| NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 interview
 Derek Perez, PR Manager at NVIDIA was good enough to answer to all of my questions I shot him via e-mail about the RIVA TNT2:
Q: Could you please summarize the TNT2 general features for us?
A: The key new features, include: 32MB frame buffer, 300MHz RAMDAC, AGP4X, Digital Flat Panel Interface, .25micron die shrink.
Q: What about the NVIDIA Vanta, could you talk us about this chip?
A: NVIDIA Vanta is a low-cost, 128-bit TwiN Texel, highly integrated 3D graphics processor, designed specifically for value-conscious corporate users. Leveraging the TNT2 core architecture, NVIDIA Vanta delivers breakthrough 3D and industry-leading 2D performance, making it the ideal corporate desktop solution in 1999.
Q: Is NVIDIA prepared to cover a very high demand of 175mhz TNT2 parts?
A: I believe we are ready.
Q: Have you had any trouble getting the TNT2 running stable at 175mhz?
A: We've had the chip much higher than that, so 175mhz is not a problem
Q: What performance hit do you expect 32bit rendering will have over the standard
16bit on the TNT2?
A: We are expecting to take a small performance hit, but not too much. Maybe about 5-10% in some games.
Q: How do you expect the TNT2 will handle 2k x 2k textures without any compression
method?
A: Right now the TNT and TNT2 are able to do 2K x 2K textures without any difficulty.
Q: Have you considered using S3TC in future products?
A: Although texture compression is a great feature, we will not be using S3TC in the future. We will not license any technology from them
Q: Are KNI and 3DNow! implementations going to be present in the first set of
reference drivers?
A: We are currently working with AMD to provide users a solution that will give them better performance with K6 and K7.
Q: What card manufacturers are confirmed that will release TNT2 based cards?
A: At this time the following are going to be doing TNT2 based cards: Diamond Multimedia, Creative Labs, Canopus, Hercules, ELSA, ASUS, Leadtek and Guillemot
Q: How much more time is it going to take to see TNT2 based cards in store shelves?
A: You should see boards on the shelves by May 1st.
Q: How much will we pay for a TNT2 based board? (what price range)
A: That depends on the card manufacturer. But I would guess between $99 for Vanta to $199 for TNT2
Q: How do you feel about other TNT2 competition such as the Permedia 3 and the Matrox G400?
A: They all seem to be good products on paper, but I always reserve judgement for when the product actually ships
Q: What about future products? S3 just released a bit of info on another chip that will be released by end of this year... is NVIDIA planning to release a made in 0.18 micron chip or maybe a chip with embedded memory by the end of the year?
A: We will announce a new architecture that will revolutionize the 3D graphics industry
for the fall of 1999. Unfortunatly, if I gave you any more information about the part
I would have to kill ya!!!!! :)
Q: Thanks for your time Derek, hope to get one of those TNT 2 beauties on my hands soon
A: Thanks for having me and we will ship them as soon as we can....
Posted by
Julio Franco
on March 31, 1999
Company:
NVIDIA
Product:
RIVA TNT2
|
