What are those big computers in SG-1 nad Atlantis?

[Conor]

You know the ones that have cool flashing lights? And there practically all over the SGC and Atlantis? What the hell are they for?!?

[sueKay]

The technical name for them is 'blinky light units' and they cost $85 000 dollars...

j/k

I don't think they've ever had much of a purpose apart from to punctuate the grey decor of the SGC and to distract people.

[BC - 303]

To make it look cool, and Earthie.
Probibly gate control devices and other basic tech incase any ancient stuff goes wrong.

[Avatar28]

They're there for decoration and to duplicate all the blinky flashing lights of TV shows and movies of yore. They had them and so people have come to expect flashy blinking lights on big, powerful computers. It's the same reason we have sound in space.

[Conor]

So theres no sound in space?? Ive been misled!

[benjaminism]

The blinky things are called Computer Servers. Which are uesed to find new co-ordinates for stargates and to run the stargate itself.

[Cory Holmes]

In the case of Atlantis, we probably need all those computers and power just to interface with the Ancient technology and access the database. Same reason why they're still using plasma screens instead of the Ancient displays.

[Morgasshk]

You know the ones that have cool flashing lights? And there practically all over the SGC and Atlantis? What the hell are they for?!?

They are specifically for downloading porn, bootleg movies and copious amounts of mp3's to try and fill their massive terrabytes of space!

(drool, i want a harddrive that big!)

[Seldini]

They are terrible terrible fascimiles of server racks or full enterprise servers.

[Maastrichian]

Mr. Radar, Mr. Sonar, Mr. Coffee....

[Metonic]

They are specifically for downloading porn, bootleg movies and copious amounts of mp3's to try and fill their massive terrabytes of space!

(drool, i want a harddrive that big!)

The Wraith didnt put a virus there... Damn it Mckay!

[Avatar28]

They are specifically for downloading porn, bootleg movies and copious amounts of mp3's to try and fill their massive terrabytes of space!

(drool, i want a harddrive that big!)

So at least we're getting SOMETHING useful from the ancient database. That's it's big secret, 30% of the content is pr0n.

[mburrows]

they are super computers that manage the power output and operation of the gate...and of course, they are the light you get when you need to get up and get a late night snack and not turn on the big bright light while the general is sleeping in the next room

[mother-goose]

no no no no its clearly a cylon!

[IcyNeko]

Pretty much what everyone said... they are super computers with massive hard drives. Though, I presume that when Atlantis initially came over, they brought Carter's dialing software as well, in case they had a situation like the SCG where there is no DHD. ..