NVIDIA GeForce 4 Series
Codename(s)	NV17, NV18, NV19, NV25, NV28
Created	2002
Entry-level GPU	MX
Mid-Range GPU	Ti 4200, Ti 4400
High-end GPU	Ti 4600, Ti 4800
Direct3D and Shader version	D3D 7 (MX). D3D 8.1 with Pixel Shader 1.3 & Vertex Shader 1.1 (Ti)

A GeForce4 (codenames below) is a fourth-generation graphics processing unit (GPU) manufactured by NVIDIA which forms the basis of many computer graphics cards. Strictly speaking, the GeForce4 is the chip, not the entire card, but in common usage this distinction tends to be ignored. Image File history File links Geforce4-logo. ... Direct3D is part of Microsofts DirectX API. Direct3D is only available for Microsofts various Windows operating systems (Windows 95 and above) and is the base for the graphics API on the Xbox and Xbox 360 console systems. ... The High Level Shader Language (HLSL) is a shader language developed by Microsoft for use with DirectX, and is very similar to Cg. ... A code name or cryptonym is a word or name used clandestinely to refer to another name or word. ... GeForce 6600GT (NV43) GPU Radeon 9800 Pro (R350) GPU Intel GMA X3000 IGP “GPU” redirects here. ... NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) (pronounced ) is an American corporation specializing in the manufacture of GPU technologies for video cards, graphics cards, workstations, desktop computers, handhelds and more. ... This article is about the machine. ... A graphics/video/display card/board/adapter is a computer component designed to convert the logical representation of visual information into a signal that can be used as input for a display medium. ...

There are two different GeForce4 families, the high-performance Ti family, and the budget MX family. The MX family spawned a mostly identical GeForce4 Go (NV17M) family for the laptop market. All three families were announced in early 2002. There was a short-lived attempt to form a fourth family in late 2002, with the GeForce4 4200 Go (NV28M) derived from the Ti line.

GeForce4 Ti

The GeForce4 Ti (NV25) was launched in April 2002 and was a revision of the GeForce 3 (NV20). It was very similar to its predecessor; the main differences were higher core and memory clock rates, a revised memory controller, an additional vertex shader, hardware anti-aliasing and DVD playback.^[1] Proper dual-monitor support was also brought over from the GeForce 2 MX.^[2] The GeForce4 Ti outperformed the older GeForce 3 by a significant margin.^[1] The competing ATI Radeon 8500 was generally faster than the GeForce 3 line, but was overshadowed by the GeForce 4 Ti in every area other than price and more advanced pixel shader (1.4) support.^[1] Also see: 2002 (number). ... The GeForce 3 (codenamed NV20) was NVIDIAs third-generation GeForce chip. ... In digital signal processing, anti-aliasing is the technique of minimizing the distortion artifacts known as aliasing when representing a high-resolution signal at a lower resolution. ... The Radeon 8500 (a. ...

The initial two models were the Ti4400 and the top-of-the-range Ti4600. At the time of their introduction, NVIDIA's main products were the entry-level GeForce 2 MX, the midrange GeForce4 MX models (released the same time as the Ti4400 and Ti4600), and the older but still high-performance GeForce 3 (demoted to the upper mid-range or performance niche).^[1] The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ... The GeForce 3 (codenamed NV20) was NVIDIAs third-generation GeForce chip. ...

NVIDIA released a slightly cheaper model later in 2002: the Ti4200. This card replaced the older GeForce 3 Ti models as the performance-mainstream card of choice. It was faster than the ATI Radeon 8500, as well.^[3] Then in late 2002, the NV25 core was replaced by the NV28 core, which differed only by addition of AGP-8X support. The Ti4200 with AGP-8X support was based on this chip, and sold as the Ti4200-8X. A Ti4800SE replaced the Ti4400 and a Ti4800 replaced the Ti4600 respectively when the 8X AGP NV28 core was introduced on these.^[4][5] If the naming convention that had been applied to the AGP-8X capable Ti4200-8X was to have been applied consistently, these two cards should have been named Ti4400-8X and Ti4600-8X.

