Upgrading an Octane

This page is to assist with the upgrading of an Octane and tries to cover the common limitations.


First, the important thing is to find out what your Octane actually is, there are two ways to do this, either from a system that is currently running a reasonably current version of IRIX 6.5.x or from the PROM command prompt.

Currently running IRIX, use hinv -m - e.g.: my system
For ease of recognition, an edited version with the relavent bits of interest highlighted with >>> my system


System not running recent enough IRIX version, from the PROM use system, e.g: my system
For ease of recognition, an edited version with the relavent bits of interest highlighted with >>> my system

The information you need is IP30 system board version, xbow ASIC version and PSU version

Upgrades:

CPUs:

Note: All Octanes can take either a single CPU module or a dual CPU module; you cannot use two single CPU modules to get a dual CPU Octane.

IP30 version 030-0887-00x (Commonally found in the older Octanes)

Part Number Description
030-1138-002 Single R10000 175MHz
030-0888-004 Single R10000 195MHz
030-1272-002 Single R10000 225MHz
030-1284-002 Single R10000 250MHz 1MB cache
030-1426-001 Single R10000 250MHz 2MB cache
030-1208-002 Dual R10000 175MHz
030-0890-003??? Dual R10000 195MHz
UNKNOWN Dual R10000 225MHz
030-1286-002 Dual R10000 250MHz 1MB cache
UNKNOWN Dual R10000 250MHz 2MB cache
030-1355-001 Single R12000 300MHz 2MB cache
030-1356-001 Dual R12000 300MHz 2MB cache
?????????????? Single R12000 400MHz NOTE: Some CPU versions may have problems with some older IP30 board revisions
?????????????? Single R14000 600MHz - Upgrade code HU-1P600-B (The -B part is important - this is a specific version for the 0887 boards!)


IP30 version 030-1467-xxx (Last Octanes and Octane 2's)
(Note - unsure whether all older CPU's can work - but this is unlikely to be a problem - who downgrades the CPU? - if this is common, please, someone post me an unwanted faster CPU :-)

Part number Description
UNKNOWN Single R12000 270MHz
UNKNOWN Dual R12000 270MHz
UNKNOWN Single R12000 360MHz
UNKNOWN Dual R12000 360MHz
UNKNOWN Single R14000 600MHz
UNKNOWN Dual R14000 600MHz


Memory:

IP30 version 030-0887-00x (Commonally found in the older Octanes)
2GB max configuration - made up of four banks - each bank is two sgi custom 256MB DIMMS (8x256MB DIMMS)

IP30 version 030-1467-xxx (Last Octanes and Octane 2's)
8GB max configuration - made up of four banks - each bank is two sgi custom 1GB DIMMS (8x1GB DIMMS)
WARNING: According to the part lists, there is a specific version of memory for the Octane2 (suffix is -4, Note to self: I need to confirm this)

PSU: (Power supply)

Part Number Description
060-0028-xxx Original Octane PSU
060-0038-xxx Uprated Octane PSU - required for Dual head IMPACT
060-0035-xxx Current Octane PSU - required for all VPro graphics

Graphics:

NOTE: The monitor can be a limiting factor with the VPro upgrades - the MINIMUM refresh rate at 1280x1024 is something like 96Hz which none of the older monitors can cope with.
xbow ASIC version 1.3
IMPACT Series
SI
SSI
SI+Texture
MXI (or SSI+Texture) - Maximum I series
SE - also known as ESI from hinv
SSE
SE+Texture
MXE (or SSE+Texture) - Maximum E series
VPro series
V6
V8
xbow ASIC version 1.4
VPro V10
VPro V12

Video:

Octane Personal Video option: provides uncompressed Analog S Video/Composite In/Output
NOTE: The Personal Video option (evo) requires a direct connection to an I or E series graphics card via an internal flex cable.
Octane Digital Video option: provides uncompressed serial digital In/Output NOTE: Cannot be used with Dual Head graphics
NOTE: The Digital Video option requires a direct connection to an I or E series graphics card via an internal flex cable.
Octane Compression option: provides realtime JPEG compression/decompression, with standalone analog I/O jack or in combination with the digital video option
NOTE: to use in combination with the Digital Video option requires direct flex cable connection to the digital video option, however the compression card does not need to connect to the graphics card (but the Digital Video card does).

IO:


XIO - with the I/E series graphics, the maximum number of XIO cards is four, with the graphics card occupying one or two slots leaving either three or two XIO slots available for expansion. With the VPro graphics cards, only two XIO slots are available.
XIO Single fibrechannel
XIO Dual channel fibrechannel
XIO UltraSCSI option board (4 differential ports)
XIO 4 port fast ethernet and 6 port serial option board (NOTE: requires xbow ASIC V1.3 or 1.4 - will NOT work with 1.2)

PCI - These require the PCI cardcage installed which gives 1 half height and 2 full height PCI slots
PCI RAD audio - digital Audio I/O board
PCI M-Audio Revolution 7.1 Audio board (Not supported until IRIX 6.5.21)
PCI fast ethernet
PCI fast ethernet + keyboard/mouse (can be used with 2 graphics cards for dual user setup - i.e. Duo option)
PCI GigE 1000base-TX
PCI single channel fibre board
PCI ISDN board
PCI single port differential UltraSCSI
PCI single port single-ended UltraSCSI
PCI dual port QLogic Ultra160 SCSI card

Disks:

The Octane takes standard SCSI SCA (80pin single connector) in a plastic sled common to the Octane/Onyx2/Origin200/Origin2000 series and can take a maximum of three 3.5inch full height disks (i.e. the 180GB Seagate 3.5inch full height drives should fit), LVD drives should work fine (should automattically fall back to SE).

Finally:

Always search http://techpubs.sgi.com for sgi's instructions on the relevant upgrade
Also search the comp.sys.sgi.* newsgroups for relavent information.

Any corrections / info to: Matthew Finbow <matthew.finbow@btinternet.com>