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Fuel Systems

Last Change: 08/Jun/2011

Fuel Parts/Spares

I have numerous Fuels available; too many to list, so here are some example configurations, grouped by CPU-type. See after the table for warranty information, optional discounts, extras, upgrades, notes, etc. Any 'special offers' I currently have available are shown above.

All configurations come with a free QLOGIC Dual-channel QLA1280 U2W SCSI card, power cable and a free 9GB disk containing a clone backup copy of the system disk. Keyboards and mice are available separately. All systems are now fitted with a minimum of a fast and quiet 36GB 15000rpm system disk (Fujitsu MAX3036 series); this disk is perfect for Fuel - in terms of access time, it is the fastest SCSI disk I've ever tested (see my disks performance page).

Main Table, faster systems listed first. Use price differences and later tables to calculate alternative configurations, or just contact me for a quote.

                                       Disk
Ref                       RAM   Banks  Size   Disk   GFX    5.25"     Cost
No.  CPU Type  MHz  L2    (MB)  Used   (GB)   RPM    Type   Device    (UKP)

  1   R16000   900  8MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   2255
  2   R16000   900  8MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   2175
  3   R16000   900  8MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   2075
  4   R16000   900  8MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   2000
  5   R16000   900  8MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1985
  6   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1955
  7   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD   1600
  8   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD   1935
  9   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD   1580
 10   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD   1560
 11   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD   1545
 12   R16000   900  8MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   2005 
 13   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1885
 14   R16000   900  8MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD   1595
 15   R16000   900  8MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD   1580
 16   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD   1550
 17   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD   1530
 18   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40   1525
 19   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM  1505
 20   R16000   900  8MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM  1500

 21   R16000   800  4MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1505
 22   R16000   800  4MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   1425
 23   R16000   800  4MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1325
 24   R16000   800  4MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1250
 25   R16000   800  4MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1235
 26   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1205
 27   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    850
 28   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD   1185
 29   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    830
 30   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    810
 31   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    795
 32   R16000   800  4MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1255 
 33   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1135
 34   R16000   800  4MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    845
 35   R16000   800  4MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    830
 36   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    800
 37   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    780
 38   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    775
 39   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   755
 40   R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   750

 41   R16000   700  4MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1255
 42   R16000   700  4MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   1175
 43   R16000   700  4MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1075
 44   R16000   700  4MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1000
 45   R16000   700  4MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    985
 46   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    955
 47   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    600
 48   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD    935
 49   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    580
 50   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    560
 51   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    545
 52   R16000   700  4MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1005 
 53   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    885
 54   R16000   700  4MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    595
 55   R16000   700  4MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    580
 56   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    550
 57   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    530
 58   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    525
 59   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   505
 60   R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   500

 61   R14000   600  4MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1105
 62   R14000   600  4MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   1025
 63   R14000   600  4MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    925
 64   R14000   600  4MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    850
 65   R14000   600  4MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    835
 66   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    805
 67   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    450
 68   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD    785
 69   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    430
 70   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    410
 71   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    395
 72   R14000   600  4MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    855
 73   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    735
 74   R14000   600  4MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    445
 75   R14000   600  4MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    430
 76   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    400
 77   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    380
 78   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    375
 79   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   355
 80   R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   350

 81   R14000   500  2MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1005
 82   R14000   500  2MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD    925
 83   R14000   500  2MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    825
 84   R14000   500  2MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    750
 85   R14000   500  2MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    735
 86   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    705
 87   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    350
 88   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD    685
 89   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    330
 90   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    310
 91   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    295
 92   R14000   500  2MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    755
 93   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    635
 94   R14000   500  2MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    345
 95   R14000   500  2MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    330
 96   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    300
 97   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    280
 98   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    275
 99   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   255
100   R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   250

Example Options/Upgrades (see the Parts/Spares page for a full list):

