Chapter 1. Overview
Prev   Next

Chapter 1. Overview

This chapter provides an overview of the IP25 CPU board.

Description

The IP25 CPU board is similar to the IP19 CPU boards in several ways:

  • support for 1, 2, and 4 processors

  • bus interface using the same A and D chip set as on the IP19

  • bus tags for coherency checking

IP25 Features

The IP25 board contains the following features that are different from the IP19:

  • the CPU is mounted on a separate circuit board assembly, called a processor-integrated memory module (PIMM)

  • the PIMM uses a solderless land-grid array (LGA) connector

  • the cache RAM is mounted directly onto the PIMM (as opposed to the IP19 SIMMs)

  • the MIPS®R10000™ processor

  • a 1 MB or 2 MB secondary cache per CPU, 2-way set associative, clocked at 133 MHz

  • a system interface running at 80 MHz

  • synchronous SRAMs for bus tags (as opposed to the IP19 asynchronous SRAMs)

  • a new cache-coherency controller, the SCC, to support 2-way cache and other R10000 features; the SCC is mounted directly to the IP25 using ball-grid array (BGA) technology

Figure 1-1 shows the IP25 board.

Figure 1-1. The IP25 CPU Board

Figure 1-1 The IP25 CPU Board

Power Consumption

Power consumption is approximately 40 watts per PIMM. Each CPU consumes approximately 30 watts, and the secondary cache consumes about 10 watts. Thus, a four-CPU IP25 consumes approximately 160 watts.

No additional power bricks (power boards) and off-line switchers are required for systems that are being upgraded from previous CPU boards. Also, there are no additional site power requirements as a result of the upgrade.

Environmental

Operating and non-operating conditions (humidity, temperature, and altitude) are identical to other Challenge and Onyx CPU boards (IP19, IP21).

Hardware Compatibility

You cannot mix the IP25 CPU board in a system with other IP boards (IP19 and IP21). You must remove those boards before installing an IP25 CPU board.

The IP25 CPU board can be installed in any CHALLENGE and Onyx rackmount and deskside system, including the Reality Station. It is compatible with all current graphics options, including InfiniteReality™.

Supported Configurations

The IP25 CPU board can be used in all CHALLENGE and Onyx deskside and rackmount systems, including Reality Station. The following sections describe configurations and limitations.

Supported Graphics Types

Supported graphics configurations are:

  • InfiniteReality

  • Reality Engine2™

  • Extreme™ graphics

  • VTX™ graphics

IP25 Compatibility–Mixing Different CPU Board Types

You cannot mix IP25 boards in systems with other CPU board types (such as IP19 and IP21). In order to use IP25 boards in a CHALLENGE and Onyx system you must remove any other type of CPU board.

System Software and Patch Requirements

The IP25 board requires IRIX 6.2 MR, or later. Beta versions of IRIX 6.2 must be upgraded, since they do not contain support for the IP25.

As of this writing, several patches are required:

  • Patch 1295 for IRIX 5.3, 6.0, 6.0.1, and 6.1 systems

  • Patch 1296 for IRIX 5.2 systems.

  • Patch 1353 (or 1243)

Check the server patches.csd or the Web URL http://bits.csd.sgi.com/digest/patches/recommended/ for the latest patch information.

IO4 PROM Version Requirements

When you install patch 1295 or 1296, the IO4 PROM is automatically brought up to revision level 4.XX (the latest revision was 4.19 at the time of this writing).

Prev Table of Contents Next
Introduction  Chapter 2. Installation Instructions