GeForce 7 series
Seventh-generation Nvidia GeForce line, final AGP-supporting series.
The GeForce 7 series marks the seventh generation of Nvidia’s GeForce graphics processors and was the last lineup to offer AGP interface cards. All models in this series share features like Intellisample 4.0, Scalable Link Interface (SLI), TurboCache, and Nvidia PureVideo, except the GeForce 7100, which lacks Gamma Corrected Anti-Aliasing (GCAA). Hardware acceleration for H.264 is supported, though Adobe Flash Player on Windows did not use it until the GeForce 8 series.
The 7100 series, launched August 30, 2006, is based on the GeForce 6200 architecture and only supports PCI Express. Its sole model, the 7100 GS, uses the ForceWare 91.47 driver or later to access standard GeForce 7 features, but it lacks OpenCL/CUDA support and its IntelliSample 4.0 implementation omits GCAA. It also does not support high-dynamic-range rendering (HDR) or UltraShadow II. Originally, the 7300 LE was meant to be the lowest-budget option, but the 7100 GS took that role. It is essentially a revamped GeForce 6200TC, designed as a basic PCI Express solution for OEMs when a chipset lacks integrated video. It has a 64-bit memory interface, up to 512 MB of DDR2 VRAM, 5.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, 1.4 billion pixels per second fill rate, and 263 million vertices per second.
The 7200 series, introduced October 8, 2006, uses the G72 architecture and is meant as a low-cost upgrade from integrated graphics. Only the 7200 GS model exists, and it supports PCI Express exclusively. It adds HDR, UltraShadow II, and a CineFX 4.0 Engine, but does not support SLI. The 7200 GS has the same memory speed as the 7300 GS and the same core frequency as the 7300 LE, with two pixel pipelines. Nvidia claimed its performance is 50% higher than the latest integrated graphics of the time. Launched in January 2006, it uses a 90 nm process, a 450 MHz core clock, 2 pixel shaders, 4 texture units, 2 ROPs, 256 MB of DDR2 memory on a 64-bit bus, and a 400 MHz memory clock yielding 6.4 GB/s bandwidth. It requires a single motherboard slot and uses PCI Express 1.0.
The 7300 series was designed for entry-level gaming and replaced the GeForce 6200 series. Four models exist: the 7300 GT, 7300 GS, 7300 LE, and 7300 SE. All support HDR, UltraShadow II, and CineFX 4.0.
Quick Facts
- Codename
- G7x, NV47
- Created
- June 22, 2005
- Model
- GeForce nForce series
- Entry
- 7025 / 7050 / 7100 / 7150 / 7200 / 7300 / 7350 / 7500
- Midrange
- 7600 / 7650
- Highend
- 7800
- Enthusiast
- 7900 / 7950
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The GeForce 7 series introduced Intellisample 4.0, Scalable Link Interface (SLI), TurboCache, and Nvidia PureVideo as common features across most models, though the GeForce 7100 lacked Gamma Corrected Anti-Aliasing (GCAA). The series supported hardware acceleration for H.264, but this feature was not utilized on Windows by Adobe Flash Player until the GeForce 8 series.
The lineup spanned multiple sub-series: the 7100 series (based on GeForce 6200 architecture, PCI Express only), the 7200 series (based on G72 architecture, PCI Express only, lacking SLI), the 7300 series (entry-level gaming, replacing the GeForce 6200 series), the 7500 series (OEM only), the 7600 series (replacing the GeForce 6600 series, available in AGP and PCI Express), the 7650 series (OEM only), and the 7800 series (high-end, later replaced by the 7900 series). The 7800 GS AGP was the first AGP card in the series and was promoted as 'the last high-ended AGP card in existence.'
Reader's Guide
The GeForce 7 series marked the end of AGP support in Nvidia's consumer GPU lineup, making it a notable transition point for users with legacy AGP systems. The series covered a wide market range, from the budget-oriented 7100 GS (a revamped GeForce 6200TC) to the high-end 7800 GTX and 7800 GS AGP. The 7600 series, available in both AGP and PCI Express, aimed to replace the GeForce 6600 series and served a broad segment. The 7800 GS AGP, in particular, provided an upgrade path for those with high-end AGP systems who did not wish to switch to PCI Express. The series also introduced hardware H.264 acceleration, though its use in software was delayed until the subsequent generation. The 7200 GS was noted as the slowest card of both the GeForce 7 and GeForce 6 series, yet it supported HDR and PureVideo.
Did You Know?
- The GeForce 7 series was the last Nvidia GeForce series available on AGP cards.
- The GeForce 7100 GS is a revamped version of the GeForce 6200TC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GeForce 7 series?
It is Nvidia's seventh-generation GeForce lineup and holds the distinction of being the final series to ship cards with an AGP slot connector. After this generation, all subsequent GeForce products moved exclusively to PCI Express.
What shared technologies define most GeForce 7 cards?
Nearly every model in the family includes Intellisample 4.0 anti-aliasing, Scalable Link Interface for multi-GPU setups, TurboCache for borrowing system memory, and PureVideo for video decoding. The sole exception is the GeForce 7100, which omits Gamma Corrected Anti-Aliasing.
Does the GeForce 7 series support hardware H.264 video decoding?
Yes, the silicon includes a dedicated H.264 decode path. However, Adobe's Flash Player on Windows did not actually tap into that hardware path until the GeForce 8 series arrived, so many users never noticed the capability in practice.
What makes the GeForce 7100 different from the rest of the 7-series family?
Launched on August 30, 2006, the 7100 is built on the older GeForce 6200 architecture and is available only as a PCI Express card. It also drops Gamma Corrected Anti-Aliasing, a feature present on every other model in the generation.
Why do fans consider the GeForce 7 series a milestone?
It sits at the crossroads of two eras: it was the last time AGP cards were sold under the GeForce brand while already introducing PureVideo and broader H.264 support. That makes it a favorite talking point for enthusiasts tracing how Nvidia transitioned from legacy slot formats to the fully PCI Express world.
More in Nvidia and AMD Graphics Processors 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced