GeForce 256
The GeForce 256 was a pioneering graphics processing unit (GPU) released by NVIDIA in 1999. Here are some detailed facts about this significant piece of hardware:
- Release Date: The GeForce 256 was announced on August 31, 1999, and was made available to the public in October 1999.
- Architecture: It introduced the NVIDIA GPU Architecture, specifically the NV10 architecture, which was the first to be labeled as a GPU. This was a revolutionary step as it combined traditional graphics capabilities with transform and lighting (T&L) functionality, previously handled by the CPU.
- Performance:
- It operated at a core clock speed of 120 MHz.
- Memory clock speed was 166 MHz.
- It featured 32 MB of SDRAM, expandable to 64 MB.
- The GPU supported DirectX 7.0 and OpenGL 1.2.
- Key Features:
- Transform and Lighting: One of the key selling points was its ability to perform hardware T&L, significantly reducing CPU load for 3D rendering.
- Hardware T&L: It was the first GPU to include hardware T&L, allowing for smoother and more complex 3D graphics.
- FSAA (Full-Screen Anti-Aliasing): It introduced FSAA to reduce jagged edges in graphics.
- Memory Bandwidth: The GeForce 256 could achieve a memory bandwidth of 2.66 GB/s.
- Impact: The GeForce 256 changed the landscape of PC gaming and graphics. It set a new standard for what graphics cards could do, pushing for more complex visual effects and smoother gameplay. NVIDIA's marketing of the GeForce 256 as the "World's First GPU" helped to define the term GPU in the industry.
- Legacy: Its introduction paved the way for subsequent generations of graphics cards, leading to advancements like shader technology, higher resolutions, and increased performance. The GeForce 256 was succeeded by the GeForce 2 line, which continued to build on the foundation laid by the 256.
Sources:
Related Topics: