RIVA 128

RIVA 128
Name	RIVA 128
Manufacturer	NVIDIA
Release date	1997
Entry	Mid-range
Directx	DirectX 5.2
Opengl	OpenGL 1.1

RIVA 128 is a graphics processing unit developed by NVIDIA, released in 1997, and was one of the first graphics cards to integrate 2D and 3D graphics processing on a single chip. The RIVA 128 was designed to compete with other popular graphics cards of the time, such as the 3dfx Voodoo Graphics and the S3 ViRGE. It was widely used in computers from manufacturers like Compaq, HP, and Dell. The RIVA 128 was also used in gaming consoles like the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Dreamcast.

Introduction

The RIVA 128 was a significant improvement over its predecessor, the NVIDIA RIVA 128ZX, and was designed to provide high-performance 3D graphics and 2D graphics capabilities. It was based on the NVIDIA NV3 graphics processing unit and was manufactured using a 0.35 μm CMOS process. The RIVA 128 was supported by Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0, as well as Linux distributions like Red Hat Linux and SuSE Linux. It was also compatible with APIs like DirectX 5.2 and OpenGL 1.1, which were widely used in games like Quake II and Unreal Tournament.

History

The RIVA 128 was released in 1997, a time when the graphics card market was dominated by companies like 3dfx Interactive, S3 Graphics, and ATI Technologies. The RIVA 128 was designed to compete with these companies and provide a high-performance graphics card at an affordable price. It was widely adopted by computer manufacturers like Compaq, HP, and Dell, and was used in a variety of computing applications, including gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. The RIVA 128 was also used in workstations from companies like Sun Microsystems and Silicon Graphics, which were popular in the film industry and the scientific community.

Architecture

The RIVA 128 was based on the NVIDIA NV3 graphics processing unit, which was a 128-bit processor that integrated 2D and 3D graphics processing on a single chip. It had a clock speed of 100 MHz and was manufactured using a 0.35 μm CMOS process. The RIVA 128 had 4 MB of SDRAM memory, which was a significant improvement over the 2 MB of memory found in earlier graphics cards. It also supported AGP 2x and PCI interfaces, which allowed it to be used in a variety of computer systems, including those from IBM, Apple, and Gateway, Inc..

Performance

The RIVA 128 was a high-performance graphics card that was capable of rendering 3D graphics at high speeds. It had a fill rate of 100 million pixels per second and a triangle rate of 1 million triangles per second. The RIVA 128 was also capable of rendering 2D graphics at high speeds, making it suitable for applications like video editing and desktop publishing. It was widely used in games like Quake II, Unreal Tournament, and Half-Life, which were popular on platforms like Microsoft Windows and Linux. The RIVA 128 was also used in simulations like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Jane's Combat Simulations, which were popular in the gaming community.

Compatibility and Drivers

The RIVA 128 was compatible with a variety of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0, as well as Linux distributions like Red Hat Linux and SuSE Linux. It was also compatible with APIs like DirectX 5.2 and OpenGL 1.1, which were widely used in games and applications. The RIVA 128 had a wide range of drivers available, including those from NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Linux developers like Linus Torvalds and Richard Stallman. It was also supported by companies like Intel, AMD, and VIA Technologies, which provided chipsets and motherboards that were compatible with the RIVA 128.

Reception and Legacy

The RIVA 128 was widely adopted by the gaming community and was used in a variety of games and simulations. It was also used in workstations and servers from companies like Sun Microsystems and Silicon Graphics, which were popular in the film industry and the scientific community. The RIVA 128 was succeeded by the NVIDIA RIVA TNT, which was a more powerful graphics card that was capable of rendering 3D graphics at even higher speeds. The RIVA 128 is still remembered as one of the first graphics cards to integrate 2D and 3D graphics processing on a single chip, and its legacy can be seen in modern graphics cards from companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. It was also an important part of the history of computer hardware, which includes the development of CPUs like the Intel Pentium and the AMD Athlon, as well as the development of memory technologies like SDRAM and DDR SDRAM.

Category:Graphics processing units