Editing Silicon Graphics (section)

====IRIS 2000 and 3000 series====
[[File:SGI-geometry-engine-chip.jpg|thumb|Geometry Engine chip from an IRIS 3120]]

SGI rapidly developed its machines into workstations with its second product line — the IRIS 2000 series, first released in August 1985.<ref>{{cite web| title = Iris 2000 Systems| publisher = SGIstuff.net| author = Gerhard Lenerz| url = http://www.sgistuff.net/hardware/systems/iris2000.html| access-date = January 4, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120218035434/http://www.sgistuff.net/hardware/systems/iris2000.html| archive-date = February 18, 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref> SGI began using the [[UNIX System V]] [[operating system]]. There were five models in two product ranges, the 2000/2200/2300/2400/2500 range which used [[Motorola 68010|68010 CPUs]] (the PM2 CPU module), and the later "Turbo" systems, the 2300T, 2400T and 2500T, which had [[Motorola 68020|68020s]] (the IP2 CPU module). All used the Excelan EXOS/201 Ethernet card, the same graphics hardware (GF2 Frame Buffer, UC4 Update Controller, DC4 Display Controller, BP3 Bitplane). Their main differences were the CPU, RAM, and [[Weitek]] [[Math coprocessor|Floating Point Accelerator]] boards, disk controllers and disk drives (both [[ST-506]] and [[Storage Module Device|SMD]] were available). These could be upgraded, for example from a 2400 to a 2400T. The 2500 and 2500T had a larger chassis, a standard 6' 19" EIA rack with space at the bottom for two SMD disk drives weighing approximately {{nowrap|68 kg}} each.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/sgi/iris/IRIS_FAQ.txt| title=Silicon Graphics IRIS 2000/3000 FAQ| website=BitSavers}}</ref> The non-Turbo models used the [[Multibus]] for the CPU to communicate with the floating point accelerator, while the Turbos added a ribbon cable dedicated for this. 60&nbsp;Hz monitors were used for the 2000 series.

The height of the machines using Motorola CPUs was reached with the IRIS 3000 series (models 3010/3020/3030 and 3110/3115/3120/3130, the 30s both being full-size rack machines). They used the same graphics subsystem and Ethernet as the 2000s, but could also use up to 12 "geometry engines", the first widespread use of hardware graphics accelerators. The standard monitor was a 19" 60&nbsp;Hz non-interlaced unit with a tilt/swivel base; 19" 30&nbsp;Hz interlaced and a 15" 60&nbsp;Hz non-interlaced (with tilt/swivel base) were also available.

The IRIS 3130 and its smaller siblings were impressive for the time, being complete [[UNIX]] workstations. The 3130 was powerful enough to support a complete 3D animation and rendering package without mainframe support. With large capacity hard drives by standards of the day (two 300 MB drives), streaming tape and Ethernet, it could be the centerpiece of an animation operation.

The line was formally discontinued in November 1989, with about 3,500 systems shipped of all 2000 and 3000 models combined.<ref>{{cite web|title=Silicon Graphics IRIS 2000/3000 FAQ|author=Jonathan Levine|url=http://www.sgistuff.net/mirrors/irisfaq/index.php |access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref>