GPU
Definition
A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device. Their highly parallel structure makes them more efficient than general-purpose CPUs for algorithms that process large blocks of data in parallel.
Why It Matters
While originally designed for 3D graphics and gaming, GPUs are now crucial for high-performance computing, scientific simulation, and machine learning, as their parallel processing capabilities can dramatically speed up complex calculations.
Contextual Example
In a modern video game, the GPU is responsible for rendering complex 3D scenes, calculating lighting and shadows, and outputting the final image to your monitor, all in real-time.
Common Misunderstandings
- A "dedicated" or "discrete" GPU is a separate card, while an "integrated" GPU is built into the CPU.
- The parallel nature of GPUs makes them ideal for tasks that can be broken down into many small, independent operations, like training a neural network.