The GeForce 4 Ti4200 remained the best balance between price and performance until the launch of the ATI Radeon 9500 Pro at the end of 2002.^[6] The Ti4200 still managed to hold its own against several next generation DirectX 9 chips released in late 2003; beating out the lackluster GeForce FX 5200 and the midrange FX 5600 and performing at parity with the midrange Radeon 9600.^[7][8] The ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, however, generally outclassed the Ti4600 in performance and had a notably superior feature-set.^[9] The Radeon R300 (introduced August 2002) is the third generation of Radeon graphics chips from ATI Technologies. ... NVIDIA GeForce FX logo The famous Dawn demo was released by NVIDIA to showcase pixel and vertex shaders effects of the GeForce FX Series The GeForce FX (codenamed NV30) is a graphics card in the GeForce line, from the manufacturer NVIDIA. // Overview NVIDIAs GeForce FX series is the fifth... The Radeon R300 (introduced August 2002) is the third generation of Radeon graphics chips from ATI Technologies. ...

The only mobile derivative of the Ti series was the GeForce4 4200 Go (NV28M), launched in late 2002.^[10] The solution featured the same feature-set and similar performance compared to the NV28-based Ti4200, although the mobile variant was clocked lower. It outperformed the Mobility Radeon 9000 by a large margin, as well as being NVIDIA's first DirectX 8 laptop graphics solution. However, because the GPU was not designed for the mobile space, it had thermal output similar to the desktop part. The 4200 Go didn't have power-saving circuitry like the MX-based GeForce4 4x0 Go series or the Mobility Radeon 9000. This caused problems for notebook manufacturers, especially with regards to battery life.^[11] The Radeon 8500 (a. ...

GeForce4 Ti chip table

NOTE: These are the official specifications dictated by NVIDIA; in practice the speeds tended to vary. All GeForce4 Ti chips use a 128-bit memory bus. This table is in descending order, from the slowest to the fastest.

• 64 MiB Version of the Geforce 4 Ti4200 has a higher memory speed than the 128 MiB Version.

This article is about the SI unit of frequency. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... -1... This article is about the unit of measurement. ... A mebibyte (a contraction of mega binary byte) is a unit of information or computer storage, abbreviated MiB. 1 MiB = 220 bytes = 1,048,576 bytes = 1,024 kibibytes 1 MiB = 1024 (= 210) kibibytes (KiB), and 1024 MiB equal one gibibyte (GiB). ... The Accelerated Graphics Port (also called Advanced Graphics Port, often shortened to AGP) is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a graphics card to a computers motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics. ...

GeForce4 MX

GeForce4 MX440-SE GPU

Another version of GeForce4 MX440-SE GPU

If the capabilities of the GeForce4 family are defined by the GeForce4 Ti, then the GeForce4 MX (NV17) is a GeForce4 in name only. Many criticized the GeForce MX name as a misleading marketing ploy since it was less advanced than the preceding GeForce 3. On its release, disappointed enthusiasts described the GeForce4 MX as "GeForce 2 on steroids" - a GeForce 2 Ti with a (128-bit DDR) memory controller taken from the GF4 Ti-series. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1675x1224, 1725 KB) Summary nVidia GeForce MX440SE Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: GeForce 4 ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1675x1224, 1725 KB) Summary nVidia GeForce MX440SE Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: GeForce 4 ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 3. ... The GeForce 3 (codenamed NV20) was NVIDIAs third-generation GeForce chip. ... The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ... The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ...

The GeForce4 MX lacked the programmable vertex and pixel shaders of its bigger brother the GeForce4 Ti. While this did not directly impact speed, advanced Direct-X 8 rendering effects were not possible. But it also owed a good deal of its design heritage to NVIDIA's high-end CAD products, and in performance-critical non-game applications it was remarkably effective. (The most notable example is AutoCAD, in which the GeForce4 MX returned results within a single-digit percentage of Ti cards six or seven times the price.) The GeForce4 MX 440 was able to outperform the old GeForce 2 Ultra and the MX had a more efficient and cost-effective design compared to the Ultra's "brute-force" approach. AutoCAD is a suite of CAD software products for 2- and 3-dimensional design and drafting, developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. ... The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ...

