GPU Wiki
GeForce 256 DDR vs GeForce 256
Select up to four GPU Wiki entries to compare matching specifications row by row. The comparison uses the site database and keeps generation-specific specs visibly separate.
Key Differences
- GeForce 256 has more Memory size (32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB vs 32 MB).
- GeForce 256 DDR has more Memory bandwidth (4.8 GB/s vs 2.656 GB/s on SDR boards; 4.8 GB/s on DDR boards).
- Boost clock: GeForce 256 DDR has 120 MHz; GeForce 256 has Not applicable.
- Architecture: GeForce 256 DDR has Celsius; GeForce 256 has Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting.
- Launch date: GeForce 256 DDR has 1999-12-23; GeForce 256 has 1999-10-11.
- Memory type: GeForce 256 DDR has DDR; GeForce 256 has SDR SDRAM or SGRAM on early cards; DDR SDRAM or DDR SGRAM on later DDR cards.
Row order:
Muted cells indicate unavailable, not applicable, or not directly comparable specifications.
| Spec | GeForce 256 DDR | GeForce 256 |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Product name | NVIDIA GeForce 256 DDR | NVIDIA GeForce 256 |
| Architecture | Celsius | Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting |
| Generation / family | GeForce 256 Series | GeForce 256 |
| GPU codename | NV10 | NV10 |
| Launch date | 1999-12-23 | 1999-10-11 |
| Launch MSRP | Unknown | About $249 to $299 for early 32 MB boards, depending on partner and memory type |
| Market segment | Desktop in GeForce 256 Series | High-end desktop gaming and enthusiast 3D graphics |
| Board type / entry type | Reference GPU | Reference GPU |
| GPU | ||
| Process node | TSMC 220 nm | TSMC 220 nm |
| Die size | 139 mm² | About 139 mm2 |
| Transistor count | 0.02 billion | About 17 million in GPU database sources; some launch-era coverage quoted nearly 23 million for the broader GeForce 256 chip description |
| GPU chip | NV10 | NV10 |
| SM / multiprocessor count | 0 | 0 |
| CUDA Cores | 0 | 0 |
| ROPs | 4 | Unknown |
| TMUs | 4 | Unknown |
| Clocks | ||
| Base / Core clock | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Boost clock | 120 MHz | Not applicable |
| Memory clock | 150 MHz | 166 MHz SDR on SDR boards; 150 MHz DDR clock, 300 MT/s effective, on DDR boards |
| Memory | ||
| Memory size | 32 MB | 32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB |
| Memory type | DDR | SDR SDRAM or SGRAM on early cards; DDR SDRAM or DDR SGRAM on later DDR cards |
| Memory bus width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 4.8 GB/s | 2.656 GB/s on SDR boards; 4.8 GB/s on DDR boards |
| Bus / Interface | ||
| Bus interface | AGP 4x | AGP 2x / AGP 4x depending on board and platform |
| AGP / PCI / PCIe distinction | AGP Legacy graphics interface. | AGP Legacy graphics interface. |
| Power | ||
| TDP / TBP / board power | Unknown | About 12 to 13 W class, depending on SDR or DDR board design |
| Recommended PSU | 200 W | Unknown |
| Power connectors | None | None |
| Slot width | Single-slot | Single slot |
| Cooling type | Unknown | Small active fan cooler on many boards; some partner designs vary |
| Display / Media | ||
| Display outputs | 1x VGA |
15-pin VGA on typical boards. Some board-partner designs exposed or provisioned DVI, S-Video or TV-out. |
| Features | ||
| DirectX support | DirectX 7.0 | DirectX 7.0 with hardware transform and lighting |
