SGI Challenge

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The Challenge, code named Eveready (deskside models) and Terminator (rackmount models), is a series of multiprocessor server computers developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics in the early to mid 1990s that succeeded the earlier Power (not to be confused with the IBM POWER) series systems. The Challenge was later succeeded by the NUMAlink-based Origin 200 and Origin 2000 in 1996. The system architecture of the Challenge is based around the POWERpath-2 bus, a 256-bit bus clocked at 47.6 MHz that delivers 1.2 GB/s of sustained bandwidth.

Contents

[edit] Models

Over time, successive models of the Challenge were introduced. Initial models used the 64-bit R4000 microprocessor, and later the R4400. With the introduction of the R8000, Silicon Graphics re-branded systems with this microprocessor to POWER Challenge. During the final years of the POWERpath-2 bus' useful life, this line was upgraded yet again with the new R10000 microprocessors, and the R10000-based systems were called Challenge 10000.

[edit] DM - Departmental

  • 1×, 2× or 4× 250 MHz MIPS R4400
  • 1 MB secondary cache

[edit] L - Large

  • 2, 4, 8 or 12 150, 200, 250 MHz MIPS R4400 or 195 MHz MIPS R10000
  • 1 to 6 MIPS R8000
  • 1, 2 or 4 MB secondary cache, depending on the microprocessor
  • 6 GB of memory

[edit] GR - Graphics Ready

  • 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 24 250 MHz MIPS R4400 or 195 MHz MIPS R10000
  • 1 to 12 MIPS R8000
  • 1, 2 or 4 MB secondary cache, depending on the microprocessor
  • 16 GB of memory

[edit] XL - Extra Large

Challenge/Challenge 10000

  • 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 or 36 150, 200 or 250 MHz MIPS R4400 or 195 MHz MIPS R10000
  • 1, 2 or 4 MB secondary cache, depending on the microprocessor

POWER Challenge/POWER Challenge 10000

  • 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 or 36 195 MHz MIPS R10000
  • 2 to 18 MIPS R8000
  • 1, 2 or 4 MB secondary cache, depending on the microprocessor
  • 64 MB to 16 GB of memory

[edit] CHALLENGEarray

  • 2 to 288 R10000
  • 2 to 144 R8000
  • 128 GB of memory

Other models include the Challenge M, which is a SGI Indigo2 and the Challenge S, which was a SGI Indy. These systems do not include graphics hardware that make them useful as workstations, and were intended to be entry level servers.

[edit] References

  • POWER CHALLENGE Technical Report
  • CHALLENGE Server Periodic Table, August 1996
  • Deskside POWER CHALLENGE and CHALLENGE L Owner’s Guide, 007-1732-060, Silicon Graphics