Riva 128 PCI

PCI RIVA 128 variant for systems that needed NVIDIA's first mainstream 2D and 3D accelerator without AGP.

Reference GPU

NV3 / RIVA RIVA Series Desktop Desktop SDR 1997 NVIDIA

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At a Glance

Entry Type: Reference GPU
Architecture: NV3 / RIVA
Series: RIVA Series
GPU Die: NV3
Launch Date: 1997-04-01
TMUs: 1
ROPs: 1
Memory: 4 MB SDR
Bus Width: 128-bit
TDP/TBP: 4 W
Rec. PSU: 200 W
Interface: PCI
Data Confidence: Partial

GPU Specs

What do these fields mean?Partial

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA Riva 128 PCI
GPU Codename	NV3
Launch Date	1997-04-01
Market Segment Notes	Desktop in RIVA Series
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV3
Process Node	ST 350 nm
Transistor Count	4 million
Die Size	71 mm²
CUDA Cores	0
SM Count	0
TMUs	1
ROPs	1
Base Clock	100 MHz
Boost Clock	100 MHz
Pixel Fillrate	0.1 GP/s
Texture Fillrate	0.1 GT/s
Memory
Memory Size	4 MB
Memory Type	SDR
Memory Bus Width	128-bit
Memory Clock	100 MHz
Memory Bandwidth	1.6 GB/s
Board and Display
TDP / TBP	4 W
Recommended PSU	200 W
Power Connectors	None
Interface	PCI
Display Outputs	1x VGA, 1x DB13W3
Slot Width	Single-slot
Board Partner Model	Reference or OEM specification
Reference Design	NVIDIA reference design
Board Partner Notes	Exact retail board models can differ in cooler, PCB, clocks, display outputs, BIOS behavior, and power connector layout.
Software
DirectX Support	DirectX 5.0
OpenGL Support	OpenGL 1.0
Driver Branch Notes	Driver support depends on architecture, operating system, and current NVIDIA driver branch.
Windows Support Notes	Check the current NVIDIA driver branch and OEM support policy for this exact GPU.
Linux Support Notes	Check the current NVIDIA Linux driver branch, distribution packages, and kernel compatibility for this exact GPU.

Overview

Riva 128 PCI represents the same mainstream shift as RIVA 128, but in a bus format that fits more late Pentium and early Pentium II systems. It matters because not every period-correct build had AGP, and PCI cards can be more useful for restoration than their headline performance suggests.

The key archive details are whether the board is a true RIVA 128 PCI card, the memory type and capacity, and the exact vendor BIOS or driver package. These details affect compatibility more than the model name alone.

Why It Mattered

Riva 128 PCI brought NVIDIA's first broadly successful 2D and 3D accelerator into non-AGP systems. It is historically useful for documenting the bridge between older PCI-only PCs and the first wave of AGP graphics cards.

Collector Notes

Record board vendor, PCI revision, memory chips, BIOS label, VGA output, optional TV-out, and driver disk. PCI RIVA 128 boards are useful for builds where AGP is unavailable, but the exact board partner still matters.

Common Failure Points

Typical problems are driver-era compatibility, weak late-game OpenGL expectations, and sellers confusing RIVA 128, RIVA 128ZX, and later TNT cards. Some boards may need period drivers to behave correctly.

Used-Market Caution

Confirm it is PCI, not AGP, and verify whether the card is RIVA 128 or RIVA 128ZX. Check for clean output, memory artifacts, damaged VGA connector pins, and whether the seller tested it outside a modern generic display-adapter boot screen.

Known Issues

Known issues pending source review.

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SourcesPartial

Sources reviewed: 2026-06-21

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

DOS Days RIVA 128 SeriesBoard examples, memory notes, clocks, and period contextOpen source

Independent reference sources

TechPowerUp Riva 128 PCI GPU SpecsModel-level specification referenceOpen source

Other sources

RIVA 128 128-bit 3D multimedia accelerator datasheetProduct-level feature and memory-interface referenceOpen source
86Box RIVA 128 architecture historyTechnical history and emulator-oriented architecture contextOpen source

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