Editing Silicon Graphics (section)

==Technology==

===Motorola 680x0-based systems===
SGI's first generation products, starting with the [[SGI IRIS|IRIS]] (Integrated Raster Imaging System) 1000 series of high-performance graphics terminals, were based on the [[Motorola 68000]] family of [[microprocessor]]s.<ref name=iris_terminal_guide_v1.3>{{cite web|url=http://www.typewritten.org/Articles/SGI/5001-020-001-3.pdf|title=IRIS Terminal Guide V1.3|publisher=SGI|date=1984|access-date=2024-09-03}}</ref><ref name=irix_info_page>{{Cite web|title=IRIX Info Page|url=http://umips.net/irix/index.html|access-date=2024-09-03|website=umips.net}}</ref> The later IRIS 2000 and 3000 models developed into full [[UNIX]] [[workstation]]s.<ref name="sgi/iptable">{{cite web|url=https://hardware.majix.org/computers/sgi/iptable.shtml|title=SGI IP Table|access-date=2024-09-03}}</ref>

====IRIS 1000 series====
The first entries in the 1000 series (models 1000 and 1200, introduced in 1984) were graphics terminals, peripherals to be connected to a general-purpose computer such as a [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] [[VAX]], to provide graphical [[raster graphics|raster display]] abilities. They used 8&nbsp;MHz Motorola 68000 CPUs with {{nowrap|768 kB}} of RAM and had no [[disk drive]]s. They booted over the network<ref name=iris_terminal_guide_v1.3/> (via an [[Excelan]] EXOS/101 Ethernet card) from their controlling computer. They used the "PM1" CPU board, which was a variant of the board that was used in [[Stanford University]]'s [[SUN workstation]] and later in the [[Sun-1]] workstation from [[Sun Microsystems]]. The graphics system was composed of the GF1 [[frame buffer]], the UC3 "Update Controller", DC3 "Display Controller", and the BP2 bitplane. The 1000-series machines were designed around the [[Multibus]] standard.

Later 1000-series machines, the 1400 and 1500, ran at 10&nbsp;MHz and had 1.5 MB of RAM. The 1400 had a 72 MB [[ST-506]] disk drive, while the 1500 had a 474 MB SMD-based disk drive with a [[Xylogics]] 450 disk controller. They may have used the PM2 CPU and PM2M1 RAM board from the 2000 series.<ref name=irix_info_page/> The usual monitor for the 1000 series ran at 30&nbsp;Hz [[interlaced]]. Six beta-test units of the 1400 workstation were produced, and the first production unit (SGI's first commercial computer) was shipped to Carnegie-Mellon University's Electronic Imaging Laboratory in 1984.

====IRIS 2000 and 3000 series====
[[File:SGI-geometry-engine-chip.jpg|thumb|Geometry Engine chip from an IRIS 3120]]

SGI rapidly developed its machines into workstations with its second product line — the IRIS 2000 series, first released in August 1985.<ref>{{cite web| title = Iris 2000 Systems| publisher = SGIstuff.net| author = Gerhard Lenerz| url = http://www.sgistuff.net/hardware/systems/iris2000.html| access-date = January 4, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120218035434/http://www.sgistuff.net/hardware/systems/iris2000.html| archive-date = February 18, 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref> SGI began using the [[UNIX System V]] [[operating system]]. There were five models in two product ranges, the 2000/2200/2300/2400/2500 range which used [[Motorola 68010|68010 CPUs]] (the PM2 CPU module), and the later "Turbo" systems, the 2300T, 2400T and 2500T, which had [[Motorola 68020|68020s]] (the IP2 CPU module). All used the Excelan EXOS/201 Ethernet card, the same graphics hardware (GF2 Frame Buffer, UC4 Update Controller, DC4 Display Controller, BP3 Bitplane). Their main differences were the CPU, RAM, and [[Weitek]] [[Math coprocessor|Floating Point Accelerator]] boards, disk controllers and disk drives (both [[ST-506]] and [[Storage Module Device|SMD]] were available). These could be upgraded, for example from a 2400 to a 2400T. The 2500 and 2500T had a larger chassis, a standard 6' 19" EIA rack with space at the bottom for two SMD disk drives weighing approximately {{nowrap|68 kg}} each.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/sgi/iris/IRIS_FAQ.txt| title=Silicon Graphics IRIS 2000/3000 FAQ| website=BitSavers}}</ref> The non-Turbo models used the [[Multibus]] for the CPU to communicate with the floating point accelerator, while the Turbos added a ribbon cable dedicated for this. 60&nbsp;Hz monitors were used for the 2000 series.

