Riva TNT2
History of development
Riva TNT2, released in April 1999, continued the successful line of graphics cards from NVIDIA. This card, also known as NV5, was developed as an improved version of the Riva TNT. Key development goals included increased performance, improved image quality, and support for new technologies.
One of the key features of TNT2 was its support for 32-bit color and resolutions up to 2048x1536, which was significantly superior to competitors of the time, such as 3dfx's Voodoo3, which were limited to 16-bit color and a maximum resolution of 1024x768. The TNT2 also supported AGP 4x, which doubled the throughput of previous models' AGP 2x.
The technological process has been improved to 0,25 microns, which reduces heat generation and increases core and memory frequencies. This made the card more efficient and allowed NVIDIA to maintain its leadership in the graphics card market.
price and sales
Riva TNT2 was offered in several variants, allowing NVIDIA to cover different market segments. Mainstream models included standard cards with 32 MB of memory and lower-end options such as the TNT2 M64, which had a 64-bit memory bus instead of the 128-bit memory bus of older models.
Prices for TNT2 ranged from US$130 to US$200 depending on configuration. Options Ultra, which had higher core and memory frequencies, cost more, about $230. This pricing policy made TNT2 attractive to a wide range of users, from gamers to professionals.
Features
Riva TNT2 had improved characteristics compared to its predecessor:
- GPU: NV5
- Core frequency: 125 MHz to 150 MHz (depending on model)
- Memory: up to 32 MB SDRAM or SGRAM
- Resolutions: up to 2048x1536 with 32-bit color and 32-bit Z-buffer
- DirectX 6.0 and OpenGL 1.2 support
- AGP 4x support
The card supported a variety of video interfaces, including the standard 15-pin DSUB for analog video, and some models had S-Video output and even DVI for connecting LCD displays.
Gaming performance
The Riva TNT2's gaming performance was impressive for its time. The card offered high rendering speeds and good image quality, which made it competitive with other solutions. In games like Quake III Arena and Unreal Tournament, TNT2 performed well, sometimes outperforming Voodoo3 at high screen sizes.
However, the main advantage of TNT2 was its versatility. The card could handle both 2D and 3D graphics, making it attractive for a variety of applications, from gaming to professional graphics work.
With its performance and versatility, the Riva TNT2 left a significant legacy and was an important step for NVIDIA towards creating even more powerful and capable GPUs such as the GeForce 256.
