NVIDIA GeForce 256

NVIDIA coined the term "GPU" (Graphics Processing Unit) when launching the GeForce 256 in 1999 because it was the first single-chip graphics processor to integrate transform, lighting, setup, and rendering on one die. This offloaded geometry calculations from the CPU, a fundamental shift in PC gaming architecture that set the template for all modern graphics cards.

The GeForce 256 used the NV10 processor built on a 220nm process with approximately 17 million transistors. It supported DirectX 7.0 and was sold in both SDR and DDR memory configurations, with the DDR version offering significantly higher memory bandwidth for 32-bit color rendering.

Early titles like Quake III Arena, MDK2, and Soldier of Fortune were among the first to benefit from the GeForce 256's hardware T&L engine. Adoption was initially limited because most games at launch didn't yet support the feature, but titles optimized for it showed dramatic frame rate improvements over older cards like the RIVA TNT2.

The GeForce 256 was positioned against cards like the 3dfx Voodoo3 and ATI Rage 128. While the Voodoo3 lacked 32-bit color rendering and hardware T&L, the GeForce 256 offered both, making it arguably the most future-proof card of its generation despite its higher price point.