We've all heard about NV20, this is in fact NVIDIA's codename for the GeForce3 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). This new GPU now has more transistors then your average CPU, yes it has well over 57 million transistors on the silicon that was fabricated with a 0.15 micron fabrication technology.

In a recent interview John Carmack (head Quake programmer) said that this GPU will have an impact the same as 3dfx had with the release of the Voodoo2 series videocards. I tend to agree with him. Realism is getting closer into 3D scenes/games and the new GeForce3 now has the ability to be programmed. In short: programmers have the ability to develop their own 3D effects and the GeForce3 will display it. Programmers aren't stuck anymore to a basic set of features and effects.  Instead of developers having to choose from the same hard-coded palette of effects and ending up with the same generic look and feel, they can specify personalized combinations of graphics operations and create their own custom effects.

The ability to program the GeForce3  gives the 3D programmer the ability to develop an endless amount of new effects, this is why the GeForce3 has the nickname 'nfiniteFX GPU' You know .. infinite effects.

In the upcoming pages I'll explain new technologies like 'programmable vertex shaders, programmable pixel shaders, lightspeed memory architecture and the quincunx anti-aliasing system briefly with you after which I will launch an arsenal of benchmarks on the videocard to see how well it behaves in several environments.