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A GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly process and render high-quality images and videos. While a CPU handles a few complex tasks sequentially, a GPU uses thousands of smaller cores to perform a massive number of simpler calculations simultaneously, a process known as parallel processing. This makes the GPU significantly faster for graphics-intensive work.

GPU vs. graphics card. The terms "GPU" and "graphics card" are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.

GPU: The processing chip itself—the "brain" that performs the calculations.

Graphics Card: The complete hardware unit that houses the GPU. The card also includes a dedicated memory (VRAM), a cooling system, power connectors, and output ports like HDMI.

Types of GPUs

Integrated GPUs (iGPUs): Built into the same chip as the CPU, these are common in laptops and budget PCs. They are more power-efficient but share system memory (RAM), so they are less powerful than discrete GPUs.

Discrete GPUs (dGPUs): A standalone, separate component with its own dedicated memory (VRAM) and cooling system. Discrete GPUs offer significantly more processing power and are used for demanding tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, and AI.

How a GPU works with a CPU. A computer's central processing unit (CPU) and GPU work together in a complementary way. The CPU handles the computer's overall management and general-purpose tasks, such as running the operating system and applications. For tasks with high visual or computational demands, the CPU sends instructions and data to the GPU via a bus, such as the PCI Express (PCIe) slot. The GPU, with its parallel architecture, executes the required calculations at high speed and returns the completed graphics data to the CPU. The CPU then sends this information to the display, allowing complex graphics to be rendered smoothly.