The height of the machines using Motorola CPUs was reached with the IRIS 3000 series (models 3010/3020/3030 and 3110/3115/3120/3130, the 30s both being full-size rack machines). They used the same graphics subsystem and Ethernet as the 2000s, but could also use up to 12 "geometry engines", the first widespread use of hardware graphics accelerators. The standard monitor was a 19" 60&nbsp;Hz non-interlaced unit with a tilt/swivel base; 19" 30&nbsp;Hz interlaced and a 15" 60&nbsp;Hz non-interlaced (with tilt/swivel base) were also available.

The IRIS 3130 and its smaller siblings were impressive for the time, being complete [[UNIX]] workstations. The 3130 was powerful enough to support a complete 3D animation and rendering package without mainframe support. With large capacity hard drives by standards of the day (two 300 MB drives), streaming tape and Ethernet, it could be the centerpiece of an animation operation.

The line was formally discontinued in November 1989, with about 3,500 systems shipped of all 2000 and 3000 models combined.<ref>{{cite web|title=Silicon Graphics IRIS 2000/3000 FAQ|author=Jonathan Levine|url=http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/irisfaq/index.php |access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref>

===RISC era===
With the introduction of the IRIS 4D series, SGI switched to [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] microprocessors. These machines were more powerful and came with powerful on-board floating-point capability. As 3D graphics became more popular in television and film during this time, these systems were responsible for establishing much of SGI's reputation.

SGI produced a broad range of MIPS-based workstations and servers during the 1990s, running SGI's version of UNIX System V, now called [[IRIX]]. These included the massive Onyx visualization systems, the size of refrigerators and capable of supporting up to 64 processors while managing up to three streams of high resolution, fully realized 3D graphics.

In October 1991, MIPS announced the first commercially available [[64-bit]] microprocessor, the [[R4000]]. SGI used the R4000 in its [[SGI Crimson|Crimson]] workstation. IRIX 6.2 was the first fully 64-bit IRIX release, including 64-bit pointers.

To secure the supply of future generations of MIPS microprocessors (the 64-bit [[R4000]]), SGI acquired the company in 1992<ref>PC Magazine. "[https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=SGI&i=51221,00.asp SGI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014163218/http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0%2C2542%2Ct%3DSGI%26i%3D51221%2C00.asp |date=October 14, 2012 }}." Retrieved September 19, 2011.</ref> for $333 million<ref name=CHM>Computer History Museum. "[http://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/story/219 Silicon Graphics Professional IRIS 4D/50GT]." Retrieved September 19, 2011.</ref><ref>Cate Corcoran (March 16, 1992), MIPS, Silicon merger could kill ACE/ARC, ''InfoWorld'', pp. 1 and 107. Retrieved September 19, 2011.</ref> and renamed it as MIPS Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SGI.<ref>Cate Corcoran (March 16, 1992), MIPS, Silicon merger could kill ACE/ARC, InfoWorld, p. 107. Retrieved September 19, 2011.</ref>

