SGI: Hardware

So I understand that there is a second geometry
engine in the SSI card, and that if TRAM is added
it becomes equivalent to an MXI graphics system.

My question is, how much better monetarily is it?
There is an Octane system with a 195MHz R10K
going for a mere $59.99 right now that has an
SSI graphics card.

I already have an R12k system with much better specs,
but I only have the ESI graphucs. Is it worth paying
$100-$150 dollors just for the SSI graphics?

Thanks in advance!

...if TRAM is added it becomes equivalent to an MXI graphics system.

Just a note, it actually becomes an MXI. Thats all MXI's are SSI + 2xTRAM.

The only problem with going for an SSI or SSE is that if you want textures you will have to track down the two TRAM modules, which are starting to get rare again on ebay. So the cost of the SSI plus the cost of getting two TRAM modules could get quite expensive. What you might find to be a better solution is to wait for a MXI/E to appear on ebay on its own and bid for that.

Is SSI better then ESI?

Well I have an MXI and an ESI in my Octane and just running the Powerflip demo from the icon catalog here are the results...

MXI - fullscreen 1280x1024 @ 75hz : 75FPS constant.
ESI - fullscreen 1280x1024 @ 75hz : 37-43FPS up and down.

Twice the geometry engines are gooood

Hello,

For all the info I have found on the net :
MXI = SSI + 2 TRAM
SSI ~= 2 x SI
But the SI/SSI/MXI familly is the biggest space heater in terms of gfx board.
And the TRAM for the SI familly are not "that" reliable...

The ESI/ESSI/EMXI aka SE/SSE/MXE familly is consuming less and heating less than the previous generation. It also sounds that the TRAM modules for them are much more reliable than the one from the SI/SSI/MXI familly.

It also sounds but that's not at all clear that the ESI/ESSI/EMXI familly is "much" stronger than the SI/SSI/MXI familly but no one can give a clear benchmark for that.

I would recommend to try to get the R12K and than when money comes try to get and EMXI/ESSI depending if you need texture memory or not.

Appart if you can affor :
V6 odyssey board are now at 500$ on xsnet...

@+

LoWeN

LoWeN wrote: It also sounds but that's not at all clear that the ESI/ESSI/EMXI familly is "much" stronger than the SI/SSI/MXI familly but no one can give a clear benchmark for that.

not that much faster, around 15-30% I'd say. But yes, less heat

Yeah, I think TRAM is really what I want
to uprade anyway, so it would probably
be in my best interest to wait for an
EMXI or V6. I just wish the prices would
drop quicker than they currently are.

Thanks for the help!