Riva 128

RIVA 128 was NVIDIA's first mainstream success, combining 2D, 3D, and video acceleration for late-1990s PCs.

NV3 / RIVA RIVA Series Desktop SDR 1997 NVIDIA

Key Metrics

Launch Date: 1997-08-25
Memory: 4 MB on standard RIVA 128 boards SGRAM
Memory Bandwidth: 1.6 GB/s
TDP/TBP: About 4 W class
Interface: AGP 1x or PCI
Process Node: SGS-Thomson 350 nm class

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GPU Specs

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA RIVA 128
GPU Codename	NV3
Architecture	NV3 / RIVA fixed function 2D, video, and 3D accelerator
Launch Date	1997-08-25
Launch MSRP	Board pricing varied by partner
Market Segment Notes	Consumer desktop 2D/3D graphics accelerator
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV3
Process Node	SGS-Thomson 350 nm class
Transistor Count	About 3.5 to 4 million, depending on source wording
Die Size	About 90 mm2
CUDA Cores	Not applicable
SM Count	Not applicable
TMUs	1
ROPs	1
Base Clock	100 MHz
Boost Clock	100 MHz
Pixel Fillrate	0.1 GP/s
Texture Fillrate	0.1 GT/s
Memory
Memory Size	4 MB on standard RIVA 128 boards
Memory Type	SGRAM
Memory Bus Width	128-bit
Memory Clock	100 MHz
Memory Bandwidth	1.6 GB/s
Board and Display
TDP / TBP	About 4 W class
Recommended PSU	200 W
Power Connectors	None
Interface	AGP 1x or PCI
Display Outputs	15-pin VGA on typical boards. Some partner cards added video input or video output.
Slot Width	Single slot
Reference Cooler Type	Passive heatsink on most boards
Board Partner Model	Reference or OEM specification
Reference Design	NVIDIA reference design
Software
CUDA Compute Capability	Not applicable
DirectX Support	Direct3D 5.0 class
Vulkan Support	Not supported
OpenGL Support	OpenGL 1.0 class, with period driver limitations
Driver Branch Notes	Best matched with Windows 95 and Windows 98 era NVIDIA or board partner drivers. Later Windows included limited display support but not a complete modern 3D path.
Windows Support Notes	Windows 95 and Windows 98 are the practical targets for 3D use.
Linux Support Notes	Legacy 2D use may be possible on old stacks, but there is no practical modern accelerated Linux target.

GPU Gallery

Front view of a Diamond Multimedia graphics board with NVIDIA RIVA 128 chip and AGP edge connector — **Front view: Diamond Multimedia RIVA 128 board.** AGP edge is visible; speed and memory configuration are unverified.View original file page

Close-up of an NVIDIA RIVA 128 GPU chip mounted on a green graphics board — **Chip close-up: NVIDIA RIVA 128 GPU chip.** Board bus and memory are unverified.View original file page

Launch Context

Launch context should cover the 1997 PC 3D accelerator market, AGP/PCI board context, and Diamond/STB-era retail cards only where period sources or archived product material support the wording.

Performance Context

Performance context needs period reviews before firm rankings are written. Until then, keep comparisons to Voodoo Graphics, Rage, Verite, and PowerVR as editorial targets rather than conclusions.

Architecture Context

Architecture notes should focus on the 128-bit 2D/3D multimedia accelerator positioning, Direct3D-era design shift, 4 MB frame-buffer context, and the break from NV1's quadratic texture mapping approach.

Collector Relevance

Collector notes should separate RIVA 128 from RIVA 128ZX and should identify PCI versus AGP cards, memory configuration, bundled drivers, and board-vendor variants from photos, manuals, or archived reviews.

Used-Market Caution

Confirm whether the card is RIVA 128 or RIVA 128ZX. Check bus type, memory size, VGA signal quality, driver availability, and whether the seller has tested real 3D acceleration rather than only a BIOS screen.

Known Issues

The original 4 MB memory limit, 16-bit 3D path, driver maturity, and early texture filtering quality can matter in period games.

Known Failure Points

RIVA 128 can disappoint in Glide-focused games and later OpenGL expectations. Old driver packages, board BIOS differences, and confusion with RIVA 128ZX are the most common practical problems.

Driver and Platform Notes

Best matched with Windows 95 and Windows 98 era NVIDIA or board partner drivers. Later Windows included limited display support but not a complete modern 3D path.

Legacy 2D use may be possible on old stacks, but there is no practical modern accelerated Linux target.

Windows 95 and Windows 98 are the practical targets for 3D use.

Compare with

Reviews1 review

ArticleAnandTech

nVidia Riva 128 & Riva TNT - October '98 Video Accelerator Comparison

Comparative review covering both the Riva 128 and Riva TNT.

Sources

Primary / manufacturer sources

DOS Days RIVA 128 SeriesBoard examples, memory notes, clocks, and period contextOpen source
IEEE Computer Society, Famous Graphics Chips: Nvidia's RIVA 128Historical context for NV3 and NVIDIA's post-NV1 direction.Open source

Other sources

RIVA 128 128-bit 3D multimedia accelerator datasheetProduct-level feature and memory-interface referenceOpen source
86Box RIVA 128 architecture historyTechnical history and emulator-oriented architecture contextOpen source

Photo sources

Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Diamond Multimedia RIVA 128 board (Front view)Creator: André Karwath aka AkaCredit: André Karwath aka Aka / Wikimedia CommonsTitle: NVidia Riva 128.jpgLicense: CC BY-SA 2.5 GenericSource claim: Commons file page credits André Karwath aka Aka and licenses this photograph under CC BY-SA 2.5.Modified: Resized from 1000 x 719 to 960 x 690 and recompressed as progressive JPEG at quality 78; no crop. Derivative distributed under CC BY-SA 2.5.Configuration: Diamond example board with a visible AGP edge; AGP speed and memory configuration are unverified. The Wiki lists AGP 1x or PCI and 4 MB SGRAM on standard RIVA 128 boards.License deed Original file page
Photo: NVIDIA RIVA 128 GPU chip on an unidentified board (Chip close-up)Creator: HyinsCredit: Hyins / Wikimedia CommonsLicense: Public domain (creator dedication on file page)Source claim: Commons file page states creator Hyins released this photograph into the public domain.Modified: Resized to 960 px maximum dimension and JPEG recompressed at quality 78; no crop.Configuration: Chip close-up on an example board; the photograph does not establish its interface or memory. The Wiki lists AGP 1x or PCI and 4 MB SGRAM on standard RIVA 128 boards.Original file page