Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at the recent Surface product launch event. During their conversation, the executives discussed the historical impact of Windows 95, which was the first operating system to integrate DirectX, simplifying game development for the platform.
Huang emphasized the critical role of the Windows ecosystem in Nvidia's history. He stated that without Windows, the GeForce line would not exist, and consequently, the CUDA platform and modern deep learning technologies would not have been developed.
The discussion also touched upon Nvidia's early hardware challenges. In 1995, the company released the NV1, which combined 2D and 3D graphics capabilities. However, the product failed commercially due to its reliance on non-standard quadratic surface technology that lacked compatibility with the D3D standard.
Nvidia shifted its strategy in 1997 with the launch of the RIVA 128. This card prioritized optimization for Microsoft D3D and featured support for the AGP interface. The combination of high performance and cost-effectiveness allowed the company to establish a strong market position.
