S3 ViRGE

Reference GPU
ViRGES3 ViRGE SeriesDesktopDesktopEDO DRAM1995
Partial entry. Core specifications may be present, but history, variant notes, known issues, and source review may be incomplete.
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At a Glance

Entry Type
Reference GPU
Architecture
ViRGE
Series
S3 ViRGE Series
GPU Die
ViRGE
Launch Date
1995-10-01
Shader Processors
1
Memory
2 MB EDO DRAM
Bus Width
64-bit
Interface
PCI
Data Confidence
Partial
This GPU Wiki entry is being expanded and source-checked.

Why It Mattered

Sold in enormous volume due to low cost and integrated 2D+3D. Its 3D performance was so poor it earned the nickname Virtually Integrated Rasterization and Graphics Engine in the tech press, but it put basic 3D acceleration into millions of budget PCs.

Known Issues

3D performance was commonly slower than software rendering in period benchmarks.

Related GPUs

Back to S3 ViRGE Series

SourcesPartial

Sources reviewed: 2026-06-25

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.

Independent reference sources

  1. TechPowerUp GPU SpecsSpecification referenceOpen source

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