| OpenGL support | OpenGL 1.2 | OpenGL 1.2 class in period drivers |
| Vulkan support | Unknown | Not supported |
| CUDA support | Unknown | Not applicable. This predates CUDA. |
Overview
Product name
GeForce 256 DDR
NVIDIA GeForce 256 DDR
GeForce 256
NVIDIA GeForce 256
Architecture
GeForce 256 DDR
Celsius
GeForce 256
Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting
Generation / family
GeForce 256 DDR
GeForce 256 Series
GeForce 256
GeForce 256
GPU codename
GeForce 256 DDR
NV10
GeForce 256
NV10
Launch date
GeForce 256 DDR
1999-12-23
GeForce 256
1999-10-11
Launch MSRP
GeForce 256 DDR
Unknown
GeForce 256
About $249 to $299 for early 32 MB boards, depending on partner and memory type
Market segment
GeForce 256 DDR
Desktop in GeForce 256 Series
GeForce 256
High-end desktop gaming and enthusiast 3D graphics
Board type / entry type
GeForce 256 DDR
Reference GPU
GeForce 256
Reference GPU
GPU
Process node
GeForce 256 DDR
TSMC 220 nm
GeForce 256
TSMC 220 nm
Die size
GeForce 256 DDR
139 mm²
GeForce 256
About 139 mm2
Transistor count
GeForce 256 DDR
0.02 billion
GeForce 256
About 17 million in GPU database sources; some launch-era coverage quoted nearly 23 million for the broader GeForce 256 chip description
GPU chip
GeForce 256 DDR
NV10
GeForce 256
NV10
SM / multiprocessor count
GeForce 256 DDR
0
GeForce 256
0
CUDA Cores
GeForce 256 DDR
0
GeForce 256
0
ROPs
GeForce 256 DDR
4
GeForce 256
Unknown
TMUs
GeForce 256 DDR
4
GeForce 256
Unknown
Clocks
Base / Core clock
GeForce 256 DDR
120 MHz
GeForce 256
120 MHz
Boost clock
GeForce 256 DDR
120 MHz
GeForce 256
Not applicable
Memory clock
GeForce 256 DDR
150 MHz
GeForce 256
166 MHz SDR on SDR boards; 150 MHz DDR clock, 300 MT/s effective, on DDR boards
Memory
Memory size
GeForce 256 DDR
32 MB
GeForce 256
32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB
Memory type
GeForce 256 DDR
DDR
GeForce 256
SDR SDRAM or SGRAM on early cards; DDR SDRAM or DDR SGRAM on later DDR cards
Memory bus width
GeForce 256 DDR
128-bit
GeForce 256
128-bit
Memory bandwidth
Bus / Interface
Bus interface
GeForce 256 DDR
AGP 4x
GeForce 256
AGP 2x / AGP 4x depending on board and platform
AGP / PCI / PCIe distinction
GeForce 256 DDR
AGP
Legacy graphics interface.
GeForce 256
AGP
Legacy graphics interface.
Power
TDP / TBP / board power
GeForce 256 DDR
Unknown
GeForce 256
About 12 to 13 W class, depending on SDR or DDR board design
Recommended PSU
GeForce 256 DDR
200 W
GeForce 256
Unknown
Power connectors
GeForce 256 DDR
None
GeForce 256
None
Slot width
GeForce 256 DDR
Single-slot
GeForce 256
Single slot
Cooling type
GeForce 256 DDR
Unknown
GeForce 256
Small active fan cooler on many boards; some partner designs vary
Display / Media
Display outputs
GeForce 256 DDR
1x VGA
GeForce 256
15-pin VGA on typical boards.
Some board-partner designs exposed or provisioned DVI, S-Video or TV-out.
Some board-partner designs exposed or provisioned DVI, S-Video or TV-out.
Features
DirectX support
GeForce 256 DDR
DirectX 7.0
GeForce 256
DirectX 7.0 with hardware transform and lighting
OpenGL support
GeForce 256 DDR
OpenGL 1.2
GeForce 256
OpenGL 1.2 class in period drivers
Vulkan support
GeForce 256 DDR
Unknown
GeForce 256
Not supported
CUDA support
GeForce 256 DDR
Unknown
GeForce 256
Not applicable. This predates CUDA.