NVIDIA GeForce3 Graphics Architecture Optimized for AMD Athlon Processors.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2001

NVIDIA GeForce3 Graphics Take Advantage of AMD Athlon

Processors to Deliver Ultimate Gaming Experiences

NVIDIA(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:NVDA) today announced that the GeForce3(TM) has been optimized to take advantage of the unique technologies found in the AMD(TM) Athlon(TM) processor architecture and platforms. The AMD Athlon processor architecture enables cutting-edge applications with a host of features including platform support for PC2100 Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology, a superpipelined architecture optimized for high clock rates, a high-performance cache architecture, and enhanced 3DNow!(TM) technology. The NVIDIA GeForce3 GPU and software drivers leverage the Athlon features and PC2100 DDR memory to unleash unprecedented visual excitement and sizzling frame rates for the ultimate 3D graphics experience.

Powered by the new NVIDIA nfiniteFX(TM) engine, the new GeForce3 GPU enables users to look into a rich environment instead of just a computer screen. 3D scenes have ambiance with GeForce3 because textures appear photo-realistic and custom lighting heightens drama. Characters and living creatures have organic imperfections and unique expressions -- you can see their personality. Programmability and performance have been combined to provide the catalyst for this graphics revolution.

"The NVIDIA GeForce3 provides an excellent, high-performance video option for AMD's processor customers," said Ned Finkle, director of the Infrastructure Enablement Group, AMD. "AMD has worked closely with NVIDIA to optimize the GeForce3 GPU drivers on the AMD Athlon processor platform to assure users will benefit from both performance and stability under extreme gaming and multimedia conditions. We feel that NVIDIA's use of DDR memory in the GeForce3 perfectly compliments the AMD Athlon processor's 266MHz front-side bus and DDR memory speeds."

"Teaming up the GeForce3 GPU with Athlon processors gives users an incredible leap forward in performance and overall visual experience," states Dan Vivoli, executive vice president of marketing at NVIDIA. "By working alongside AMD to optimize the GeForce3 for AMD Athlon processors, NVIDIA is able to take full advantage of the high-throughput innovations the platform offers."

About the NVIDIA GeForce3

The NVIDIA GeForce3 GPU integrates the NVIDIA nfiniteFX engine and Lightspeed Memory Architecture(TM) to bring environments and characters to life. Game developers take advantage of the fully programmable Vertex and Pixel Shaders of the nfiniteFX engine to create a virtually infinite number of special effects and custom looks. The GeForce3 is the world's most advanced GPU with more than 57 million transistors and is able to perform more than 800 billion operations per second and 76 billion floating point operations per second (FLOPS). The GeForce3 GPU achieves an astounding 3.2 billion antialiased samples per second fill rate -- more than four times the performance of the award-winning GeForce2 Ultra and more than seven times the processing power of any competitive consumer graphics product. As do all of the GeForce family products, GeForce3 drives the most extreme resolutions and color depths of up to 2048 x 1536 x 32.The GeForce3 architecture has been chosen as the reference platform for the Microsoft(R) DirectX(R) 8 application programming interface (API) and the Microsoft next generation game console, Xbox(TM).

About the AMD Athlon Processor

The AMD Athlon processor is an x86-compatible, seventh generation design featuring a superpipelined, nine-issue superscalar microarchitecture optimized for high clock frequency; the industry's first fully pipelined, superscalar floating point unit for x86 platforms; high-performance cache architecture, now featuring 256KB of on-chip level (L2) cache and 128KB of on-chip level (L1) cache; enhanced 3DNow!(TM) technology with 24 additional instructions designed to improve integer math calculations, data movement for Internet streaming, and DSP communications; and a 200MHz system interface based on the Alpha(TM) EV6 bus protocol with support for scalable multiprocessing. AMD Athlon processors are manufactured using AMD's aluminum 0.18-micron process technology in Fab 25 in Austin, Texas and AMD's 0.18 micron copper technology in Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany.

About AMD

AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia. AMD produces microprocessors, flash memory devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, California, AMD had revenues of $4.6 billion in 2000. (NYSE:AMD).

About NVIDIA

NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq:NVDA), based in Santa Clara, is the global leader in advanced graphics and multimedia processing technology for the consumer and professional computing markets. It's 2D, 3D, video and multimedia capabilities make NVIDIA one of the premier semiconductor companies in the world. NVIDIA offers a wide range of products and services, delivering superior performance and crisp visual quality for PC-based applications such as manufacturing, science, e-business, entertainment, and education.

Certain statements in this press release, including the statements relating to the Company's performance expectations for NVIDIA's family of products and expectations of continued revenue growth, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, manufacturing and other delays relating to new products, difficulties in the fabrication process and dependence of the Company on third-party manufacturers, general industry trends including cyclical trends in the PC and semiconductor industries, the impact of competitive products and pricing alternatives, market acceptance of the Company's new products, and the Company's dependence on third-party developers and publishers. Investors are advised to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled "Factors Affecting Operating Results," for a fuller discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Notes to Editors: GeForce3 should be written with an uppercase G and F, all other letters lowercase. The recommended format for NVIDIA is ALL CAPITALS.

NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, GeForce3, and NVIDIA nfiniteFX are registered trademarks or trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. AMD, the AMD logo, AMD Athlon, 3DNow! and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Alpha is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. Other company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.