SGI memory features and prices

Note: we do not warrent the information below to be complete or accurate. It is up to the buyer to determine fitness for THEIR use for any memory bought. There are other Web sites available with more and specific information; a Web search will find them. I'd appreciate any corrections.

for Indy, Indigo, and Indigo 2, memory MUST be added in groups of 4 SIMMs.

R4000 Indigo, Indy, Indigo 2: Industry Standard 72 pin pop-up, fast page-mode (FPM, a common variety; NOT EDO memory); "true parity"; 60-70ns. Also arranged by 36 bits (ex 4MB = 1Mb X 36). For Indigo 2 R10000: may require higher-speed memory to get full performance.

Many people specify "gold leads" or gold pins. This is apparently due to concerns about corrosion and good contact between the SIMM and its socket pins. Some say that clean contacts and occasional maintenance of tin-lead SIMMS will provide satisfactory service.

To see my prices for 72-pin SIMMs check my Macintosh memory prices at this Web link. Of coruse the SGI's need parity RAM, and typically are 60ns or 70ns speed. and FPM memory (not EDO).



O2 memory, Octane memory, SGI 320 memory are unique devices, so check my systems listings for memory types and prices.

Sun / Mouse Systems reflective mice. Sun 370-1170-01, Mouse Systems 401162-035. Three button which uses LED reflection from a mousepad grid. 8-pin miniDIN connector, for serial 5-volt interface. Cosmetics vary, most marked "Sun". Sun mouse starting at $19 each plus shipping.

These mice are likely supported by a serial input interface. I'm looking for details on the Web, but here's some initial findings. Baud rate may be 1200 baud 8 bit no parity, and a 5-byte sequence. Five volts is needed and the output line may need a 1kohm? pullup resistor. We cannot guarantee this info, look on the Web for more info.

Pin 1,2 GND

pin 3 +5 volt

pin 4 mouse out, may need pullup resistor to +5

pin 5, 6 - reserved for serial keyboard?

pin 7 +5 power return?

pin 8 +5 volt

X and Y values are two's compliment 8 bits (-127 to +127)

Byte 1 - 10000LMR (bits, three buttons L, M, R)

byte 2 - change in X, 1

byte 3 - change in Y, 1

byte 4 - change in X, 2 (add to X,1)

byte 5 - change in Y, 2 (add to Y,1)



Sun or SGI optical mousepad These are optical "grid" patterns on aluminum plates, read by the optical mice like the above. A few marked "Mouse Systems", most not branded. Numbers on back vary. These are used and scuffed, some are scratched, some look better, condition varies. Size from 7-7/8 X 9 inches, 7-7/8 X 7 inches, a few larger. The grid pattern density on them, is either 60 squares per inch, or 85 squares per inch. I have a few at about 25 squares per inch. Price depends on size and condition: but I won't sell for less than $15 per pad. And it costs $8-$9 to mail them in the USA.



Sun items sold but still interesting:

Some time in 2004 I picked up a Sun Multibus-based 150U system but I did not have time to look at it until Oct 2004. This is a 15 slot chassis in a black, rack-mount box. The front is only labled "Sun workstation" but the back is labled Sun model 150U. Subsequently, in Jan 2006 I've sold the system. The new owner said he'll set up a Web site for it soon. You can look at what I sold on this Web page.

I picked up some Sun Multibus cards. Condition unknown but physically OK, dates 1982-1984. Check this page for a description of those cards.

I picked up a Sun 3/E VME based sets of cards.. Here is a photo of the chassis and the card sets.Sun sold a VME card set for a 68020 based Unix/Sun system. I sold it in 2010.

To email me or to order, see see my ordering Web page for my email addresses.



Prices do not include shipping and packing and handling. Ask for quote.

