What is a GPU?

What is a GPU?

GPU stands for "Graphics Processing Unit," a specialized device for processing images and video.

GPUs are used in tasks such as:

• Photo and video editing
• Graphics processing for 3D games

Whenever something is displayed on a PC, a GPU is necessary. The fact that you are viewing this page is thanks to GPU processing.

Recently, GPUs are also being used for parallel processing in programs like artificial intelligence. It's easy to think of a GPU as a device for rendering beautiful 3D images quickly and efficiently.

Types of GPUs

There are two types of GPUs: "Integrated GPUs (iGPU)" built into the CPU, and "Discrete GPUs (dGPU)" that come as dedicated graphics cards.

While iGPUs, designed to output images using only the CPU and motherboard, offer sufficient performance for basic tasks, dGPUs, being dedicated components, provide higher performance.

Some might say, "I never added a GPU!" but unless you're using a gaming PC, most likely your PC's screen is being rendered by an iGPU. For example, "Intel XXX Graphics" is an iGPU.

On the other hand, dGPUs are optimized for rendering 3D graphics and are commonly used in PC gaming and video editing software.

Other Uses of GPUs

In addition to graphics processing for displaying screens and running games, GPUs are also used in artificial intelligence processing.

Although GPUs were not originally developed for AI, their ability to handle "large volumes of data simultaneously" makes them ideal for AI and deep learning, where vast amounts of data need to be analyzed. As a result, many GPU manufacturers have begun focusing on AI-related developments.

GPUs are also used in "mining," which processes cryptocurrency transactions like Bitcoin. During the height of the mining boom, GPUs even disappeared from store shelves, significantly affecting the financial performance of GPU manufacturers.

Differences Between a GPU and a CPU

Despite sounding similar, a "GPU" and "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" are entirely different components in a PC.

While a GPU is specialized for image and video processing, a CPU, known as the central processing unit, performs a variety of tasks, such as calculating data to run programs and managing system components like memory and hard drives. You can think of the CPU as the brain of a computer.

The CPU is capable of handling complex processes, whereas the GPU excels in performing simple tasks in parallel, processing large amounts of data quickly.