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GeForce 256 vs GeForce2 GTS

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.

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Key Differences

  • GeForce2 GTS has more Memory size (32 MB vs 32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB).
  • GeForce2 GTS has more Memory bandwidth (5.31 GB/s vs 2.656 GB/s on SDR boards; 4.8 GB/s on DDR boards).
  • Boost clock: GeForce 256 has Not applicable; GeForce2 GTS has 200 MHz.
  • Architecture: GeForce 256 has Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting; GeForce2 GTS has Celsius.
  • Launch date: GeForce 256 has 1999-10-11; GeForce2 GTS has 2000-04-26.
  • Memory type: GeForce 256 has SDR SDRAM or SGRAM on early cards; DDR SDRAM or DDR SGRAM on later DDR cards; GeForce2 GTS has DDR.
Row order:
Muted cells indicate unavailable, not applicable, or not directly comparable specifications.
Spec GeForce 256 GeForce2 GTS
Overview
Product name NVIDIA GeForce 256 NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS
Architecture Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting Celsius
Generation / family GeForce 256 GeForce 2 Series
GPU codename NV10 NV15
Launch date 1999-10-11 2000-04-26
Launch MSRP About $249 to $299 for early 32 MB boards, depending on partner and memory type Unknown
Market segment High-end desktop gaming and enthusiast 3D graphics Desktop in GeForce 2 Series
Board type / entry type Reference GPU Reference GPU
GPU
Process node TSMC 220 nm TSMC 180 nm
Die size About 139 mm2 88 mm²
Transistor count About 17 million in GPU database sources; some launch-era coverage quoted nearly 23 million for the broader GeForce 256 chip description 0.03 billion
GPU chip NV10 NV15
SM / multiprocessor count 0 0
CUDA Cores 0 0
ROPs Unknown 4
TMUs Unknown 8
Clocks
Base / Core clock 120 MHz 200 MHz
Boost clock Not applicable 200 MHz
Memory clock 166 MHz SDR on SDR boards; 150 MHz DDR clock, 300 MT/s effective, on DDR boards 166 MHz
Memory
Memory size 32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB 32 MB
Memory type SDR SDRAM or SGRAM on early cards; DDR SDRAM or DDR SGRAM on later DDR cards DDR
Memory bus width 128-bit 128-bit
Memory bandwidth 2.656 GB/s on SDR boards; 4.8 GB/s on DDR boards 5.31 GB/s
Bus / Interface
Bus interface AGP 2x / AGP 4x depending on board and platform AGP 4x
AGP / PCI / PCIe distinction AGP Legacy graphics interface. AGP Legacy graphics interface.
Power
TDP / TBP / board power About 12 to 13 W class, depending on SDR or DDR board design Unknown
Recommended PSU Unknown 200 W
Power connectors None None
Slot width Single slot Single-slot
Cooling type Small active fan cooler on many boards; some partner designs vary Unknown
Display / Media
Display outputs 15-pin VGA on typical boards.
Some board-partner designs exposed or provisioned DVI, S-Video or TV-out. 		1x VGA
Features
DirectX support DirectX 7.0 with hardware transform and lighting DirectX 7.0
OpenGL support OpenGL 1.2 class in period drivers OpenGL 1.5
Vulkan support Not supported Unknown
CUDA support Not applicable. This predates CUDA. Unknown

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