Buying Second Hand Silicon Graphics Computers
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Buying second hand computers can be a rewarding experience, and it can also lead to misery and poverty. Here is some information to help you avoid the pitfalls, which will no doubt apply to most computers.
1) Always check the current going price, and buy below it.
2) Mystery bundles can be fun, if you have the money to spare, consider it a lucky dip!
(Just don't complain when you find it is an R4000 100PC with no RAM or disk)
3) Don't buy an Indigo2 with the idea of upgrading later, unless you already have the upgrade parts.
There may well be an opportunity to buy what you wanted originally for less money just around
the corner. This is especially true if money is tight.
4) Watch relevant web sites for information on up-coming mass company sales, one such web site for good SGI info of all kinds is at http://www.futuretech.vuurwerk.nl/
5) Invest in a CD set with the IRIX 6.2 or later on it, this facilitates the opportunity to install only what you require, and if disk space increases then more can be installed.
6) Buy a good monitor, official SGI monitors are very cheap considering their quality and are readily available from companies such as Cordnet near Edinburgh (typical price - 17" Sony Trinitron monitor with SGI badge is 47 UKP inc. VAT, SGI monitor cable is 23 UKP inc. VAT, both correct on 6th May 2001). Cordnet are at : http://www.cordnet.co.uk/
7) Buying a complete system (i.e. computer + monitor) is usually cheaper than buying seperate. Sometimes there may be bargains to be had which are rare, make sure you know what it is then snap them up!
8) Have a primary use in mind, but be open minded too. If you are interested in graphics go for 24 bit XZ at least, if you can afford it. Indigo2 is cheaper than Indy for graphics.
9) If moving from a PC or Mac to an SGI, change the way you think about computers. Most SGIs have no floppy drive, they are designed for use on the internet, and they have massive raw potential, it is up to the user to tap it and learn how to use it. Do not expect everything to be neatly laid out for you - you need to make the effort, and you will be rewarded for it. Software is readily available for download from SGIs own web site at http://www.sgi.com and technical documentation is available at http://techpubs.sgi.com
10) If new to the SGI/IRIX/UNIX scene, know someone who can help you when you get lost, because unless you're a total genius you WILL get lost! There are so many little things to know, to set up, to learn. Some things are not documented (but most are), some documentation reads like stereo instructions.
Well there you have it. This is incomplete by anyones standards but should suffice as a starting point for anyone brave enough to go behind the corporate giants of the computer world and try something different. I hope this helps more people to discover the joys of stable and quality computing!
1) Always check the current going price, and buy below it.
2) Mystery bundles can be fun, if you have the money to spare, consider it a lucky dip!
(Just don't complain when you find it is an R4000 100PC with no RAM or disk)
3) Don't buy an Indigo2 with the idea of upgrading later, unless you already have the upgrade parts.
There may well be an opportunity to buy what you wanted originally for less money just around
the corner. This is especially true if money is tight.
4) Watch relevant web sites for information on up-coming mass company sales, one such web site for good SGI info of all kinds is at http://www.futuretech.vuurwerk.nl/
5) Invest in a CD set with the IRIX 6.2 or later on it, this facilitates the opportunity to install only what you require, and if disk space increases then more can be installed.
6) Buy a good monitor, official SGI monitors are very cheap considering their quality and are readily available from companies such as Cordnet near Edinburgh (typical price - 17" Sony Trinitron monitor with SGI badge is 47 UKP inc. VAT, SGI monitor cable is 23 UKP inc. VAT, both correct on 6th May 2001). Cordnet are at : http://www.cordnet.co.uk/
7) Buying a complete system (i.e. computer + monitor) is usually cheaper than buying seperate. Sometimes there may be bargains to be had which are rare, make sure you know what it is then snap them up!
8) Have a primary use in mind, but be open minded too. If you are interested in graphics go for 24 bit XZ at least, if you can afford it. Indigo2 is cheaper than Indy for graphics.
9) If moving from a PC or Mac to an SGI, change the way you think about computers. Most SGIs have no floppy drive, they are designed for use on the internet, and they have massive raw potential, it is up to the user to tap it and learn how to use it. Do not expect everything to be neatly laid out for you - you need to make the effort, and you will be rewarded for it. Software is readily available for download from SGIs own web site at http://www.sgi.com and technical documentation is available at http://techpubs.sgi.com
10) If new to the SGI/IRIX/UNIX scene, know someone who can help you when you get lost, because unless you're a total genius you WILL get lost! There are so many little things to know, to set up, to learn. Some things are not documented (but most are), some documentation reads like stereo instructions.
Well there you have it. This is incomplete by anyones standards but should suffice as a starting point for anyone brave enough to go behind the corporate giants of the computer world and try something different. I hope this helps more people to discover the joys of stable and quality computing!
