-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PP7lgL84hi29CqNZULPFjJ9VhZuxhE29TkoEkraQOjwtFHKRCylq+8zkXCnDGNG2
 RB09uwTmeAQ7RqrwgZhcbw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206847-03-000004.txt : 20030808
<SEC-HEADER>0001206847-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030808
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030808192356
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206847-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030627
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030808

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESCHER SANDRA M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206837

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10441
		FILM NUMBER:		03832978

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SILICON GRAPHICS INC
		STREET 2:		1600 AMPHITHEATRE PARKWAY
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILICON GRAPHICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000802301
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS [3571]
		IRS NUMBER:				942789662
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 AMPHITHEATRE PKWY
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043-1351
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6509601980

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 AMPHITHEATRE PKWY
		STREET 2:		MS 6U-710
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043-1389

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SILICON GRAPHICS INC /CA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-27</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000802301</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SILICON GRAPHICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>sgi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206837</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESCHER SANDRA M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5853</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2002-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>160000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-07-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>160000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>570500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest over time and are exercisable at a rate of 4% per month from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sandra Escher</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----