocessor boards is not supported, but still may work.
The processor boards installed should be of the same type (e.g. all 25MHz IP7) but this is not a requirement. It is known that mixed setups can boot and operate just fine. Implications on CPU performance have not been tested yet but the basic operation is confirmed. The recommended setup is to have the faster CPU board goes into the first slot so that IRIX itself boots on the fastest CPU in the machine.
Graphics
The systems support GTX/GTXB, VGX/VGXT and Reality Engine configurations as well as headless units.
Operating System Support
The final release to support these was IRIX 5.3, however the early models support 4D1-3.x. The middle ground is IRIX 4.0.
Final Notes
The photos of the rack unit were provided by Jan Jaap of IRIXNet. His thread can be found here.
