SGI Onyx

The Onyx was a line of graphics supercomputers from Silicon Graphics, introduced in 1993 in deskside and rackmount configurations and discontinued in March 1999. Its architecture derived from the SGI Challenge servers, with graphics hardware added. CPU options evolved from MIPS R4400 boards through R8000 (marketed as POWER Onyx) to R10000, with the rackmount version accepting up to six CPU boards. Graphics subsystems began with VTX and RealityEngine2, later joined by InfiniteReality. CBS News used an Onyx to generate live 3D graphics for the 1994 US elections, and the machine anchored Nintendo 64 development kits costing $100,000 or more. The Onyx2 succeeded it in 1996.