In 1993, Silicon Graphics (SGI) signed a deal with [[Nintendo]] to develop the [[Reality Coprocessor]] (RCP) [[GPU]] used in the [[Nintendo 64]] (N64) video game console. The deal was signed in early 1993, and it was later made public in August of that year.<ref>{{cite journal|title=75 Power Players: The Outsiders|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=11|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=November 1995|pages=61–62}}</ref> The console itself was later released in 1996. The RCP was developed by SGI's Nintendo Operations department, led by engineer [[Wei Yen|Dr. Wei Yen]]. In 1997, twenty SGI employees, led by Yen, left SGI and founded [[ArtX]] (later acquired by [[ATI Technologies]] in 2000).<ref name="It's Alive">{{cite web | title=It's Alive! | date=March 12, 1999 | publisher=IGN | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/13/its-alive-3 | access-date=June 25, 2014}}</ref>

In 1998, SGI relinquished some ownership of MIPS Technologies, Inc in a [[Reverse IPO|Re-IPO]], and fully divested itself in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=SGI and MIPS Technologies Announce Spin-Off of MIPS Shares. - Free Online Library|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SGI+and+MIPS+Technologies+Announce+Spin-Off+of+MIPS+Shares.-a062436955|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=January 7, 2018|archive-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062709/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SGI+and+MIPS+Technologies+Announce+Spin-Off+of+MIPS+Shares.-a062436955|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the late 1990s, when much of the industry expected the [[Itanium]] to replace both [[Complex instruction set computer|CISC]] and [[Reduced instruction set computer|RISC]] architectures in non-embedded computers, SGI announced their intent to phase out MIPS in their systems. Development of new MIPS microprocessors stopped, and the existing [[R12000]] design was extended multiple times until 2003 to provide existing customers more time to migrate to Itanium.

In August 2006, SGI announced the end of production for MIPS/IRIX systems,<ref>
[http://www.sgi.com/support/mips_irix.html End of General Availability for MIPS IRIX Products] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307153053/http://www.sgi.com/support/mips_irix.html |date=March 7, 2008 }} at sgi.com</ref> and by the end of the year MIPS/IRIX products were no longer generally available from SGI.

===IRIS GL and OpenGL===
Until the second generation Onyx [[RealityEngine|Reality Engine]] machines, SGI offered access to its high performance 3D graphics subsystems through a proprietary [[Application programming interface|API]] known as ''IRIS Graphics Library'' ([[IRIS GL]]). As more features were added over the years, IRIS GL became harder to maintain and more cumbersome to use. In 1992, SGI decided to clean up and reform IRIS GL and made the bold move of allowing the resulting [[OpenGL]] API to be cheaply licensed by SGI's competitors, and set up an industry-wide consortium to maintain the OpenGL standard (the OpenGL Architecture Review Board).<ref name=seddon>{{cite book|title=OpenGL Game Development|page=43|chapter=History of OpenGL|author=Seddon, Chris|publisher=Wordware|year=2005|isbn=1-55622-989-5|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahb5bqeLROAC&q=IRIS+GL&pg=PA43}}</ref><ref name=kilgard>{{cite web|author=Kilgard, Mark|url=https://www.slideshare.net/Mark_Kilgard/sigraph-asia-2008-modern-opengl-presentation/13-13OpenGLs_PrehistoryIRIS_GL_1Window_system|title=OpenGL Prehistory: IRIS GL (slide from SIGGRAPH talk)|website=www.slideshare.net|year=2008}}</ref><ref name=sgiopengl>{{cite web|url=http://www.sgi.com/products/software/opengl/overview.html|title=SGI – OpenGL Overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031094901/http://www.sgi.com/products/software/opengl/overview.html|archive-date=October 31, 2004|access-date=August 20, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="g926">{{cite web|last1=Peddie|first1=Jon|title=Who's the Fairest of Them All?|url=http://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2012/Volume-35-Issue-4-June-July-2012/Who-s-the-Fairest-of-Them-All-.aspx|publisher=Computer Graphics World|access-date=August 20, 2024|date=July 2012}}</ref><ref name=openglkhronos>{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2006|title=OpenGL ARB to Pass Control of OpenGL Specification to Khronos Group|url=https://www.khronos.org/news/press/opengl_arb_to_pass_control_of_opengl_specification_to_khronos_group|access-date=August 20, 2024|website=The Khronos Group|language=en}}</ref>