SGI CD, Irix 6.1 I have original CD's from Silicon Graphics. All I know is what is printed on the CD, they are identical. The CD is printed "Irix 6.1, 812-0382-001, 7/95, Notes: Contains installation tools. Contains user-mountable filesystem". The CD sleeve has a lable "814-0382-001". The Web site linked below, says it is for Power Indigo (R8000) systems. $10 each plus shipping, four available. Here's some comments from a buyer:

Got it today and got it installed on my Power Indigo2. Thanks!

> I'm familiar with the Indigo2, and I think the > "power" version is a badge (plastic label added to > the case) for the, um 8000 processor? Thanks for this info, > I'll add it to my Web site. So, it won't install on > say a 4400 or a 10K processor?

To the best of my knowledge, that's all correct. The Power badge is kind of crescent shaped, and I think only appeared on R8000 based machines. At some point I'll get a picture taken. I don't actually have another working machine at the moment to try 6.1 on, but I believe that 6.1 is R8000 only. R8000 was the first MIPS IV instruction set chip, and I understand that it had a strange MMU and cache controller. I've seen SGI people say IRIX was "ported" to it, and I think they had a different compiler vendor for it too. I don't think any free OSs can run on it.

I'm pretty sure 6.1 was based on 5.3. The CD has XFS installs enabled. I'm also pretty sure that 6.2 merged R8000 and mainstream machine support. This [Web site] is a great resource. Thanks, John Finigan

Sun Desktop Sparc manuals. Set of Desktop Sparc manuals in box as follows below. $15 plus shipping

Sparcstation 1+ Installation Guide, 800-4784-10 rev A, 2 April 1990

Sun System User's Guide, 800-4826-10, rev A 2 april 1990

Sun System and Network Manager's Guide, 800-4851-10, rev A 2 april 1990



Sun Desktop Sparc manuals, sealed. Looks like same set as above, but it's sealed so I can't verify. Sealed bag has lable, 825-1321-02 revision A. $25 plus shipping.

Sun "Doing more with SunOS: Beginner's Guide". 800-1710-10 rev a 9 may 1988. $10

Sun "System Introduction". 800-1702-10 rev a 9 may 1988. $10

I get asked this a lot: "where do I get SGI Indigo 2 IRIX OS or the install CD's?". The following links and information are quoted from the Web sites given. Look there for details. You may want to read the forums and see answers to how people have downloaded CD's or used CD's of IRIX. Some people offer hard drives with fresh IRIX installs. I have not done any of those things, or confirmed the information below. I just sell hardware. - Herb, late March 2019.

Wikipedia for IRIX says: The last major version of IRIX is IRIX 6.5, which was released in May 1998. New minor versions of IRIX 6.5 were released every quarter until 2005."

an irix.cc Web site claims: quote "The IRIX Network is the world's premiere Silicon Graphics hobbyist community. Our site includes archives of other SGI sites, a wiki with SGI-related information, a forum for community discussion, two chat services (Discord and Internet Relay Chat), a marketplace, and a collection of FTP, rsync and HTTP downloads.". Some of the links are dead, however.

They have a forum/posting section and among the "sticky" posts is the following FAQ item:

quote - "Where can I get IRIX? - IRIX has not been sold by SGI (Now owned by HP Enterprise) in over a decade. We offer IRIX versions on the FTP servers and mirrors, and also you may buy CDs of it on eBay."

Further links from that site, seem to lead to irisware.net and has CD images I think.

We aren't selling SGI or Sun monitors. They are just too big and old, and VGA monitors are plentiful. But we have some 13W3 monitor cables, and a few 13W3 to VGA adapters. "13W3" means there are 3 circular pins and 13 small pins in the connector. The cables usually measure a few to several feet long and have 13W3 connectors on them, males at each end. the 13W3 adapters are typically short cables or small adapter devices. Adapters have no electronics in them, they just reroute video lines, so it is UP TO YOUR MONITOR to be able to run correctly, not the adapter.

13W3 to VGA adapters: from $20 plus shipping. Tell me if it is for a VGA monitor to a Sun or SGI, etc. system; or a Sun/SGI monitor to a Pentium/Windows system. I can't tell you if it will work, only that it will connect the two items. I have a few of each.