Add 355 to upgrade V10 to V12.
Add 95 to include an original SGI Copper Gbit Ethernet PCI card.
Add 50 to include an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 PCI Audio Card (used).
Add 65 to include an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 PCI Audio Card (brand new! Never been used! Still sealed in original box [rear|specs]).
Add 35 to include an Audigy2 PCI Audio Card (not as good a quality sound as the Rev 7.1, but does the job).
Add 120 to upgrade a system with 1GB RAM to the maximum 4GB RAM.
Add 75 to include an extra 2GB RAM kit.
Add 30 to include an extra 1GB RAM kit.
Add 195 to include a dual-port LSI U320 PCI SCSI card
Add 125 to include a dual-port U160 LVD/SE 33MHz PCI SCSI card (2 x 160MB/sec, QLOGIC QLA12160/33)
Add 175 to include a dual-port U160 LVD/SE 66MHz PCI SCSI card (2 x 160MB/sec, QLOGIC QLA12160/66)
Add 40 to include a dual-port U2W LVD/SE PCI SCSI card (2 x 80MB/sec, QLOGIC QLA1280)
Add 35 to include a single-port U2W LVD/SE PCI SCSI card (80MB/sec, QLOGIC QLA1080)
Add 25 to include keyboard and mouse
Subtract 20 if you don't mind a unit with scratches, marks, etc.


      WARRANTY     |  <------- System Value (UKP) ------->
       TABLE       |  Up to 599 | 599 to 1499 |   1500+
----------------------------------------------------------
Default cover      |   30 days  |   60 days   |  90 days
Extend to 60 days  |     +50    |      -      |     -
Extend to 90 days  |     +95    |    +150     |     -
Extend to 6 months |    +195    |    +295     |   +495
Extend to 1 year   |    +395    |    +595     |   +995

NOTE: These configurations are not fixed. I can upgrade/downgrade
as required. Use the upgrade prices below or price differences above
to calculate other combinations, or feel free to email me or call if
you're interested in a configuration not shown above.

Disk upgrade options are as follows (old disk along the top, new disk
down the side on the left), eg. to upgrade from a 36GB 15K to a 146GB
10K, add 50. Remember that unlike Octane, Fuel can take good advantage
of a 15K drive, eg. more than 90MB/sec from a typical 15K.

Old Disk ->     RPM: |   15K  |   10K  |   15K  |   10K   |   15K   |   10K
           Capacity: |  36GB  |  73GB  |  73GB  |  146GB  |  146GB  |  300GB
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
New        73GB 10K  |   15   |    -   |    -   |    -    |    -    |    -
Disk       73GB 15K  |   30   |    15  |    -   |    -    |    -    |    -
 |        147GB 10K  |   50   |    35  |    20  |    -    |    -    |    -
 |        147GB 15K  |   70   |    55  |    40  |    20   |    -    |    -
\|/       300GB 10K  |  170   |   155  |   140  |   120   |   100   |    -
          300GB 15K  |  250   |   235  |   220  |   200   |   180   |   80


The main table is ordered in terms of CPU speed. Choose the example closest to your needs in the table, then add on any extras as required (or discounts) - see the list of example optional extras/upgrades after the table, or the Parts/Spares page for the full list. If you're not sure, feel free to email me. Please widen your browser window to see the full table.

Please see the Fuel section of the Parts/Spares page for a full list of available upgrades and extras. Further items such as DVDROM/CDROM/CDRW/DAT units, SCSI cables, etc. can be found on the SCSI Items page.

Please see my Origin3000 Architecture page for background information on the architecture Fuel is based on. Fuel is effectively a single-CPU Origin3000 with one VPro graphics pipe).


See the shipping costs page for details of postage charges to the UK, mainland Europe and beyond. A typical shipping cost would be 25 UKP for a UK destination, and between 30 and 75 UKP for most mainland European destinations. For destinations beyond Europe, see the shipping costs page for full details. Alternatively, a personal collection is welcome; I live in Edinburgh, Scotland. Or I can deliver by train/bus if the distance isn't too far (buyer just covers my travel expenses).


DVI monitor cables and adapters are also available - please see the monitors page for details.


