Vanta

Vanta was the value end of the TNT2 era, historically useful for OEM PCs but easy to overpay for.

Reference GPU

NV6 / Vanta Vanta Collector / Retro Desktop Entry Level OEM SDR 1999

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At a Glance

Entry Type: Reference GPU
Architecture: NV6 / Vanta
Series: Vanta
GPU Die: NV6 / Vanta class
Launch Date: 1999-03-15
Launch MSRP: OEM and board partner pricing varied
Memory: 8 MB or 16 MB typical, with some related boards at 32 MB SDRAM
Bus Width: 64-bit
TDP/TBP: Not consistently specified in public board data
Interface: AGP 2x, AGP 4x, or PCI depending on exact board
Data Confidence: Partial

GPU Specs

What do these fields mean?Partial

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA Vanta
GPU Codename	NV6 / TNT2 M64-Vanta class
Architecture	NV6 / Vanta, value TNT2 era fixed function accelerator
Launch Date	1999-03-15
Launch MSRP	OEM and board partner pricing varied
Market Segment Notes	Entry level and OEM desktop 2D/3D graphics
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV6 / Vanta class
Process Node	TSMC 250 nm class
Transistor Count	About 15 million class, shared with TNT2 family data
Die Size	About 63 mm2 class for reduced Vanta/M64 parts, depending on source and variant
CUDA Cores	0
SM Count	0
Base Clock	100 MHz typical Vanta, 80 MHz typical Vanta LT
Boost Clock	100 MHz
Memory
Memory Size	8 MB or 16 MB typical, with some related boards at 32 MB
Memory Type	SDRAM
Memory Bus Width	64-bit
Memory Clock	125 MHz typical Vanta, 100 MHz typical Vanta LT
Memory Bandwidth	About 0.88 to 1.0 GB/s depending on variant and clock
Board and Display
TDP / TBP	Not consistently specified in public board data
Power Connectors	None
Interface	AGP 2x, AGP 4x, or PCI depending on exact board
Display Outputs	15-pin VGA on typical OEM boards. TV-out is uncommon and board specific.
Slot Width	Single slot
Reference Cooler Type	Passive heatsink or bare low cost board cooling depending on partner
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	Use legacy TNT2 era Windows 9x drivers. Exact support depends on whether the board is Vanta, Vanta LT, TNT2 M64, or an OEM relabel.
Windows Support Notes	Windows 98 is the natural target. Windows 2000 and XP depend on legacy driver support and exact board ID.
Linux Support Notes	Only legacy stacks are relevant. No practical modern accelerated Linux target.

Overview

Vanta is important because it shows the low-cost side of the TNT2 generation. It brought NVIDIA compatibility and basic 3D acceleration into value PCs, but with clear bandwidth and performance limits compared with full TNT2 cards.

As a collector card, Vanta is more about documenting an OEM or budget build than chasing flagship performance. The exact memory size and board layout should be recorded because many examples are plain OEM pulls.

Why It Mattered

Vanta shows how quickly NVIDIA turned high-volume OEM segmentation into part of the graphics market. It made TNT2-era features cheaper, but at a clear bandwidth and performance cost.

Collector Notes

Vanta is common as an OEM pull and less collectible than full TNT2 or TNT2 Ultra boards. Record whether the board is Vanta, Vanta LT, M64, or another relabeled TNT2-family design.

Common Failure Points

The usual problem is overexpectation. Vanta can be fine for a value-period build, but it is not a substitute for TNT2 Ultra or GeForce 256 performance. Passive cooling and poor OEM storage can also matter.

Used-Market Caution

Buy Vanta only when a low-cost period-correct display adapter is the goal. Avoid listings that price it like a full TNT2 or TNT2 Ultra, and confirm memory size, bus type, and tested 3D output.

Known Issues

Listings often blur Vanta, Vanta LT, TNT2 M64, and full TNT2 cards. The 64-bit memory bus is the key performance limiter.

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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 TNT2 SeriesTNT2, TNT2 Ultra, TNT2 Pro, M64, Vanta, and Vanta LT family contextOpen source
Archived NVIDIA TNT2 product pageNVIDIA product positioning archiveOpen source

Independent reference sources

TechPowerUp Vanta GPU SpecsModel-level specification referenceOpen source

Other sources

Creative 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 Ultra datasheetBoard-level TNT2 Ultra performance and cooler contextOpen source

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