The Onyx's basic system architecture is based on the SGI Challenge servers, but with graphics hardware.

The Onyx was employed in early 1995 for development kits used to produce software for the Nintendo 64 and, because the technology was so new, the Onyx was noted as the major factor for the impressively high price of US$100,000[1]–US$250,000[2] for such kits.

The RealityEngine2 is the original high-end graphics subsystem for the Onyx and was found in two different versions: deskside and rack.

[6] An Onyx system with RealityEngine2 graphics was used by CBS News for a broadcast of real-time election results.

The broadcast had 3D graphics that were generated live that had updated news feeds in real time.