-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MXh8amhrXQMYunT8xF/z+3FSqi94NivNJmKEdTYLopJrq1h6qL5agWYjHMb6XBw3
 W4cp7njhoNMMJt5Tj9UObA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206847-03-000028.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0001206847-03-000028.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031031181830
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206847-03-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031029
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031031

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COGGINS STEVE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206836

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10441
		FILM NUMBER:		03971140

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206836</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COGGINS STEVE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 AMPHITHEATRE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNTAIN VIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>380000</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 2% per month from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen W. Coggins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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