New O2+ Offers Features and Value Unmatched in the Industry
LOS ANGELES, SIGGRAPH, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- SGI (NYSE: SGI), the
world's leader in high-performance computing and visualization solutions,
today announced the new Silicon Graphics(R) O2+(TM) visual workstation
delivering a new level of performance and features in a UNIX(R) OS-based
workstation designed for technical and creative customers. Based on an
innovative Unified Memory Architecture (UMA), the new O2+ visual workstation
satisfies customer requirements for realism and reliability by enabling and
integrating stunning 3D graphics, powerful image processing and real-time
video processing far beyond any other system available in its class.
O2+ features a bold purple chassis and two value-packed configurations with
new powerful RISC processor options, the PMC-Sierra(TM) RM7000A(TM) 350 MHz
processor or the MIPS(R) R12000A(TM) 400 MHz processor. O2+ is bundled with a
robust software suite for collaboration, connectivity and digital media along
with the SGI(TM) IRIX(R) operating system, known for its real-time response,
reliability and serviceability. O2+ is the ideal workstation for creative and
technical professionals in markets such as medical imaging, scientific
visualization, 2D and 3D animation, broadcasting, simulation and defense.
The new O2+ visual workstation delivers up to 47% more compute power and
32% more graphics performance than its award-winning precursor, the Silicon
Graphics(R) O2(R) visual workstation (1). O2+ also offers industry-leading
texture memory capacity, with support for over 900MB resident texture memory
from available system memory in a 1GB memory configuration. The new O2+
workstation delivers more than 60% price/performance improvement over the
previous-generation O2 workstation with its value-rich configurations with
additional system memory and disk space (2).
SGI debuts the new O2+ visual workstation in booth 1401 at SIGGRAPH 2001.
The Silicon Graphics O2+ visual workstation starts at $7,495 (U.S. list) and
is available immediately from authorized SGI solution providers.
"The introduction of the new O2+ workstation with its one-of-a-kind
capabilities is another demonstration of SGI's commitment to its world-class
customers who rely on the strength of the IRIX platform," said Greg Estes,
vice president of marketing at SGI. "O2+ offers a new level of value and
performance to the innovative customers who use it to create real-time
broadcast graphics, world-class special effects and groundbreaking medical
solutions that extend the quality of our lives."
O2+ Features plus Performance - A Winning Combination
The O2+ visual workstation delivers a performance leap, a robust feature
set and an affordable price that firmly position it as the value/performance
leader in its class of UNIX workstation solutions for a wide range of visual
computing applications. This performance boost translates into significant
application performance improvements.
Designed with creative and technical professionals in mind, O2+ uniquely
integrates high-quality graphics and powerful processing with built-in video
capabilities. Industry-leading features include:
-- Powerful processing with either the PMC-Sierra RM7000A 350 MHz
processor with 256KB L2 cache, 1MB L3 cache or MIPS R12000A 400 MHz processor
with 2MB L2 cache for top application performance
-- High system value with more system memory included in standard
configurations than previous O2 configurations -- 256MB to 1GB synchronous
DRAM (SDRAM) system memory option for real-time interactivity with very large
data sets
-- Expansive 18GB disk space for the starting configurations
-- Affordable price -- starting at $7,495 (U.S. list) for the RM7000A
configuration with 256MB SDRAM and $14,495 (U.S. list) for the R12000A
configuration with 512MB SDRAM
-- Innovative Unified Memory Architecture for unmatched price/performance
-- High-quality digital image processing and real-time compression and
decompression for 2D/3D rendering and broadcast graphics
-- Volume rendering and large textures (over 900MB available texture
memory in a 1GB memory configuration) for scientific imaging
What Customers Are Saying
"O2+ raises the bar once more for real time YUV interactive work. With
integrated video and a new CPU, O2+ is a great economical addition to any
compositing and editing network," Tom Benoist, president of Interactive
Effects.
"We're pleased that SGI is introducing the new Silicon Graphics O2+ visual
workstation with even higher performance at the same price," said Stan Honey,
president and chief technology officer of Sportvision. "Like O2, it merges
graphics and video in real time, and the higher performance and richer system
configurations add even more value."
"The new O2+ workstation with the RM7000A processor from SGI provides a
powerful new desktop solution for video editing and effects based on a well
established and respected platform. The turnkey Mule and O2+ combination from
The electronic Farm creates a new benchmark in price/performance for
uncompressed editing and effects needs in a production workflow. The modular
design of Mule allows the user to add options such as Acre HD, Pig Paint and
Autumn Advanced Colour Correction to build the specification they really need
to use," stated Stephen Elliott, CEO, The electronic Farm.