This meant that for the first time, fast, efficient, cross-platform graphics programs could be written.<ref name=seddon/><ref name=kilgard/><ref name=sgiopengl/><ref name="g926"/><ref name=openglkhronos/> For over 20 years – until the introduction of the [[Vulkan|Vulkan API]]<ref name=vulkan1.0>{{cite web
  | url       = https://www.khronos.org/news/press/khronos-releases-vulkan-1-0-specification
| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211020/https://www.khronos.org/news/press/khronos-releases-vulkan-1-0-specification
| archive-date=2021-10-20  | title     = Khronos Releases Vulkan 1.0 Specification
  | date      = February 16, 2016
  | website   = Khronos.org
  | publisher = Khronos Group Press Release}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2, 2015|title=Vulkan|url=https://developer.nvidia.com/vulkan| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211020/https://developer.nvidia.com/vulkan| archive-date=2021-10-20|access-date=2024-09-01|website=NVIDIA Developer|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Vulkan®|url=https://gpuopen.com/vulkan/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211020/https://gpuopen.com/vulkan/| archive-date=2021-10-20|access-date=2024-09-01|website=GPUOpen|language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Developing 3D Graphics with Vulkan on Mobile|url=https://developer.qualcomm.com/blog/developing-3d-graphics-vulkan-mobile| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211020/https://developer.qualcomm.com/blog/developing-3d-graphics-vulkan-mobile| archive-date=2021-10-20|access-date=2024-09-01|website=Qualcomm Developer Network|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> –  OpenGL remained the only real-time 3D graphics standard to be portable across a variety of operating systems.<ref name=seddon/><ref name=kilgard/><ref name=sgiopengl/><ref name="g926"/><ref name=openglkhronos/>

===ACE Consortium===
{{main|Advanced Computing Environment}}

SGI was part of the Advanced Computing Environment initiative, formed in the early 1990s with 20 other companies, including [[Compaq]], [[Digital Equipment Corporation]], [[MIPS Computer Systems]], [[Groupe Bull]], [[Siemens AG|Siemens]], [[NEC Corporation|NEC]], [[NeTpower]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Santa Cruz Operation]].<ref>{{cite news 
 | first = 
 | last = 
 | authorlink = John Markoff
 | author = John Markoff
 | title =  New Computer Alliance Forms
 | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2DA1438F93BA35757C0A967958260
 | work = The New York Times
 | date = 1991-04-08
 | accessdate = 2024-09-01
 | url-access = limited
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news 
 | title =  New breed of computers based on new standard UNIX/RISC software debuts: Compaq's Rod Canion says 'ACE' destined to be environment of choice for the 1990s.
 | publisher = Software Industry Report
 | url = http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/computer-software/157919-1.html
 | date = 1991-04-15
 | accessdate = 2024-09-01
}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021}}</ref><ref name="digitalnews19910429_sgi">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_digital-news_1991-04-29_6_9/page/n99/mode/1up | title=SGI's McCracken: From leading edge to mass market | magazine=Digital News | date=29 April 1991 | access-date=1 September 2024 | last1=Heichler | first1=Elizabeth | pages=94 |volume=6 |issue=9}}</ref><ref name="computerworld19910415_lineup">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2515unse/page/7/mode/1up | title=Outsiders don't fear ACE | magazine=Computerworld | date=15 April 1991 | access-date=1 September 2024 | last1=Savage | first1=J. A. | pages=7 | volume=XXV | issue=15 }}</ref> Its intent was to introduce workstations based on the [[MIPS architecture]] and able to run [[Windows NT]] and [[SCO UNIX]].<ref name="arc">{{cite book | url=ftp://ftp.linux-mips.org/pub/linux/mips/doc/ARC/riscspec.pdf | title=Advanced RISC Computing Specification Version 1.2 | publisher=MIPS Technology Inc. | date=1992 | access-date=1 September 2024 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="computerworld19910415_abc">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2515unse/page/6/mode/1up | title=ABCs of ACE | magazine=Computerworld | date=15 April 1991 | access-date=1 September 2024 | last1=Johnson | first1=Maryfran | pages=6 | volume=XXV |issue=15}}</ref> The group produced the [[Advanced RISC Computing]] (ARC) specification,<ref name="arc"/> but began to unravel little more than a year after its formation.<ref name="computerworld19920504_ace">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2618unse/page/105/mode/1up | title=Compaq exits ACE, posts dismal quarterly revenue | magazine=Computerworld | date=4 May 1992 | access-date=1 September 2024 | last1=Hildebrand | first1=Carol | pages=105 |volume=XXVI |issue=18}}</ref><ref name="computerworld19920127_compaq">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld264unse/page/4/mode/1up | title=Compaq, SGI call it quits | magazine=Computerworld | date=27 January 1992 | access-date=1 September 2024 | last1=Hildebrand | first1=Carol | pages=4 |volume=XXVI | issue=4}}</ref>