As the MX line was launched along with the rest of the GeForce4 in early 2002, Id Software technical director John Carmack worried about the GeForce4 MX's potential success. Since Carmack feared that a widespread adoption of the MX would set back the development of advanced games that used DirectX 8 vertex and pixel shaders, he warned gamers not to buy the chip. However, in mid 2004, Carmack's Doom 3 was released with support for the GeForce4 MX; it is noteworthy that the MX is the only one in the list of supported chips that does not have DirectX 8 vertex and pixel shaders. id Software (IPA: officially, though originally ) is an American computer game developer based in Mesquite, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. ... John D. Carmack II (born August 20, 1970) is a widely recognized figure in the video game industry. ... Doom 3 is a science fiction horror first-person shooter computer game. ...

Despite harsh criticism by gaming enthusiasts, the GeForce4 MX was a market success. Priced about 30% above the GeForce 2 MX, it provided better performance, the ability to play a number of popular games that the GeForce 2 was not compatible with and—above all else—to the average non-specialist it sounded as if it were a "real" GeForce4—i.e., a GeForce4 Ti. Although it was frequently out-performed by the older and more expensive GeForce 3, many buyers were unaware, particularly as NVIDIA was quick not to let the GeForce 3 remain on the market. GeForce 4 MX was particularly successful in the PC OEM market, and rapidly replaced the GeForce 2 MX as the best-selling GPU.

There were 3 initial models - the MX420, the MX440 and the MX460. The MX420 was designed for very low end PCs and replaced the GeForce 2 MX100 and MX200. The GeForce 4 MX440 was a mass-market OEM solution, replacing the GeForce 2 MX and MX400. The final GeForce 4 MX model, the MX460, was a midrange solution without a clear competitor. While the MX460 was not slow by any means, it was not priced far below the GeForce4 Ti4200, the GeForce 3 Ti200 and the Radeon 8500LE/9000 (even the full 8500 in some cases), each of which outperformed it easily as well as including DirectX 8 compliance. The end result was that the MX460 never had anywhere to go in the market, and flopped.

In terms of 3D performance, the MX420 performed only slightly better than the GeForce 2 MX400 and below the GeForce 2 GTS, but this was never really much of a problem, considering its target audience. The nearest thing to a direct competitor the MX420 had was ATI's Radeon 7000. In practice however, its main competitors were actually chipset-integrated graphics solutions, such as Intel's 845G and NVIDIA's own nForce 2. The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ... The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ...

The MX440 performed reasonably well for its intended audience, outperforming its closest competitor, the ATI Radeon 7500, as well as the discontinued GeForce 2 Ti and Ultra. When ATI launched its Radeon 9000 Pro in September 2002, it performed about the same as the MX440, but had crucial advantages with better single-texturing performance and proper support of DirectX 8. However, the 9000 was unable to break the MX440's entrenched hold on the OEM market. The MX440 also had a derivative called the MX440-SE. This was simply an MX 420 with increased memory bandwidth. NVIDIA's answer to the ATI Radeon 9000 was the GeForce FX 5200, but despite the 5200's DirectX 9 features it did not have the performance to match the MX440 in even current games. This kept the MX440 in production while the 5200 was discontinued, which could be considered ironic because the MX440 was supposed to be replaced by the 5200. ATI Radeon is a brand of graphics processing units (GPU) that has been manufactured by ATI Technologies since 2000 and the successor to their Rage line. ... The GeForce 2 (codenamed NV15) was the second generation of GeForce graphics cards by NVIDIA Corporation. ... NVIDIA GeForce FX logo The famous Dawn demo was released by NVIDIA to showcase pixel and vertex shaders effects of the GeForce FX Series The GeForce FX (codenamed NV30) is a graphics card in the GeForce line, from the manufacturer NVIDIA. // Overview NVIDIAs GeForce FX series is the fifth...

In motion-video applications, the GeForce4 MX offered new functionality. It (and not the GeForce4 Ti) was the first GeForce member to feature the NVIDIA VPE (video processing engine.) It was also the first GeForce to offer hardware-iDCT and VLC (variable length code) decoding, making VPE a major upgrade from NVIDIA’s previous HDVP. In the application of MPEG-2 playback, VPE could finally compete head-to-head with ATI's outstanding video engine. MPEG-2 is a standard for the generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information [1]. It is widely used around the world to specify the format of the digital television signals that are broadcast by terrestrial (over-the-air), cable, and direct broadcast satellite TV systems. ...