"The weather display industry largely relies on SGI hardware to manipulate
the large data sets required to create real-time weather graphics. Weather
Central customers depend on O2 for its high-performance 3D and dynamic 2D
graphics and accelerated texture mapping features. The new processing power of
the O2+ workstation will provide a significant performance boost at a minimal
cost," said Ben Zimmerman, Genesis product manager, Products Division at
Weather Central.
One-of-a-Kind 3D Technology
The UMA behind O2+ is key to its capabilities and its affordability. The
UMA design accommodates simultaneous data flows from the system resources
(CPU, graphics, video, imaging, compression and I/O). Each computing resource
has equal access to the 2.1GB-per-second unified main memory subsystem. O2+ is
a highly affordable product because the UMA leverages industry-standard
memory, high-performance synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) to accommodate different
memory-intensive types, whether 3D geometry, 2D images or video streams.
Because system memory is allocated for graphics and image processing, with a
1GB memory configuration on O2+ you actually have support for over 900MB
resident texture memory from available system memory.
Another benefit of UMA is that customers get a graphics performance boost
with a simple processor upgrade.
World-Class Service Organization
The entire SGI product line is backed by a superior level of service and
support with highly trained personnel operating in more than 50 countries in
all major cities worldwide. SGI Global Services offers integrated service
solutions that enable customers to optimize their hardware investments.
Services include comprehensive support programs, global education classes, a
full suite of product-focused implementation and system management services
and customized consulting solutions. For more information on SGI Global
Services visit the Web site at http://www.sgi.com/support/.
Pricing and Availability
The new Silicon Graphics O2+ visual workstations are immediately available
in desktop or rack-mount configurations through SGI's direct sales
organization and authorized solution providers. A Silicon Graphics O2+ visual
workstation with the RM7000A 350 MHz processor, 256MB of memory, 18GB disk and
a 19-inch monitor is priced at $7,495 (U.S. list). The O2+ visual workstation
with the R12000A 400 MHz processor, 512MB memory, 18GB disk and a 19-inch
monitor sells for $14,495 (U.S. list). For more information about Silicon
Graphics O2+ visual workstations or other SGI products, visit the company's
Web site at http://www.sgi.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the
Silicon Graphics O2+ visual workstation which are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely unduly on
these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future
performance. Such risks and uncertainties include the timely production of
Silicon Graphics O2+ system in sufficient volume to meet demand, the impact of
competitive markets, products and pricing, the acceptance of applicable
technologies by markets and customers, the ability of the company to manage a
complex set of engineering, marketing and distribution relationship, and other
risks detailed from time to time in the company's most recent SEC reports,
including its reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.
About SGI
SGI, formerly known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is a technology solutions
provider with a broad range of high-performance computing, advanced graphics
and consulting services that enable its technical and creative customers to
maintain a competitive advantage in their core businesses. Whether being used
to design and build safer cars and airplanes, discover new medications and oil
reserves, help us understand and better predict the weather or entertain us
with thrilling movie special effects, SGI(TM) systems and expertise are
empowering a world of innovation and discovery. The company, located on the
Web at http://www.sgi.com, is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and has offices
worldwide.
NOTE: Silicon Graphics, O2 and IRIX are registered trademarks and SGI,
O2+ and the SGI logo are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. MIPS is a
registered trademark and R12000A is a trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc.,
used under license by Silicon Graphics, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of
The Open Group in the U.S. and other countries. Mule is a trademark of The
electronic Farm. PMC-Sierra and RM7000A are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. All
other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
(1) Performance increases are based on comparisons with O2 300 MHz RM5200
systems when measuring CPU performance with SPECint_95 and geometry
performance with 25 pixel lit, depth-buffered Gouraud-shaded triangles in
immediate mode.
(2) Price/performance increases based on the new RM7000A O2+ configuration
compared to the RM5200 O2 configuration.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010510/SFTH025LOGO )
CONTACT: Marla Robinson, +1-256-864-3426, or marlar@sgi.com, or SGI PR
Hotline, +1-650-933-7777, or SGI PR Fax, +1-650-932-0737, all of SGI.
SOURCE SGI
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CONTACT:
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marlar@sgi.com, or SGI PR Hotline, +1-650-933-7777, or SGI PR
Fax, +1-650-932-0737, all of SGI
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