===Entertainment industry===
For eight consecutive years (1995–2002), all films nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Distinguished Achievement in Visual Effects were created on Silicon Graphics computer systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/news/video_sgi_sweeps_academy|title=News, Features, Reviews, Forums and Resources for the Professional Content Creator - Creative Planet Network|website=Creative Planet Network|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref> The technology was also used in commercials for a host of companies.

An [[SGI Crimson]] system with the fsn<ref>[http://www.siliconbunny.com/fsn-the-irix-3d-file-system-tool-from-jurassic-park/ FSN — File System Navigator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208105356/http://www.siliconbunny.com/fsn-the-irix-3d-file-system-tool-from-jurassic-park/ |date=February 8, 2014 }} at siliconbunny.com</ref> [[3D computer graphics|three-dimensional]] file system navigator appeared in the 1993 movie ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sgistuff.net/funstuff/hollywood/jpark.html|title=sgistuff.net|author=Gerhard Lenerz|access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref>

In the movie ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]'', protagonists can be seen using an SGI laptop computer; however, the unit shown was not an actual working computer, but rather a fake laptop shell built around an SGI Corona LCD flat screen display.<ref>[http://www.bftr.com/Pages/projects/twister.html Banned From the Ranch Entertainment&nbsp;— Twister] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820193238/http://www.bftr.com/Pages/projects/twister.html |date=August 20, 2008 }} at bftr.com.</ref>

The 1995 film ''[[Congo (film)|Congo]]'' also features an SGI laptop computer being used by Dr. Ross ([[Laura Linney]]) to communicate via satellite to TraviCom HQ.<ref>[http://www.siliconbunny.com/silicon-graphics-laptops/ SGI Laptops] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109195246/http://www.siliconbunny.com/silicon-graphics-laptops/ |date=November 9, 2018 }} at siliconbunny.com</ref>

