GeForce 256 SDR

The SDR GeForce 256 is the first GeForce experience, but without the memory bandwidth advantage of DDR boards.

CelsiusGeForce 256 SeriesDesktopSDR1999NVIDIA

Key Metrics

Architecture
Celsius
Launch Date
1999-08-31
Memory
32 MB SDR
Memory Bandwidth
1.14 GB/s
Interface
AGP 4x
Process Node
TSMC 220 nm
Bus Width
128-bit
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Why It Mattered

GeForce 256 SDR represents the first GeForce generation in its original memory configuration. It is historically important even where the later DDR variant is more desirable for performance.

Collector Notes

Look for early retail boards, original coolers, and clear SDR memory markings. Complete Creative, ASUS, ELSA, and other period packages are more interesting than bare unknown cards.

Common Failure Points

The usual problems are fan wear, AGP compatibility, and confusion with DDR models. Performance expectations should be set around SDR bandwidth.

Reviews1 review

Board-partner, reference-card, article, and video reviews that cover this GPU.

Related GPUs

Back to GeForce 256 Series

Previous in series: GeForce 256 DDR
Sources

Sources reviewed: 2026-08-13

This entry is still being source-checked.

Data confidence and source status

Partial entry. Core specifications may be present, but history, variant notes, known issues, and source review may be incomplete.

  • Verified: core specifications and historical notes have been reviewed against listed sources.
  • Partial: core specifications may be present, but history, variant notes, known issues, and source review may be incomplete.
  • Imported: spec-only imported entry pending editorial source review.
  • Needs source review: narrative notes are incomplete until reviewed.

Primary / manufacturer sources

  1. NVIDIA corporate timeline 1999Official timeline entry for GeForce 256 launchOpen source
  2. NVIDIA Blog GeForce 256 retrospectiveOfficial retrospective on GeForce 256 and hardware T&LOpen source
  3. DOS Days GeForce 256 DDR retro reviewBoard-level DDR/SDR, AGP, memory, and collector notesOpen source
  4. GeForce 256 graphics accelerator PDFPeriod GeForce 256 accelerator product materialOpen source
  5. NVIDIA Launches the World's First Graphics Processing Unit: GeForce 256Official August 31, 1999 GeForce 256 introductionOpen source
  6. NVIDIA GeForce 256 product pageOfficial product table explicitly listing a 128-bit memory interface and identifying August 31, 1999 as the introductionOpen source

Independent reference sources

  1. TechPowerUp GeForce 256 SDR GPU SpecsModel-level specification referenceOpen source

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