Systems

Visual Workstation 320/540

Introduction

Visual Workstation 540

The Visual Workstation models 320 and 540 were SGIs first systems equipped with Intel CPUs. The Visual Workstation 320 featuerd one or two Pentium II / III processors, while the larger Visual Workstation 540 is equipped with up to four Pentium II / III Xeon processors.

Unlike later Intel based systems the Visual Workstation 320 and 540 are based on SGI technology. These systems do not include a BIOS like Intel based PCs, but an ARCS PROM like the MIPS based SGI workstations.

The Visual Workstation 320 and 540 both feature a unified memory architecture which makes use of the SGI proprietary Cobalt chipset.

Despite the custom architecture the Visual Workstations were designed to run Windows NT 4.0 and are also supported in Windows 2000.

History

No dates in the history of the Visual Workstations are known. The Visual Workstation 320 and 540 were introduced SGI products beginning in the late 1990s (1999) reaching their EOL in the early 2000s.

Processor

Visual Workstation 320

The Visual Workstation 320 can be equipped with up to two Intel Pentium II/III processors.

Visual Workstation 540

The Visual Workstation 320 can be equipped with up to four Intel Pentium II/III Xeon processors.

Memory

Visual Workstation 320

Type:                   DIMM (proprietary)
Sockets:                12 (2 * 6 sockets)

Minimum configuration:  128 MB (6 DIMMs)
Maximum configuration:  1024 MB (12 DIMMs)

Visual Workstation 540

Type:                   DIMM (proprietary)
Sockets:                24 (4 * 6 sockets)

Minimum configuration:  128 MB (6 DIMMs)
Maximum configuration:  2048 MB (24 DIMMs)	
  

Graphics

Visual Workstation 320

The Visual Workstation 320 features SGIs Cobalt chipset which also supports graphics and video.

Visual Workstation 540

The Visual Workstation 540 features SGIs Cobalt chipset which also supports graphics and video.

Other

Visual Workstation 320

The Visual Workstation has builtin audio/video capabilities. Since the IRIS 4D models this system is the first not to feature PS/2 compatible input devices. The access panel on the back has the following connectors (standard):

  • Ethernet
  • 2 IEEE 1394 ports
  • 2 USB ports
  • Searial port
  • Parallel port
  • Monitor (VGA)
  • Speaker/Headphone
  • Microphone
  • Ananlog line in/out
  • Composite video in/out
  • Svideo in/out

Visual Workstation 540

The Visual Workstation has builtin audio/video capabilities. Since the IRIS 4D models this system is the first not to feature PS/2 compatible input devices. The access panel on the back has the following connectors:

  • Ethernet
  • 2 IEEE 1394 ports
  • 2 USB ports
  • Searial port
  • Parallel port
  • Monitor (VGA)
  • Speaker/Headphone
  • Microphone
  • Ananlog line in/out
  • Composite video in/out
  • Svideo in/out

Options

Visual Workstation 320

The Visual Workstation 320 has 3 PCI slots. All of these support 3.3V and universal PCI cards. 5V PCI cards are unsupported.

To use the 1600SW flat panel option card has to be installed. The mainboard has a specific slot to install this otpion.

Visual Workstation 540

The Visual Workstation 540 has 6 PCI slots. Four slots support 5V and universal PCI cards (slot 1-4 at the top), the remainder support 3.3V and universal PCI cards (slot 5-6 at the bottom).

To use the 1600SW flat panel option card has to be installed. The mainboard has a specific slot to install this otpion.

For the Visual Workstation 540 the SD1100 option card is available. This option supports digital video via Serial Digital Interface (SDI) featuring 2 input and 2 output channels plus genlock and GPI/GPO.

Chassis

Visual Workstation 320

The Visual Workstation 320 chassis is the size of a blue and grey colored bigtower.

width:     22.8 cm /  9"
height:    43.1 cm / 17"
depth:     43.1 cm / 17"

weight:       kg /    lbs 

At the top of the tower there are 2 slots for 3.5" drives and 1 slot for a 5.25" drive which can be accessed. 2 3.5" drive bays are hidden inside the chassis.

Visual Workstation 540

The Visual Workstation 540 chassis is the size of a large blue and grey colored bigtower.

width:     22.8 cm /  9"
height:    60.9 cm / 24"
depth:     45.7 cm / 18"

weight:    23 kg / 51 lbs 

At the top of the tower there are 2 slots for 3.5" drives and 1 slot for a 5.25" drive which can be accessed. 3 3.5" drive bays are hidden inside at the bottom of the chassis.

Specials

None known at the moment.

Problems

No problems known at the moment.

Parts

A spare part catalogue is not maintained for the Visual Workstation 320 / 540 systems.

Pictures

Visual Workstation 540

Visual Workstation 540

Access panel with CD-ROM.

Back of Visual Workstation 540.

Mainboard Connectors.

SDI option connectors.

Visual Workstation 540 system board.

Closeup of the Xeon CPUs.

Links

Manuals

Websites