The purple, lowercased "'''sgi'''" logo can be seen at the beginning of the opening credits of the [[HBO]] series [[Silicon Valley (TV series)|''Silicon Valley'']], before being taken down and replaced by the [[Google]] logo as the intro graphics progress.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Kayla |last=Cobb |date=June 20, 2016 |title=Tracking The Changing Opening Credits Of 'Silicon Valley' |website=Decider |url=https://decider.com/2016/06/20/tracking-silicon-valley-opening-credits/ |access-date=September 3, 2024}}</ref> Google leased the former SGI buildings in 2003 for their headquarters in [[Mountain View, California|Mountain View]], CA until they purchased the buildings outright in 2006.<ref>{{cite news
| first=Stefanie
| last=Olsen
| title=Google's movin' on up with Sujeet Kumar and Manohar Patti
| url=http://news.cnet.com/Googles+movin+on+up/2110-1032_3-1025111.html
| work=CNET News.com
| publisher=CNET Networks, Inc.
| date=July 13, 2003
| access-date=September 3, 2024
| archive-date=February 5, 2021
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205011749/https://www.cnet.com/news/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| first=Elinor
| last=Mills
| title=Google buying its Mountain View, Calif., property
| url=http://news.cnet.com/2061-10812_3-6083899.html
| archive-url=https://archive.today/20140706213948/http://news.cnet.com/2061-10812_3-6083899.html
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=July 6, 2014
| work=CNET News.com
| publisher=CNET Networks, Inc.
| date=January 19, 2006
| access-date=September 3, 2024
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url= http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15621514_ITM
| title= Google to purchase Mountain View buildings
| work= San Jose Mercury News
| date= June 14, 2006
| publisher= AccessMyLibrary
| access-date= September 3, 2024
| first= Katherine
| last= Conrad
| archive-date= January 12, 2009
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090112075928/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15621514_ITM
| url-status= live
}}</ref>

Once inexpensive PCs began to have graphics performance close to the more expensive specialized graphical workstations which were SGI's core business, SGI shifted its focus to high performance servers for [[digital video]] and the Web. Many SGI graphics engineers left to work at other computer graphics companies such as [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] and [[Nvidia]], contributing to the PC 3D graphics revolution.

===Free software===
SGI was a promoter of [[free software]],{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} supporting several projects such as [[Linux kernel|Linux]] and [[Samba (software)|Samba]], and opening some of its own previously proprietary code such as the [[XFS]] filesystem and the [[Open64]] compiler.

SGI was also important in its contribution to the C++ [[Standard Template Library]] (STL) with many useful extensions in the [[MIT License|MIT-like licensed]] SGI STL implementation. The extension keeps being carried by the direct descendant [[STLport]] and GNU's [[libstdc++]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SGI Standard Template Library Programmer's Guide |url=https://www.boost.org/sgi/stl/index.html |access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>

===Acquisition of Alias, Wavefront, Cray and Intergraph===
In 1995, SGI purchased Alias Research, [[Kroyer Films]], and [[Wavefront Technologies]] in a deal totaling approximately $500 million and merged the companies into Alias|Wavefront. In June 2004 SGI sold the business, later renamed to [[Alias Systems Corporation|Alias/Wavefront]], to the private equity investment firm Accel-[[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|KKR]] for $57.5 million.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=<!-- no author specified --> |date=May 2004 |title=Accel-KKR to acquire SGI's Alias |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A118341586/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=233d2a73 |magazine=Asia Image |publisher=Reed Business Information |volume=9 |issue=4 |page=8 |issn=0219-6158 |access-date=July 1, 2023 |via=Gale General OneFile (Wikipedia Library)}}</ref> In October 2005, [[Autodesk]] announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Alias for $182 million in cash.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Autodesk acquires Alias |work= PC World |date= October 4, 2005 |first= Peter |last= Cohen |url= http://www.macworld.com/article/1047264/alias.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=14271593&id=5983502&siteID=123112 |work= Press Release |title= Autodesk Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Alias |publisher= Autodesk |date= October 4, 2005 |access-date= September 3, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223743/http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=14271593&id=5983502&siteID=123112 |archive-date= 2013-10-04 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=January 2006|first=TVTechnology 13|title=Autodesk completes acquisition of Alias|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/autodesk-completes-acquisition-of-alias|access-date=2024-09-03|website=TVTechnology|date=13 January 2006 |language=en}}</ref>