The GeForce4 Go was derived from the MX line and it was announced along with the rest of the GeForce4 lineup in early 2002. There was the 420 Go, 440 Go, and 460 Go. However, ATI had beaten them to the market with the Mobility Radeon 7500. (Despite its name, the short-lived 4200 Go is not part of this lineup, it was instead derived from the Ti line.) ATI Radeon is a brand of graphics processing units (GPU) that has been manufactured by ATI Technologies since 2000 and the successor to their Rage line. ...

Like the Ti series, the MX was also updated in late 2002 to support AGP-8X with the NV18 core. The two new models were the MX440-8X, which was clocked slightly faster than the original MX440, and the MX440SE, which had a narrower memory bus, and was intended as a replacement of sorts for the MX420. The MX460 was never updated; in fact, it had been discontinued several months previously. Another variant followed in late 2003 - the MX 4000, which was a GeForce4 MX440SE with a slightly higher memory clock.

Surprisingly, the GeForce4 MX line received a third update in 2004, with the PCX 4300 - an MX 4000 with support for PCI Express, and a wider memory bus. In spite of its new codename (NV19), the PCX 4300 is in fact simply an NV18 core with a chip bridging the NV18's native AGP interface with the PCI-Express bus. PCI Express (formerly known as 3GIO for 3rd Generation I/O, not to be mistaken with PCI-X) is an implementation of the PCI computer bus that uses existing PCI programming concepts and communications standards, but bases it on a much faster serial communications system. ...

GeForce4 MX chip table

NOTE: These are the official specifications dictated by NVIDIA; in practice the speeds tended to vary. Table is slowest to fastest.

GeForce4 Go driver support

This family is a derivative of the GeForce4 MX family, produced for the laptop market. The GeForce4 Go family, performance wise, can be considered comparable to the MX line. However, in terms of support, some users have become rather irritated at an uncharacteristic lack of driver support from NVIDIA. Instead of supporting this family of chips, NVIDIA redirects users to the manufacturer's webpage.

One possible solution to the lack of driver support for the Go family is the third party Omega Drivers. However, it is not recommended that one install these drivers unless one is willing to accept the risks. Using third party drivers can, among other things, invalidate warranties. The Omega Drivers are supported by neither laptop manufacturers, laptop ODMs, nor by NVIDIA. NVIDIA has also attempted legal action against a version of Omega Drivers that included the NVIDIA logo^[12]. The Omega drivers are essentially stock drivers modified to deliver upto 30%-40% performance increases without overclocking. The invalidating of warranties by the expert user fanbase is usually seen as a corporate safety net rather than an actual warning against devices failing.

NVIDIA’s own solution to the problem is to try drivers from www.laptopvideo2go.com. This website hosts desktop display drivers which have been modified to install on a notebook. The drivers found on this website do not contain any laptop specific modifications and thus may or may not be better than drivers provided by your laptop's manufacturer.

Known problems

Some users have experienced problems with the card overheating due to the fact that its on-board fan has either slowed or stopped entirely due to dust. Users finding problems with 3D games crashing or even hanging momentarily should upgrade to the latest drivers and check to see that the fan is running. If it is not spinning, the graphics card should be removed, and the fan whirled manually. It should spin freely. If it does not, it may need replacement or lubrication (Dan's Data Fan Maintenance).

It should be noted that older versions of the drivers (versions 53.xx for example) for the NV18 based GeForce4 MX and GeForce4 Go supported vertex shader model 1.1 via hardware assisted software emulation, however at some point this support was dropped completely. The newer drivers report that they support vertex shader model 0.0. On certain games which are able to take advantage of vertex shading, using the older drivers can actually result in a significant performance increase. Some games that require pixel and vertex shading will not run at all on these newer drivers.

See also

• Comparison of NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units
• Graphics card
• Graphics processing unit
• List of computer games that require Pixel Shaders
• List of games that require hardware transform and lighting

This table contains general information about NVIDIAs GPUs and videocards based on official NVIDIA specifications. ... A graphics/video/display card/board/adapter is a computer component designed to convert the logical representation of visual information into a signal that can be used as input for a display medium. ... GeForce 6600GT (NV43) GPU Radeon 9800 Pro (R350) GPU Intel GMA X3000 IGP “GPU” redirects here. ... // This is the list of computer games that require DirectX 8. ... This is a list of computer games that require require DirectX 7. ...

Notes and references

Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• NVIDIA: GeForce4 family of GPUs