MOVIES

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., -- SGI today announced the industry-leading Silicon Graphics Fuel(TM) visual workstation with a choice of MIPS(R) processor speeds, including the new MIPS(R) R16000(TM) 700 MHz processor. The combination of MIPS processor power, aggressive pricing and attractive bundling options delivers a boost in price/performance value of up to 25%. This improvement is based on Silicon Graphics Fuel configurations with increased processor performance at the same price point. These high-performance desktop systems are designed to provide technical and creative professionals with unparalleled application performance, productivity and image precision for a wide suite of applications in manufacturing, the sciences, defense, energy and media. In addition to processor-performance improvements, SGI offers an aggressive trade-in program. Customers wanting to migrate to the new, faster Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation can trade in their older Silicon Graphics(R) workstations as well as UNIX(R) OS-based workstations from other vendors. SGI offers trade-in credits up to $2,000 (U.S.) toward the purchase of eligible configurations of the Silicon Graphics Fuel workstations. The Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation maximizes the performance of desktop applications while offering unprecedented price/performance value. Leveraging industry-leading technology from SGI, Silicon Graphics Fuel features a range of MIPS processors including the latest MIPS R16000 700 MHz processor, the unparalleled VPro(TM) 3D graphics system for the IRIX(R) operating system and a high-bandwidth design based on the SGI(R) 3000 family of Onyx(R) and Origin(R) systems. Due to its high-performance architecture, this workstation is perfectly designed to execute demanding applications for creative and technical users, while the 48-bit RGBA provides the highest level of image precision available on any desktop system today. The Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation complements the Silicon Graphics(R) Octane2(TM) visual workstations and is binary compatible with current IRIX applications. "With this latest processor introduction, attractive system pricing and aggressive trade-in program, we continue to respond to the needs of creative and technical professionals for a stable, high-performance computing solution at a highly affordable price," said Susan Tellep, director of product marketing for SGI. "This new level of value and performance is enabling more organizations to gain access to these powerful desktop systems for breakthrough results." Powerful Features The Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation offers the unparalleled real-time response of the IRIX operating system and full binary compatibility with the complete line of SGI(R) products. Within its bold fiery red chassis, the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation features: -- Single 700 MHz MIPS processor with 4MB L2 cache, 200 MHz front side bus, as well as the 600 MHz R14000A MIPS processor -- VPro(TM) V10 or V12 graphics with up to 128MB configurable graphics memory, 104MB texture memory and 48-bit RGBA (or 12-bit per color component -- more than any other desktop system) with 16-bit Z buffer capability and support for up to 68 billion colors -- Industry-leading memory bandwidth (3.2GB per second) and graphics bandwidth (1.6GB per second) on the desktop -- Dual Channel Display capability for double the screen real estate with a single graphics board at resolutions up to 1920x1200 at 72 Hz on each screen -- A wide range of peripheral options including internal CD-ROM and four integrated PCI slots allowing for more options -- The fifth-generation 64-bit IRIX operating system offering industry- leading real-time response, serviceability and reliability Benefits across Multiple Industries Examples of the benefits Silicon Graphics Fuel workstations offer to SGI customers include: -- For driving design applications in the manufacturing industry, the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation provides a high-bandwidth architecture, improved processing performance and industry-leading graphics power to design engineers who require fast and accurate product development cycles for the competitive advantages that result in shorter time to market. -- In the media industries, digital content creators appreciate the higher bandwidth and faster processing that the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation provides along with its industry-leading graphics for 3D modeling and animation, film mastering and color correction applications. Further, the DMediaPro(TM) DM6 video I/O option, partnered with media applications, offers high-quality uncompressed standard-definition digital video capabilities. -- Defense customers first and foremost benefit from better price/performance with the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation -- as well as from the availability of advanced features not offered by PCs. Users analyzing large data sets, such as imagery or video acquired for geospatial applications, can fully utilize the advanced graphics features of VPro, such as 12-bit-per-component color computation that allows exploitation of all captured bits. The 104MB of texture memory provides fully interactive roam and zoom capabilities through large image mosaics. Defense Information Infrastructure Common Operating Environment (DIICOE) certification, multilevel security and an entire suite of development tools from partners like Rational software make this the ideal platform for command-and-control applications of the future. -- In the sciences, researchers use the Silicon Graphics Fuel workstation to work with increasingly complex data sets at higher resolutions, with advanced image quality, transparency and depth over areas up to 4096x4096. Visualization applications also take advantage of the speed and accuracy provided by the industry-leading implementation of hardware-accelerated Phong-effects. -- In the oil and gas industry, geoscientists and engineers take advantage of the fast processing performance of the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation with its Dual Channel display to accelerate and improve the accuracy of interactive interpretation and modeling of complex 3D data sets. The high-quality hardware-accelerated graphics and improved system performance enable asset team members to model and manage their resources using volumetric models constructed from all the available data, resulting in increased drilling success, improved oil recovery, lower costs of operation and improved profitability. Pricing and Availability The Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation family starts at $11,495 (U.S. list) for a single 600 MHz processor, V10 graphics, 512MB memory, 18GB system disk and 21-inch monitor. The Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation with the new 700 MHz processor is available for purchase immediately through SGI sales channels and starts at $13,995 (U.S. list) for a single processor with 4MB cache, V10 graphics, 512MB memory, 18GB system disk and 21-inch monitor. The new 700 MHz processor is available as an upgrade option to current Silicon Graphics Fuel customers. In addition, SGI offers trade-in credits for older SGI systems or systems from other vendors toward the new Silicon Graphics Fuel workstations. For more information about Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstations or other SGI products, visit the company's Web site at www.sgi.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding options for the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely unduly on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. Such risks and uncertainties include the timely production of the Silicon Graphics Fuel visual workstation and the MIPS R16000 700 MHz processor in sufficient volume to meet demand; the impact of competitive markets, products and pricing, the acceptance of applicable technologies by markets and customers; the ability of the company to manage a complex set of engineering, marketing and distribution relationships; and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's most recent SEC reports, including its reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.