In February 1996, SGI purchased the well-known [[supercomputer]] manufacturer [[Cray Research]] for $740 million,<ref>David Einstein, [https://www.forbes.com/2000/03/03/mu4.html Could SGI Be A Takeover Target?] Forbes, March 2000.
</ref> and began to use marketing names such as "CrayLink" for (SGI-developed) technology integrated into the SGI server line. Three months later, it sold the [[Cray Business Systems Division]], responsible for the [[CS6400]] SPARC/Solaris server, to [[Sun Microsystems]] for an undisclosed amount (acknowledged later by a Sun executive to be "significantly less than $100 million").<ref>{{cite press release
  |title= Sun Microsystems announces intent to purchase Cray Business Systems Division
  |publisher= Sun Microsystems
  |date= May 17, 1996
  |url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sun+Microsystems+Announces+Intent+to+Purchase+Cray+Business+Systems...-a018293601
  |access-date= March 20, 2011
  |archive-date= October 23, 2012
  |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121023113441/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sun+Microsystems+Announces+Intent+to+Purchase+Cray+Business+Systems...-a018293601
  |url-status= dead
  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | author1 = Lisa DiCarlo 
 | title = Sun's Purchase Of Cray's Unix Server Business
 | url = https://www.forbes.com/2002/05/06/0506sun.html
 | work = [[Forbes]]
 | date = 2002-05-06
 | access-date = 2019-01-24
}}</ref> Many of the [[Cray T3E]] engineers designed and developed the [[SGI Altix]] and [[NUMAlink]] technology. SGI sold the Cray brand and product lines to [[Tera Computer Company]] on March 31, 2000, for $35 million plus one million shares.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2002/11/18/focus2.html | first=M. Sharon | last=Baker | title=Cray is making a name for itself in the world of supercomputers | date=November 17, 2002}}</ref> SGI also distributed its remaining interest in MIPS Technologies through a spin-off effective June 20, 2000.

In September 2000, SGI acquired the Zx10 series of Windows workstations and servers from [[Intergraph|Intergraph Computer Systems]] (for a rumored $100 million), and rebadged them as SGI systems. The product line was discontinued in June 2001.

===SGI Visual Workstations===
Another attempt by SGI in the late 1990s to introduce its own family of Intel-based workstations running [[Windows NT]] or [[Red Hat Linux]] (see also [[SGI Visual Workstation]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dccmag.com/1999/08/06/sgi-320-nt-workstation-includes-striking-differences/|title=SGI 320 NT Workstation Includes Striking Differences|last=Bolkan|first=J.V.|date=6 August 1999|website=DCC Mag|accessdate=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref name=vw540_man_it>{{cite web
| title = Silicon Graphics 540™ Visual Workstation Manuale dell'utente
| language  = it
| url   = https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-6152636/page/166/mode/1up
| publisher = Silicon Graphics
| date  = 1999
}}</ref><ref name=ntmagau_1999_11>{{cite magazine
| url      = https://archive.org/details/windows_nt_australia_magazine-1999_11/page/n23/mode/1up
| date     = November 1999
| magazine = Windows NT Australia
| pages     = 24–25
| title    = Silicon Graphics 320
| issue    = 10
| first    = Bill
| last     = O'Brien
}}</ref><ref name=lmag2001_03>{{cite magazine
| url      = https://archive.org/details/eu_Linux_Magazine_2001-03-US/page/n17/mode/1up?q=sgi+visual+workstation
| magazine = [[Linux Magazine]]
| date     = March 2001
| pages     = 16–17
| first    = Jason
| last     = Perlow
| issue    = 
| title    = SGI 330 Packs a Punch
}}</ref><ref name=pcw1999_12>{{cite magazine
| url = https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorldMagazine/PCW%20199912%20December%20Created%20From%20PCW%20Cover%20CD/page/n38/mode/1up
| magazine = [[Personal Computer World]]
| date     = December 1999
| first    = Roger
| last     = Gann
| title    = SGI 540 Workstation
| page     = 78
}}</ref> proved to be a financial disaster, and shook customer confidence in SGI's commitment to its own MIPS-based line.

