Key Points
- Nvidia is giving away five signed GPUs to celebrate CES 2025, starting with the GeForce 256 and GeForce 8800 Ultra.
- The GeForce 256, released in 1999, was the first GPU to introduce transform and lighting technology.
- The GeForce 8800 Ultra was the first CUDA-enabled GPU, introducing general-purpose computing on GPUs.
- Fans can enter the giveaway by engaging with Nvidia’s posts under the “GeforceGreats” hashtag on X.
Ahead of CES 2025, Nvidia is honoring its legacy by giving away five iconic GPUs signed by CEO Jensen Huang. The first two, the GeForce 256 and GeForce 8800 Ultra have been unveiled under the “GeforceGreats” hashtag on X, Nvidia’s platform for CES-related announcements. Each GPU comes encased in a sleek black display box featuring Huang’s signature in gold. Fans can participate in the giveaway by commenting on the respective X posts.
These GPUs symbolize pivotal moments in Nvidia’s history. The GeForce 256, launched in 1999, was Nvidia’s inaugural GeForce GPU and the first video card branded as a “GPU.” It marked a significant shift from its era’s “3D” cards by integrating advanced features like the Transform and Lighting Engine, which offloaded complex rendering tasks from the CPU.
Equipped with four-pixel shaders, four TMUs, and 32MB of memory, the GeForce 256 boasted 23 million transistors, rivaling the top CPUs of its time. This breakthrough technology laid the foundation for modern GPU functionality and transformed how 3D rendering was approached in gaming and professional applications.
The GeForce 8800 Ultra, Nvidia’s second giveaway, is historically significant as the first CUDA-enabled GPU. Introduced globally, it revolutionized computing by allowing GPUs to handle general-purpose tasks traditionally managed by CPUs. This innovation cemented CUDA as one of Nvidia’s most influential technologies, enabling various applications, from gaming to scientific research.
These giveaways celebrate Nvidia’s technical achievements and reflect its profound influence on the evolution of computing. Fans eagerly await the announcement of the next three classic GPUs, which will undoubtedly showcase more milestones in Nvidia’s storied history.