Detailed Notes

All systems have a full installation of IRIX 6.5.30m (my own special installation with lots of extras such as Blender, BMRT, Ayam3D, mplayer, OpenOffice, Freeware, Nekoware, Quake2, Quake3, etc.) Adobe Premiere 4.2 is installed, plus many other items, including a good custom desktop layout. A typical installed software list in Software Manager looks like this, though I can of course customise in any way required, or even just put on a default installation with no extras if preferred.

All systems come with the Octane2 VPro demos CD, my custom SGI Nekoware split (8 CDs) and my SGI Gifts CDs. See the IRIX CDs page for details of these CDs. Alternatively, I can include a full 6.5.30 CD set for +50 (email for details).

If you require a hinv output of any configuration, let me know and I will send it to you. Similarly, I can send any photos required of any system or part.

V12 graphics is the best graphics option available. V12 has 128MB combined VRAM/TRAM (up to 108MB for textures) and supports more resolutions than V10.


Background Information (Comparisons with Octane2)

For full details, see my Fuel page, but here is a summary...

CPUs found in Fuels range from R14K/500 (2MB L2) to R16K/900MHz (8MB L2), with speeds of 600, 700 and 800 inbetween. 800MHz and 900MHz systems are much harder to find and thus more expensive, but even a 700MHz CPU causes a significant price jump.

The maximum RAM is 4GB (4 DIMM slots). The system architecture compared to Octane2 has 4X faster SCSI (U160 instead of UW), 2X faster PCI (which comes built-in as standard!), 2X faster RAM, 2X faster system bandwidth, lower RAM latency, less noise, but audio is not included as standard. An M-Audio Revolution 7.1 PCI card is the best audio board to look for, though this card is rather costly even 2nd-hand; the other board one can use is the Audigy2 ZS, but it's not as good as the Revolution 7.1 (does the job, so to speak). Fuel does have some degree of support for Firewire and USB (see www.nekochan.net for details).

Fuel has two internal 5.25" bays included, DVDROM typically fitted, but not always; some people have been able to use DVDR/DVDRW drives ok, but this does require a recent version of IRIX and up-to-date Nekoware apps (I can install 6.5.30 instead if required). The system has two internal 3.5" bays for disks, though one could always employ the 5.25" bays for extra disks aswell if required.

For raw speed, a 500MHz Fuel can be 40% to 50% faster than a 400MHz Octane2 with a good disk, ie. a better speed increase than is implied merely by the 25% higher clock speed. Application startup times are much improved. Fuel can take good advantage of a nice 15K drive since it has U160 SCSI. The graphics can only be V10 or V12 (just one pipe), but Fuel can get more out of them compared to the same options in Octane, though one would only notice this if working with more dynamic datasets, or if some aspect of displaying the model was CPU/memory bound, eg. repeated conversion from a prioprietory database to Performer. Overall, for any equivalent single-CPU/gfx combination, Fuel is better value for money than Octane2, ie. better bang for your buck.

Fuel already has 4 PCI slots included. PCI with Octane requires either the expensive PCI cage or an XTalk adapter, so Fuel has an advantage here. Also, Octane's PCI is only 33MHz, whereas two of Fuel's slot run at 66MHz, allowing Fuel to take good advantage of high-performance SAS, SATA and other storage technologies (eg. just a single SSD can do over 270MB/sec in a Fuel).

If you can make good use of dual CPUs, then Octane2 may be a better choice though, eg. for use with Blender, Maya, SoftImage, or other applications that can use dual-CPUs for rendering (any professional video, animation or effects package will be able to use dual-CPUs). Thus, if single-threaded speed is more important (ie. running applications such as OpenOffice, Seamonkey or Firefox), then a 600MHz Fuel with a 15K disk is a very nice system (I recommend the Fujitsu MAX series), especially if you don't care about audio since most Fuels do not come fitted with an audio board by default, whereas Octane has audio built-in as standard. By contrast, dual-CPU Octanes are nice when using applications that can use multiple CPUs, but good dual-CPU Octanes (ie. dual-R12K/400 or better) are a lot more expensive than a single-CPU Octane.

See my Fuel information page for further technical details and hardware information.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask!

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