===Switch to Itanium===
In 1998, SGI announced that future generations of its machines would be based not on their own MIPS processors, but the upcoming "super-chip" from [[Intel]], code-named "Merced" and later called [[Itanium]]. Funding for its own high-end processors was reduced, and it was planned that the [[R10000]] would be the last MIPS mainstream processor. [[MIPS Technologies]] would focus entirely on the embedded market, where it was having some success, and SGI would no longer have to fund development of a CPU that, since the failure of [[Advanced RISC Computing|ARC]], found use only in their own machines. This plan quickly went awry. As early as 1999, it was clear the Itanium was going to be delivered very late and would have nowhere near the performance originally expected. As the production delays increased, MIPS' existing R10000-based machines grew increasingly uncompetitive. It was eventually forced to introduce faster MIPS processors, the [[R10000#R12000|R12000]], [[R10000#R14000|R14000]] and [[R10000#R16000|R16000]], which were used in a series of models from 1999 through 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-02-26|title=SGI Brings 300 MHz MIPS R12000 Processor to Octane Wkstn Line|url=https://www.hpcwire.com/1999/02/26/sgi-brings-300-mhz-mips-r12000-processor-octane-wkstn-line/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=HPCwire|language=en-US}}</ref>

SGI's first Itanium-based system was the short-lived SGI 750 workstation, launched in 2001. SGI's MIPS-based systems were not to be superseded until the launch of the [[Itanium 2]]-based [[SGI Altix|Altix]] servers and [[SGI Prism|Prism]] workstations some time later. Unlike the MIPS systems, which ran [[IRIX]], the Itanium systems used [[SuSE Linux|SuSE Linux Enterprise Server]] with SGI enhancements as their [[operating system]]. SGI used [[Transitive Corporation]]'s [[QuickTransit]] software to allow their old MIPS/IRIX applications to run (in emulation) on the new Itanium/Linux platform.

In the server market, the Itanium 2-based Altix eventually replaced the MIPS-based Origin product line. In the workstation market, the switch to Itanium was not completed before SGI exited the market.

The Altix was the most powerful computer in the world in 2006, assuming that a "computer" is defined as a collection of hardware running under a single instance of an operating system. The Altix had 512 Itanium processors running under a single instance of [[Linux]]. A cluster of 20 machines was then the eighth-fastest [[supercomputer]]. All faster supercomputers were clusters, but none have as many [[FLOPS]] per machine. However, more recent supercomputers are very large clusters of machines that are individually less capable. SGI acknowledged this and in 2007 moved away from the "massive [[Non-Uniform Memory Access|NUMA]]" model to clusters.

===Switch to Xeon===
Although SGI continued to market Itanium-based machines, its more recent machines were based on the Intel [[Xeon]] processor. The first Altix XE systems were relatively low-end machines, but by December 2006 the XE systems were more capable than the Itanium machines by some measures (e.g., power consumption in FLOPS/W, density in FLOPS/m<sup>3</sup>, cost/FLOPS). The XE1200 and XE1300 servers used a cluster architecture. This was a departure from the pure NUMA architectures of the earlier Itanium and MIPS servers.

In June 2007, SGI announced the Altix ICE 8200, a blade-based Xeon system with up to 512 Xeon cores per rack.<ref>{{cite press release| title = SGI Unveils Ultra-Dense SGI Altix ICE Blade Platform Purpose-Built for High-Performance Computing| publisher = SGI| date = June 26, 2006| url = http://www.sgi.com/company_info/newsroom/press_releases/2007/june/altix_ice.html| access-date = November 26, 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071022072329/http://www.sgi.com/company_info/newsroom/press_releases/2007/june/altix_ice.html| archive-date = October 22, 2007}}</ref> An Altix ICE 8200 installed at New Mexico Computing Applications Center (with 14336 processors) ranked at number 3 on the TOP500 list of November 2007.