1998 NVIDIA RIVA TNT Prototype Goes on Sale
A nostalgic development that will excite hardware enthusiasts is on the agenda: the NVIDIA RIVA TNT prototype, an important piece of technology history, has been put up for auction with an interesting detail. Developed in 1998, this card represents one of the first steps that played an important role in the development of graphics technologies to their current state. However, it is not just the card itself that makes this sale interesting; the special box and its contents that come with it manage to attract the attention of collectors.
NVIDIA RIVA TNT Winks at Collections with Its Signed Box
The prototype put up for auction belongs to the RIVA TNT series, one of NVIDIA’s important steps in the history of graphics processors. Launched in 1998, this card stands out as belonging to the period before the company announced the concept of “GPU”. At that time, graphics processors were not yet called by this name, which makes the card more valuable in a historical sense. The product offered for sale is an example developed for engineering purposes rather than a standard production model.
The most prominent item among the items given with the card is a green metal lunch box signed by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. This detail distinguishes the product from an ordinary prototype and makes it unique for collectors. The fact that this box bearing the NVIDIA logo was personally signed by Huang also increases the symbolic value of the auction.
The prototype card was designed to be specially tested on the motherboard and is configured to fit into a dual slot. However, no technical verification has been made as to whether the card is in working condition. This makes the card a collector’s item intended more for display purposes. Those interested focus on its visual and historical value rather than technical performance.
The auction is being conducted via eBay and the product is currently available to interested parties worldwide. The descriptions about the card state that there is no other example of this prototype, thus offering the buyer a completely unique piece. The seller emphasizes that the product was not purchased directly from NVIDIA, but was obtained reliably. How the auction will turn out depends on how far collectors interested in the history of technology will go.
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