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NVIDIA GeForce 256

ID: GEFORCE-256
RELEASED 1999
PRICE
DISCONTINUED 2001
UNITS SOLD High

I/O PORTS

VGAAGP 4xDVI (some models)

System Analysis

The first GPU. Hardware Transform & Lighting moved geometry processing from CPU to graphics card. A paradigm shift.

Processor

120 MHz
NV10

23 million transistors. Hardware T&L engine.

Audio Subsystem

0
None

N/A

Memory

SDR/DDR SDRAM
32 MB (DDR version later)

Expandable to 64 MB

Storage

N/A
N/A

Graphics Architecture

GeForce 256
Palette: 32-bit Color
  • 2048x1536
Hardware Tricks
  • ▹ Hardware T&L
  • ▹ Cube Environment Mapping
  • ▹ DOT3 Bump Mapping

Did You Know?

  • ? NVIDIA coined the term "GPU" (Graphics Processing Unit) for this card.
  • ? The DDR version was significantly faster than SDR.
  • ? Games had to specifically support T&L to benefit - early adoption was mixed.