Silicon Graphics, Inc. today created the world's fastest desktop product line with the unveiling of two new Indigo2(tm) systems. The Indigo2 XL and Indigo2 XZ systems bring the unrivaled power and throughput of the Indigo2 workstation to a broader range of users, with breakthrough prices.
The Indigo2 line now includes three models that span a range of graphics: the entry XL system, with fast pixel, vector and X performance; the Indigo2 XZ system, aimed at 3D solids modeling; and the flagship Indigo2 Extreme(tm), the world's fastest desktop graphics system, introduced in January 1993. The expanded product line now offers users in CAD, chemistry, animation, CASE, visual simulation, professional video and publishing markets increased access to the Indigo2 system's leading combination of desktop compute and graphics performance.
"Since its introduction, the Indigo2 Extreme system has been tremendously successful, delivering leading desktop graphics and superior throughput capabilities. The new Indigo2 models build on that success, expanding this powerful combination so that users can choose the price and graphics performance to meet their application needs," said Jim White, director of product marketing of Silicon Graphics' Interactive Systems Division. "Combined with Silicon Graphics' complete digital media environment, the new Indigo2 line delivers the power, tools and media features needed for true collaborative work."
The Indigo2 XL system combines the power desktop compute performance of the Indigo2 system with XL graphics' 24-bit color and 1280 x 1024 resolution. The system delivers 1.4 million X lines per second, 600K 2D vectors per second and up to 437 million pixels per second in graphics performance, making it ideal for entry CAD, image processing and visualization applications.
The Indigo2 XZ system features 24-bit color, 1280 x 1024 graphics with 3D hardware support via its two Geometry Engine(r) processors, Silicon Graphics' proprietary graphics processing unit. The graphics deliver up to 250K flat-shaded triangles per second, and 43K Gouraud-shaded, lighted, independent polygons per second. The system is optimized for applications in mechanical CAD, 3D visualization, animation and architecture.
All Indigo2 systems incorporate the power of either a MIPS(r) RISC R4000(r) or R4400(tm) processor, which offer balanced integer and floating point performance. The Indigo2 systems also include two built-in Fast SCSI-II channels that deliver up to 10 MB per second throughput on each channel; EISA slots for additional expansion; and a new 64-bit system bus architecture that provides the industry's fastest desktop system throughput.
Available for the expanded Indigo2 line is a new video input/output and effects option. The new Indigo2 Video(tm) option delivers video-based communications to all Indigo2 users. These communications capabilities include media mail, interactive digital media presentations and real-time print-to-video of high resolution graphics. The Indigo2 Video option complements Silicon Graphics' professional desktop video product, Galileo Video(tm), and is designed to assist work groups in communicating more effectively using video technology.
Bundled with the Indigo2 line are digital media tools, a complete suite of tools that enables users and developers to build applications and communicate using digital media technology. Users can easily create audio, video and 3D objects, integrate them into a presentation and share them over a network. Developers can use the tools to quickly create powerful applications that incorporate digital media and image processing technologies.
The Indigo2 XZ system is available immediately and the Indigo2 XL system will be available beginning in the third quarter of 1993. The Indigo2 XL and XZ systems come standard with 16-bit DAT quality audio, 16 MB of memory, a 535 MB hard disk, keyboard and mouse. In addition, the Indigo2 XL includes a 16-inch color monitor, and the Indigo2 XZ comes standard with a 19-inch color monitor. The Indigo2 family is binary compatible with Silicon Graphics' complete line of workstations and servers.
