1. Who is Curtis Priem and what is he known for?

Curtis Priem is an American electrical engineer and entrepreneur best known for co-founding NVIDIA in 1993 with Jensen Huang and Chris Malachowsky. He served as its Chief Technical Officer from 1993 to 2003, laying the technical foundation for modern graphics processing units (GPUs).

2. Was Curtis Priem a co-founder of NVIDIA?

Yes. Curtis Priem co-founded NVIDIA in 1993. He served as the company's Chief Technical Officer from its inception until he retired from the company in 2003.

3. What was Curtis Priem's role at NVIDIA?

Curtis Priem served as NVIDIA's Chief Technical Officer for its first decade. He was responsible for the core hardware architectures that transformed the company into a leader in 3D graphics.

4. What did Curtis Priem do before co-founding NVIDIA?

Before NVIDIA, Priem designed the IBM Professional Graphics Controller at Vermont Microsystems, worked at GenRad Inc., and spent seven years at Sun Microsystems developing the widely used GX graphics chip.

5. What is Curtis Priem's connection to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Priem graduated from RPI in 1982 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He joined its Board of Trustees in 2003 and became Vice Chair in 2024. He is one of RPI's most generous donors, contributing over $275 million to fund the EMPAC facility and the university's recent quantum computing initiative.

6. What did Curtis Priem contribute to computer graphics technology?

Priem contributed heavily to early PC and workstation graphics architectures. His notable inventions include the PC's first professional graphics processor at Vermont Microsystems and the GX graphics chip family at Sun Microsystems.

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Curtis Priem

Curtis Priem's profile covering his NVIDIA career, engineering expertise, RPI leadership, and philanthropic milestones.

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Curtis Priem is an American electrical engineer, technology entrepreneur, and NVIDIA co-founder. He served as NVIDIA's Chief Technical Officer from 1993 to 2003 after an influential career in computer graphics and semiconductor engineering. Before co-founding NVIDIA, Priem worked for firms such as Vermont Microsystems, GenRad, and Sun Microsystems, during which time he created the innovative graphics chip GX. His area of specialization is in electrical engineering and graphics processors. Priem is deeply involved with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as a trustee and became Vice Chair of its Board of Trustees in 2024. He also serves as the president of the Priem Family Foundation.

Quick Facts About Curtis Priem:

Field	Details
Full Name	Curtis R. Priem
Profession	Electrical Engineer, Technology Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Known For	Co-founding NVIDIA
Current Foundation Role	President, Priem Family Foundation
Current Institutional Role	Vice Chair, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Board of Trustees
Previous Leadership Role	Chief Technical Officer, NVIDIA
Previous Companies	Vermont Microsystems, GenRad Inc., Sun Microsystems, NVIDIA
Education	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Degree	Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Graduation Year	1982
Entrepreneurial Experience	Co-founder of NVIDIA
Philanthropic Organization	Priem Family Foundation

Career Overview of Curtis Priem:

Priem began his engineering career in computer graphics at Vermont Microsystems before working at GenRad Inc. In 1986, he joined Sun Microsystems as a senior staff engineer, where he spent seven years developing the GX graphics chip architecture. In 1993, he co-founded NVIDIA alongside Jensen Huang and Chris Malachowsky. As NVIDIA's first Chief Technical Officer, Priem shaped the company's early technology roadmap for a decade before retiring in 2003. His later life has been defined by his leadership of the Priem Family Foundation and massive philanthropic support for RPI, where he serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Career Timeline:

Year	Career Development
1982	BS in Electrical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI): Completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
1982–1984	Engineer, Vermont Microsystems: Designed the IBM Professional Graphics Controller, described as the first professional graphics processor for the PC.
1984–1986	Hardware Engineer, GenRad Inc.: Worked on hardware design and electronic testing technologies.
1986–1993	Senior Staff Engineer, Sun Microsystems: Designed and developed the GX graphics chip architecture.
1993–2003	Co-founder & Chief Technical Officer, NVIDIA: Co-founded NVIDIA and became its first Chief Technical Officer.
1993–2003	Chief Technical Officer, NVIDIA: Directed NVIDIA’s technical strategy and chip design for a decade before retiring from the company.
September 1999	President, Priem Family Foundation: Established the Priem Family Foundation with his wife, Cindi, to support charitable causes.
2003	Trustee, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Appointed to the RPI Board of Trustees.
2004	Philanthropist, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Pledged a $40 million unrestricted gift to establish the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). His lifetime contributions to RPI have since exceeded $275 million, including recent funding for the campus’s IBM Quantum System One.
2024	Vice Chair, RPI Board of Trustees: Served as Vice Chair of the RPI Board of Trustees, with the role effective January 1, 2023.

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United Center, 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, Illinois 60612-2459, United States

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