Nvidia GeForce 256: Celebrating 25 Years of GPU Innovation

The GeForce 256, released in 1999, marked a pivotal moment in PC gaming by introducing the term 'GPU' and setting new standards for graphics technology.

The GeForce 256 was released on October 11, 1999, and is celebrated as the world's first GPU, significantly impacting PC gaming and graphics technology.
Nvidia coined the term 'GPU' with the GeForce 256, which featured a 120 MHz core clock and 32 MB of memory, pioneering hardware transform and lighting (T&L).
Despite initial criticism for its high price and limited memory bandwidth, the GeForce 256 became a cornerstone of Nvidia's success in the graphics card market.
The release of the GeForce 256 coincided with major gaming titles like Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena, enhancing the gaming experience of the era.
Nvidia remains a leader in the GPU industry, with the GeForce 256 laying the groundwork for future innovations, including the upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs.