GPU Wiki

GeForce 256 vs Riva TNT2

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

  • GeForce 256 has more Memory size (32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB vs 16 MB or 32 MB depending on board).
  • GeForce 256 has more Memory bandwidth (2.656 GB/s on SDR boards; 4.8 GB/s on DDR boards vs About 2.4 GB/s on standard TNT2).
  • Boost clock: GeForce 256 has Not applicable; Riva TNT2 has 125 MHz.
  • TDP / TBP / board power: GeForce 256 has About 12 to 13 W class, depending on SDR or DDR board design; Riva TNT2 has Not consistently specified in public board data.
  • Architecture: GeForce 256 has Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting; Riva TNT2 has NV5 / RIVA TNT2 fixed function 2D, video, and 3D accelerator.
  • Launch date: GeForce 256 has 1999-10-11; Riva TNT2 has 1999-03-15.
Row order:
Muted cells indicate unavailable, not applicable, or not directly comparable specifications.
Spec GeForce 256 Riva TNT2
Overview
Product name NVIDIA GeForce 256 NVIDIA RIVA TNT2
Architecture Celsius / NV10 fixed-function DirectX 7 GPU with hardware transform and lighting NV5 / RIVA TNT2 fixed function 2D, video, and 3D accelerator
Generation / family GeForce 256 RIVA TNT2 Series
GPU codename NV10 NV5
Launch date 1999-10-11 1999-03-15
Launch MSRP About $249 to $299 for early 32 MB boards, depending on partner and memory type Board pricing varied by partner and variant
Market segment High-end desktop gaming and enthusiast 3D graphics Consumer desktop 2D/3D graphics accelerator
Board type / entry type Reference GPU Reference GPU
GPU
Process node TSMC 220 nm TSMC 250 nm class
Die size About 139 mm2 About 90 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 About 15 million
GPU chip NV10 NV5
SM / multiprocessor count 0 0
CUDA Cores 0 0
ROPs Unknown 2
TMUs Unknown 2
Clocks
Base / Core clock 120 MHz 125 MHz on standard TNT2 class boards
Boost clock Not applicable 125 MHz
Memory clock 166 MHz SDR on SDR boards; 150 MHz DDR clock, 300 MT/s effective, on DDR boards 150 MHz class on standard TNT2 boards
Memory
Memory size 32 MB typical; some later board-partner variants used 64 MB 16 MB or 32 MB depending on board
Memory type SDR SDRAM or SGRAM on early cards; DDR SDRAM or DDR SGRAM on later DDR cards SDRAM
Memory bus width 128-bit 128-bit on standard TNT2
Memory bandwidth 2.656 GB/s on SDR boards; 4.8 GB/s on DDR boards About 2.4 GB/s on standard TNT2
Bus / Interface
Bus interface AGP 2x / AGP 4x depending on board and platform AGP 4x, AGP 2x, or PCI depending on board
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 Not consistently specified in public board data
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 Passive or small active cooling depending on partner and variant
Display / Media
Display outputs 15-pin VGA on typical boards.
Some board-partner designs exposed or provisioned DVI, S-Video or TV-out. 		15-pin VGA on typical boards.
Some partner boards included TV-out or VIVO.
Features
DirectX support DirectX 7.0 with hardware transform and lighting Direct3D 6.0 class
OpenGL support OpenGL 1.2 class in period drivers OpenGL 1.2 class
Vulkan support Not supported Not supported
CUDA support Not applicable. This predates CUDA. Not applicable

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