An odd Nvidia card in my collection ? \ VOGONS

An odd Nvidia card in my collection ?

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First post, by Vipersan

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:00

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I'm just going through my box of old graphics cards and came upon one that has me puzzled.
No idea where it came from originally ...
Is green pcb ..and by NVIDIA ( logo on solder mask) AGP
Fitted with a green label MEI fan
VGA only out -15 pin
8 chips (ram) VG3617161DT -6
..and the only extra info on the board is - elec1G-02b revA00
anyone ?

Reply 1 of 17, by nali

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:05

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Chances it's a Tnt 2 M64.
https://photobucket.com/gallery/user/pcman200 … xLmpwZw==/?ref=

Reply 2 of 17, by kixs

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:11

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Photo?

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Reply 3 of 17, by Vipersan

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:12

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yes indeed ..that photo is exactly like the one I have..
M64 eh ?
Nothing special then ..but useful to know.
rgds
VS

Reply 4 of 17, by Vipersan

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:13

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kixs wrote:
Photo?

photo is exactly as the one linked to above..

Reply 5 of 17, by nali

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:45

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Well, I'not sure at all it IS a M64.
But there's been millions of them, so a cheap noname Nvidia has chances to be one of them.

Reply 6 of 17, by SPBHM

Posted on 2019-09-03, 13:53

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8 ram chips... doesn't look like a m64, looks like something better

Reply 7 of 17, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2019-09-03, 15:30

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That's GeForce 256 SDR 32mb.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 8 of 17, by mrgreen

Posted on 2019-09-03, 19:09

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SPBHM wrote:
8 ram chips... doesn't look like a m64, looks like something better

Yeah, Riva TNT2 M64 has maximum four RAM chips (four for 32 MB and two for 16 MB).

Maybe a NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 400?

My first PC had Windows 98 os.

Reply 9 of 17, by meljor

Posted on 2019-09-03, 20:14

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The Serpent Rider wrote:
That's GeForce 256 SDR 32mb.

This man is right. It's also featured in this video from Phil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuV3H0pzc4g

You can see it at 28 sec. in the video.

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Reply 10 of 17, by kixs

Posted on 2019-09-03, 20:59

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My guess is Geforce2 MX400 - just had one in my hand.

Photo please, if you want true answers 🤣

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Reply 11 of 17, by Doornkaat

Posted on 2019-09-04, 07:24

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I'm puzzled as well. The datasheet describes the VG3617161DT -6 as 16Mb SDR RAMs. Eight of them make for 16MB. Obviously it's a 6ns part so they are specced for up to 166MHz. What Nvidia card has 16MB of 143-166MHz SDR memory? Also with 8 of those chips the card probably has a 128bit memory interface. This leaves a Riva TNT with very fast memory, a Riva TNT (Pro), GF256 SDR, GF2 MX (400) or a GF4 MX 420/440 SE with only 16MB or memory. None of those cards make sense so I guess we have been presented with incomplete information.

Reply 12 of 17, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2019-09-04, 08:52

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Guessing without a photo is getting nowhere.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 13 of 17, by aaronkatrini

Posted on 2019-09-04, 11:19

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You can always remove the heatsink and take a look. I bought what I thought was a Gts from ebay, turned out to be a GF256 DDR, sold it for a good profit.

Reply 14 of 17, by Vipersan

Posted on 2019-09-04, 11:33

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I shall take a photo of mine later today ...
maybe you guys will be better informed .

Am I stoopid or what ..
Just been home and grabbed the card ..flipped it over and exposed more ram ..
another 8 on the reverse.
It does help to actually have it in hand instead of trusting to memory.
pix attached
rgds
VS

Reply 15 of 17, by Doornkaat

Posted on 2019-09-04, 11:52

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GeForce 256 32MB SDRAM.
The three legged transistor plus the capacitor in the right upper corner are really characteristic for the reference design of both the SDR and DDR variant of the GF256. 😀 Sets it apart from the GF2 GTS and all TNT2 that might look similar at first glance.
Keep it. 😉

Last edited by Doornkaat on 2019-09-04, 11:57. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 16 of 17, by Vipersan

Posted on 2019-09-04, 11:54

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Thanks buddy..

Reply 17 of 17, by Vipersan

Posted on 2019-09-04, 12:09

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You guys have been a great help..
At some point I'm going to take photos of all my graphics cards not currently in use ...and get your opinions.
Be prepared..
🤣

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