SGI Indigo 2 Workstation

This was bought in ~1999 as a tool to write my Computing Science undergraduate final year project: “A multi-threaded, multi-platform VOIP application for Unix systems”.

I bought it configured as follows:

• MIPS R10000 195MHz CPU
• 256MB RAM
• 4GB SCSI HDD
• Solid IMPACT graphics option (wireframe/flat-shaded 3D acceleration)

I used the Indigo 2 through my industrial work place year and my final year - ultimately gaining my degree and putting me on the path to a career in Unix (and Linux) technologies.

Over the years (before going in to storage in ~2010) it acquired a few upgrades:

• 896MB RAM
• 73GB SCSI HDD on a SCA to SCSI-2 adapter
• Phobos G160 Fast Ethernet card
• Max IMPACT graphics option (fully textured 3D acceleration)
• Side-mount feet

New, in the early to mid 1990's, that specification would have been well over $55000 (yes, fifty-five thousand US Dollars!)