Thanks to 
of the info!!!
August 31, 1999 marks the introduction of the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) for the PC industry. The technical definition of a GPU is: a single-chip processor with integrated transform, lighting, triangle setup/clipping and rendering engines that is capable of processing a minimum of 10 million polygons per second. But quite simply, the GPU changes everything you have ever seen or experienced on your PC.
Integrated Transform and Lighting: Realism in Real-Time
Combined, transform and lighting radically enhance photorealism -- quite simply, things "come alive" on your screen. Transformation makes things move more naturally, and lighting helps objects and scenes look more realistic. At last, humans and other "beings" will look and move like we do. When this character is animated, her hair swings just like real hair, her clothes crease and fold as she shifts on her stool, the light reflects off her glasses and even individual strands of hair.
Cube Environment Mapping: Reality Is All About Details
Imagine nature without reflections -- not in water, in metal
or other shiny surfaces. Those small details can make or break
a computer-rendered 3D scene. Until now, developers have either
avoided using reflective surfaces or have had to resort to complicated
tricks of the trade which produced "acceptable" but
not stellar results. Cube environment mapping is a technique which
enables developers to produce stunning real-time accurate reflections
and specular lighting effects so you can immerse yourself in rich
3D scenes.
Check out this animation of geforce!!!
