Riva TNT

RIVA TNT moved NVIDIA into stronger high-performance 3D competition before the TNT2 and GeForce eras.

Fahrenheit RIVA TNT Series Desktop SDR 1998 NVIDIA

Key Metrics

Launch Date: 1998-03-23
Memory: 8 MB or 16 MB depending on board SDRAM or SGRAM depending on board
Memory Bandwidth: About 1.76 GB/s
TDP/TBP: Not consistently specified in public board data
Interface: AGP 2x or PCI depending on board
Process Node: TSMC 350 nm class

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GPU Specs

Identity
Entry Type	Reference GPU
Official Name	NVIDIA RIVA TNT
GPU Codename	NV4
Architecture	NV4 / RIVA TNT fixed function 2D, video, and 3D accelerator
Launch Date	1998-03-23
Launch MSRP	Board pricing varied by partner
Market Segment Notes	Consumer desktop 2D/3D graphics accelerator
Core Specs
GPU Die	NV4
Process Node	TSMC 350 nm class
Transistor Count	About 7 million
Die Size	About 128 mm2
CUDA Cores	Not applicable
SM Count	Not applicable
TMUs	2
ROPs	2
Base Clock	90 MHz
Boost Clock	90 MHz
Pixel Fillrate	0.18 GP/s
Texture Fillrate	0.18 GT/s
Memory
Memory Size	8 MB or 16 MB depending on board
Memory Type	SDRAM or SGRAM depending on board
Memory Bus Width	128-bit
Memory Clock	110 MHz class
Memory Bandwidth	About 1.76 GB/s
Board and Display
TDP / TBP	Not consistently specified in public board data
Recommended PSU	200 W
Power Connectors	None
Interface	AGP 2x or PCI depending on board
Display Outputs	15-pin VGA on typical boards. Some partner cards included TV-out.
Slot Width	Single slot
Reference Cooler Type	Passive heatsink was common, but heat can be a concern
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	Period Detonator era Windows 9x drivers are the normal target.
Windows Support Notes	Windows 95 and Windows 98 era systems are the practical target.
Linux Support Notes	No practical modern Linux 3D target.

GPU Gallery

Front view of nVidia RIVA TNT board — **Front: representative physical card, nVidia RIVA TNT board.** Example board bus: museum lists AGP without a generation; Wiki lists AGP 2x or PCI depending on board; Example board memory: 16 MB; Wiki lists 8 MB or 16 MB depending on board; Example board memory type: SDRAM; Wiki lists SDRAM or SGRAM depending on boardView original external gallery

Rear view of nVidia RIVA TNT board — **Rear: representative physical card, nVidia RIVA TNT board.** Example board bus: museum lists AGP without a generation; Wiki lists AGP 2x or PCI depending on board; Example board memory: 16 MB; Wiki lists 8 MB or 16 MB depending on board; Example board memory type: SDRAM; Wiki lists SDRAM or SGRAM depending on boardView original external gallery

Launch Context

Launch context should document the 1998 consumer 3D market and the TNT naming only from source-backed material. Do not imply later GeForce branding or programmable shader behavior.

Collector Relevance

Collector notes should identify TNT cards by board vendor, memory size, clocking, and driver era. Keep Vanta and TNT2 notes out unless they are clearly framed as related but different products.

Used-Market Caution

Check whether the card is true RIVA TNT rather than TNT2 or Vanta. Verify fan condition, memory artifacts, driver support for the target OS, and whether the price reflects TNT rather than TNT2 Ultra collectability.

Known Issues

Heat, early driver behavior, partner board cooling quality, and 16 MB memory limits can affect period gaming results.

Known Failure Points

Heat, old small fans, and driver-era compatibility are the practical concerns. Buyers also regularly confuse TNT with TNT2, TNT2 M64, and Vanta because the names are visually similar in listings.

Driver and Platform Notes

Period Detonator era Windows 9x drivers are the normal target.

No practical modern Linux 3D target.

Windows 95 and Windows 98 era systems are the practical target.

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 TNT SeriesRIVA TNT specifications and period contextOpen source
Tom's Hardware RIVA TNT comparisonPeriod board behavior and heat observationsOpen source
VGA Museum, NVIDIA RIVA TNT product specification PDFArchived product-spec source for TNT architecture and feature framing.Open source
Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA RIVA TNT historical articleSecondary historical context for TNT and the late-1990s market.Open source
DOS Days, nVidia RIVA TNT SeriesSecondary retro-hardware reference for board and clock context.Open source
NVIDIA Unveils Mainstream 3D Processor that Provides First Major Step Towards Interactive PhotorealismOfficial March 23, 1998 RIVA TNT unveiling specifying a 128-bit graphics path to the frame-buffer interfaceOpen source

Other sources

STB Launches RIVA TNT CardPeriod board launch and feature summaryOpen source

Photo sources

Videocard Virtual Museum
Board: nVidia RIVA TNT boardCredit: Videocard Virtual MuseumLicense: Specific image license terms not identified on source pageSource claim: Museum footer links general Creative Commons information; specific image license terms are not identified on the source pageModified: resized and recompressed JPEG.Configuration: Example board bus: museum lists AGP without a generation; Wiki lists AGP 2x or PCI depending on board; Example board memory: 16 MB; Wiki lists 8 MB or 16 MB depending on board; Example board memory type: SDRAM; Wiki lists SDRAM or SGRAM depending on boardOriginal external gallery
View: Front
View: Rear