Riva TNT2

RIVA TNT2 was NVIDIA's final major pre-GeForce desktop family, with many full, Ultra, Pro, M64, and Vanta variants.

Fahrenheit RIVA TNT2 Series Desktop SDR 1999 NVIDIA

Key Metrics

Launch Date: 1999-03-15
Memory: 16 MB or 32 MB depending on board SDRAM
Memory Bandwidth: About 2.4 GB/s on standard TNT2
TDP/TBP: Not consistently specified in public board data
Interface: AGP 4x, AGP 2x, or PCI depending on board
Process Node: TSMC 250 nm class

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GPU Specs

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA RIVA TNT2
GPU Codename	NV5
Architecture	NV5 / RIVA TNT2 fixed function 2D, video, and 3D accelerator
Launch Date	1999-03-15
Launch MSRP	Board pricing varied by partner and variant
Market Segment Notes	Consumer desktop 2D/3D graphics accelerator
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV5
Process Node	TSMC 250 nm class
Transistor Count	About 15 million
Die Size	About 90 mm2
CUDA Cores	Not applicable
SM Count	Not applicable
TMUs	2
ROPs	2
Base Clock	125 MHz on standard TNT2 class boards
Boost Clock	125 MHz
Pixel Fillrate	0.25 GP/s
Texture Fillrate	0.25 GT/s
Memory
Memory Size	16 MB or 32 MB depending on board
Memory Type	SDRAM
Memory Bus Width	128-bit on standard TNT2
Memory Clock	150 MHz class on standard TNT2 boards
Memory Bandwidth	About 2.4 GB/s on standard TNT2
Board and Display
TDP / TBP	Not consistently specified in public board data
Recommended PSU	200 W
Power Connectors	None
Interface	AGP 4x, AGP 2x, or PCI depending on board
Display Outputs	15-pin VGA on typical boards. Some partner boards included TV-out or VIVO.
Slot Width	Single slot
Reference Cooler Type	Passive or small active cooling depending on partner and variant
Board Partner Model	Reference or OEM specification
Reference Design	NVIDIA reference design
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	Windows 9x Detonator era drivers are the normal target. Windows 2000 and XP support depends on legacy driver branch and exact board.
Windows Support Notes	Windows 98 is the most natural target. Windows 2000 and XP can work with legacy drivers on some boards.
Linux Support Notes	Only legacy driver stacks are relevant. No practical modern accelerated Linux target.

GPU Gallery

Front of an ASUS RIVA TNT2 AGP graphics board with exposed memory and AGP-V3800 markings — **Front: ASUS AGP-V3800/32M TV RIVA TNT2 AGP board.** Pictured 32 MB AGP example; AGP signaling speed is unverified. The exact photographed example is identified on its Commons file page.View original file page

Why It Mattered

RIVA TNT2 showed how NVIDIA could scale one graphics family across performance and OEM price points shortly before GeForce 256 introduced hardware transform and lighting.

Collector Relevance

TNT2 Ultra and unusual partner cards are more desirable than plain M64 or Vanta boards. Record variant, memory bus, chip markings, memory chips, cooler, BIOS, and whether the board is AGP or PCI.

Used-Market Caution

Do not buy by the TNT2 name alone. Confirm full TNT2, Ultra, Pro, 64-bit M64, or Vanta, then check fan condition, memory errors, AGP compatibility, and driver support for the intended OS.

Known Issues

Variant confusion is the main issue. Standard TNT2, Ultra, Pro, M64, and Vanta cards differ substantially, especially in memory bus width.

Known Failure Points

Small fans, dried thermal pads, memory artifacts, and wrong variant identification are common. Some listings use TNT2 for M64 or Vanta cards that perform well below full TNT2 boards.

Driver and Platform Notes

Windows 9x Detonator era drivers are the normal target. Windows 2000 and XP support depends on legacy driver branch and exact board.

Only legacy driver stacks are relevant. No practical modern accelerated Linux target.

Windows 98 is the most natural target. Windows 2000 and XP can work with legacy drivers on some boards.

Compare with

Reviews1 review

ArticleAnandTech

Creative Labs 3D Blaster TNT2 Ultra

Review of the Riva TNT2 Ultra.

Sources

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
NVIDIA Windows XP/2000 91.47 driver pageNVIDIA support list and legacy support boundary for several GeForce2 and TNT2-era productsOpen source
NVIDIA Windows NT supported products pageNVIDIA legacy driver support note for TNT2, Vanta, GeForce 256, GeForce2 GTS/Pro/Ultra, and Quadro2Open source
NVIDIA 3D Graphics Processor Sets New Standard for PC MarketOfficial March 15, 1999 RIVA TNT2 announcementOpen source

Other sources

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

Photo sources

Wikimedia Commons
Photo: ASUS AGP-V3800/32M TV RIVA TNT2 AGP board (Front)Creator: BerillxviCredit: Berillxvi / Wikimedia CommonsTitle: Nvidia Riva TNT2 (Asus AGP-V3800 32M TV)License: CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain DedicationSource claim: Commons creator Berillxvi dedicates this own-work RIVA TNT2 photograph to the public domain under CC0 1.0.Modified: Resized to 960 px maximum dimension and JPEG recompressed at quality 78; no crop.Board identity: The exact photographed example is identified on its Commons file page.Configuration: The photographed 32 MB AGP board is one of the Wiki reference configurations. Its AGP signaling speed is not established by the image.License deed Original file page