SGI IrisVision $4,995 3D accelerator for PCs from 1990 \ VOGONS

SGI IrisVision $4,995 3D accelerator for PCs from 1990

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First post, by diagon_swarm

Posted on 2022-03-27, 10:51

diagon_swarm Offline

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After years, I've finished a long in-depth write-up about an interesting piece of history - the SGI IrisVision 3D accelerator from 1990. It was a scaled-down version of the graphics board set from the SGI Personal IRIS and was intended for PC compatibles (16-bit AT bus) and PS/2 computers (MCA).

The whole thing started when IBM licensed the graphics hardware and the IRIS GL 3D API for their IBM RS/6000 UNIX workstations. Although the IrisVision was not very successful (like all 3D accelerators of the era), it is cool that IRIS GL programs could run under DOS.

Enjoy the article here: https://retro.swarm.cz/sgi-irisvision-add-in- … or-for-pc-1990/

If you just want to see the card in action, check this video where it runs in an IBM PS/2 Model 70 (25-MHz Intel 386+387):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w9ErXh1BHs

Vintage computers / SGI / PC and UNIX workstation OpenGL performance comparison

Reply 1 of 3, by invoke

Posted on 2026-05-19, 19:11

invoke Offline

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Just doing one of these cards in a box and saw your article via Ardent Tool website. Excellent article. Thank you. Going to try it in my Model 95A. Most importantly, does it support Doom? 😂

Reply 2 of 3, by invoke

Posted on 2026-05-19, 19:15

invoke Offline

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Maybe I should have said Duke Nukem 3D!!

Reply 3 of 3, by eisapc

Posted on 2026-05-20, 06:50

eisapc Offline

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Great news, got some of these boards in my 7012/320s RS/6000, but afair there was no DOS driver for the MCA-Version.
Need to check it out after I am back from holidays.

P.S. It was just the win drivers not supporting the MCA boards.

Asking for other early 3D accelerators in your article, have a look at the i860 based SPEA boards:
https://www.geekdot.com/the-spea-cards/
Got some of these in my collection incl. drivers and docs.
Funfact, the name fire is still used for ATIs actual prefessional Firepro series.

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