Riva TNT

RIVA TNT moved NVIDIA into stronger high-performance 3D competition before the TNT2 and GeForce eras.

Reference GPU

Fahrenheit RIVA TNT Series Desktop Desktop SDR 1998 NVIDIA

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At a Glance

Entry Type: Reference GPU
Architecture: Fahrenheit
Series: RIVA TNT Series
GPU Die: NV4
Launch Date: 1998-08-31
Launch MSRP: Board pricing varied by partner
TMUs: 2
ROPs: 2
Memory: 8 MB or 16 MB depending on board SDRAM or SGRAM depending on board
Bus Width: 128-bit
TDP/TBP: Not consistently specified in public board data
Rec. PSU: 200 W
Interface: AGP 2x or PCI depending on board
Data Confidence: Partial

GPU Specs

What do these fields mean?Partial

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA RIVA TNT
GPU Codename	NV4
Architecture	NV4 / RIVA TNT fixed function 2D, video, and 3D accelerator
Launch Date	1998-08-31
Launch MSRP	Board pricing varied by partner
Market Segment Notes	Consumer desktop 2D/3D graphics accelerator
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV4
Process Node	TSMC 350 nm class
Transistor Count	About 7 million
Die Size	About 128 mm2
CUDA Cores	0
SM Count	0
TMUs	2
ROPs	2
Base Clock	90 MHz
Boost Clock	90 MHz
Pixel Fillrate	0.18 GP/s
Texture Fillrate	0.18 GT/s
Memory
Memory Size	8 MB or 16 MB depending on board
Memory Type	SDRAM or SGRAM depending on board
Memory Bus Width	128-bit
Memory Clock	110 MHz class
Memory Bandwidth	About 1.76 GB/s
Board and Display
TDP / TBP	Not consistently specified in public board data
Recommended PSU	200 W
Power Connectors	None
Interface	AGP 2x or PCI depending on board
Display Outputs	15-pin VGA on typical boards. Some partner cards included TV-out.
Slot Width	Single slot
Reference Cooler Type	Passive heatsink was common, but heat can be a concern
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
CUDA Compute Capability	Not applicable
DirectX Support	Direct3D 6.0 class
Vulkan Support	Not supported
OpenGL Support	OpenGL 1.2 class
Driver Branch Notes	Period Detonator era Windows 9x drivers are the normal target.
Windows Support Notes	Windows 95 and Windows 98 era systems are the practical target.
Linux Support Notes	No practical modern Linux 3D target.

Overview

RIVA TNT was the point where NVIDIA became a much more serious performance competitor. The TNT name pointed to its twin-texel approach, and the card arrived into a market where image quality, 32-bit rendering, API support, and driver maturity were becoming as important as raw fill rate.

For a period PC, TNT is useful for the 1998 moment just before TNT2 and GeForce 256. It is historically important, but buyers should not confuse it with faster TNT2 variants.

Why It Mattered

RIVA TNT is a priority page because it shows NVIDIA moving from the RIVA 128 generation toward a stronger Direct3D/OpenGL consumer 3D position before GeForce. The page should keep TNT, TNT2, Vanta, and board-partner variants distinct.

Launch Context

Launch context should document the 1998 consumer 3D market and the TNT naming only from source-backed material. Do not imply later GeForce branding or programmable shader behavior.

Performance Context

Performance context should be written after period reviews are checked, with explicit separation between intended clock targets, retail board clocks, and review conditions.

Architecture Context

Architecture notes should cover the twin-texel positioning, 128-bit 3D processor framing, 32-bit color pipeline, Z/stencil context, and why the TNT generation is not the same as TNT2.

Collector Relevance

Collector notes should identify TNT cards by board vendor, memory size, clocking, and driver era. Keep Vanta and TNT2 notes out unless they are clearly framed as related but different products.

Used-Market Caution

Check whether the card is true RIVA TNT rather than TNT2 or Vanta. Verify fan condition, memory artifacts, driver support for the target OS, and whether the price reflects TNT rather than TNT2 Ultra collectability.

Variant Notes

Exact retail board models can differ in cooler, PCB, clocks, display outputs, BIOS behavior, and power connector layout.

Known Issues

Heat, early driver behavior, partner board cooling quality, and 16 MB memory limits can affect period gaming results.

Known Failure Points

Heat, old small fans, and driver-era compatibility are the practical concerns. Buyers also regularly confuse TNT with TNT2, TNT2 M64, and Vanta because the names are visually similar in listings.

Driver and Platform Notes

Period Detonator era Windows 9x drivers are the normal target.

No practical modern Linux 3D target.

Windows 95 and Windows 98 era systems are the practical target.

Compare with

SourcesPartial

Sources reviewed: 2026-06-21

This entry is still being source-checked.

Source Status

Source review pending. Treat narrative notes as incomplete until listed sources are reviewed.

Pending source review topics:

why it mattered
launch context
performance context
competitive context
driver and platform notes
variant notes

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 TNT SeriesRIVA TNT specifications and period contextOpen source
Tom's Hardware RIVA TNT comparisonPeriod board behavior and heat observationsOpen source
VGA Museum, NVIDIA RIVA TNT product specification PDFArchived product-spec source for TNT architecture and feature framing.Open source
Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA RIVA TNT historical articleSecondary historical context for TNT and the late-1990s market.Open source
DOS Days, nVidia RIVA TNT SeriesSecondary retro-hardware reference for board and clock context.Open source

Other sources

STB Launches RIVA TNT CardPeriod board launch and feature summaryOpen source

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