[Back to SGI Tech Advice Index]


Ian's...

SGI Depot Home
[About] [Contact] [Feedback] [Services] [Shipping]
[Indy] [Indigo] [Indigo2] [O2/O2+] [Fuel] [Octane] [Origin] [Chal/Onyx] [VW] [Mon/Cab] [Parts/Spares] [SCSI] [IRIX CDs] [Kybds/Mice] [Misc]

Fuel Systems

Last Change: 230/Aug/2010

NOTE: I may be unable to reply to emails between 30/Aug and 11/Sep inclusive!

Fuel Parts/Spares

SPECIALS! Limited time only...

  SGI Fuel
  R16000 800MHz (4MB L2) CPU
  1GB RAM
  146GB 10K disk
  V10 graphics
  32X CDROM

  500 UKP + shipping

OR:

  SGI Fuel
  R16000 800MHz (4MB L2) CPU
  4GB RAM (max possible)
  36GB 15K system disk (Fujitsu MAX3036NP - very fast and quiet)
  146GB 10K data disk
  V12 graphics (best possible)
  Revolution 7.1 Audio
  QLA1280 SCSI card (dual-port U2W)
  DVDROM

  995 UKP + shipping

Or I can do any kind of inbetween configuration.

Contact me for details!


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 MAX3036NP); 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, more valuable 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   800  4MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1455
 2    R16000   800  4MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   1375
 3    R16000   800  4MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1275
 4    R16000   800  4MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1200
 5    R16000   800  4MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1185
 6    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1155
 7    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    800
 8    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD   1135
 9    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    780
10    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    760
11    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    745
12    R16000   800  4MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1205 
13    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1085
14    R16000   800  4MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    795
15    R16000   800  4MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    780
16    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    750
17    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    730
18    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    725
19    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   705
20    R16000   800  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   700

21    R16000   700  4MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1255
22    R16000   700  4MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   1175
23    R16000   700  4MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1075
24    R16000   700  4MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD   1000
25    R16000   700  4MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    985
26    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    955
27    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    600
28    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD    935
29    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    580
30    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    560
31    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    545
32    R16000   700  4MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD   1005 
33    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    885
34    R16000   700  4MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    595
35    R16000   700  4MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    580
36    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    550
37    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    530
38    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    525
39    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   505
40    R16000   700  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   500

41    R14000   600  4MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1105
42    R14000   600  4MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD   1025
43    R14000   600  4MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    925
44    R14000   600  4MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    850
45    R14000   600  4MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    835
46    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    805
47    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    450
48    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD    785
49    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    430
50    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    410
51    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    395
52    R14000   600  4MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    855
53    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    735
54    R14000   600  4MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    445
55    R14000   600  4MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    430
56    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    400
57    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    380
58    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    375
59    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   355
60    R14000   600  4MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   32X CDROM   350

61    R14000   500  2MB   4096    2    300    15K    V12    10X DVD   1005
62    R14000   500  2MB   4096    2    300    10K    V12    10X DVD    925
63    R14000   500  2MB   4096    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    825
64    R14000   500  2MB   2048    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    750
65    R14000   500  2MB   2048    2    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    735
66    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    15K    V12    10X DVD    705
67    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    15K    V10    10X DVD    350
68    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    10K    V12    10X DVD    685
69    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1    147    10K    V10    10X DVD    330
70    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     73    15K    V10    10X DVD    310
71    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     73    10K    V10    10X DVD    295
72    R14000   500  2MB   4096    2     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    755
73    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V12    10X DVD    635
74    R14000   500  2MB   2048    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    345
75    R14000   500  2MB   2048    2     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    330
76    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    12X DVD    300
77    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10    10X DVD    280
78    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   16/10/40    275
79    R14000   500  2MB   1024    1     36    15K    V10   40X CDROM   255
80    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. bette 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. 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 Maxtor Atlas 15K II), 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 very cool when using applications that can use multiple CPUs, but good dual-CPU systems (ie. dual-R12K/400 or better) ar a lot more expensive than a single-CPU Octane.

See the Nekochan site for further hardware information on Fuel.

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

Return to SGI Depot Index Page [text only]