Riva 128ZX

RIVA 128ZX refined the RIVA 128 family with later memory and AGP-oriented board options.

NV3 / RIVA RIVA Series Desktop SDR 1998 NVIDIA

Key Metrics

Launch Date: 1998-02-23
Memory: 8 MB SDR
Memory Bandwidth: 1.6 GB/s
Interface: AGP 2x
Process Node: ST 350 nm
Bus Width: 128-bit

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GPU Specs

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA Riva 128ZX
GPU Codename	NV3
Launch Date	1998-02-23
Market Segment Notes	Desktop in RIVA Series
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV3
Process Node	ST 350 nm
Transistor Count	4 million
Die Size	71 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	8 MB
Memory Type	SDR
Memory Bus Width	128-bit
Memory Clock	100 MHz
Memory Bandwidth	1.6 GB/s
Board and Display
Recommended PSU	200 W
Power Connectors	None
Interface	AGP 2x
Display Outputs	1x VGA
Slot Width	Single-slot
Board Partner Model	Reference or OEM specification
Reference Design	NVIDIA reference design
Software
DirectX Support	DirectX 5.0
OpenGL Support	OpenGL 1.0

GPU Gallery

Front view of an ASUS AGP-V3000ZX/TV graphics board with a covered RIVA 128ZX GPU — **Front view: ASUS AGP-V3000ZX/TV RIVA 128ZX board.** GPU is covered; board AGP generation and memory are unverified.View original file page

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

Why It Mattered

RIVA 128ZX extended the useful life of NVIDIA's first mainstream-successful architecture before RIVA TNT arrived. Its value in the wiki is in showing how fast late-1990s graphics cards evolved even inside one product family.

Collector Notes

Look for clear ZX chip markings, 8 MB configurations, AGP board layouts, partner BIOS labels, and complete retail bundles. ZX boards are easy to mislabel because many sellers only recognize the broader RIVA 128 name.

Common Failure Points

The common issue is misidentification. RIVA 128ZX, RIVA 128, and TNT-era cards can be mixed in listings, and unsupported driver combinations may hide the actual card behavior.

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
NVIDIA Sets Unprecedented 3D Performance Level with New RIVA 128ZX ProcessorOfficial February 23, 1998 RIVA 128ZX unveiling specifying 8 MB and a 128-bit frame-buffer interfaceOpen source

Independent reference sources

TechPowerUp Riva 128ZX GPU SpecsModel-level specification referenceOpen 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
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.
Photo: ASUS AGP-V3000ZX/TV RIVA 128ZX board (Front view)Modified: Resized to 960 px maximum dimension and converted from PNG to JPEG at quality 78; no crop.Configuration: Front view of an ASUS example board; the image does not establish AGP generation or memory. The Wiki lists AGP 2x and 8 MB SDR.Original file page
Photo: NVIDIA RIVA 128ZX GPU chip on an ASUS board (Chip close-up)Modified: Resized to 960 px maximum dimension and JPEG recompressed at quality 77; no crop.Configuration: Chip close-up on an ASUS example board; the photograph does not establish its interface or memory. The Wiki lists AGP 2x and 8 MB SDR.Original file page