What Is a GPU? Can a GPU Replace a CPU?

Anyone who works with computers regularly, especially on graphics-related work, has surely heard of the GPU. So what exactly is a GPU and how does it affect a computer's performance? Find out in this article by MONA Media on GPU processors below.

What is a GPU processor?

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is also called a graphics card. It handles graphics-related tasks and is a specialized processor for the computer when it needs to deal with the machine's geometry capabilities. The GPU handles shapes and images on the computer.

A graphics card is closely linked to the central processor (CPU) but works in a completely different way. A Graphics Processing Unit has many features to meet consumers' basic graphics display needs. Today, programming for graphics cards is becoming simpler, opening up more potential for speeding up computers. The two best-known manufacturers of Graphics Processing Units are Nvidia and AMD/ATI.

Main functions of a GPU

As one of the computer's key components, a graphics card has these main functions:

• A Graphics Processing Unit supports 3D games and architecture software when processing images and shapes.
• The GPU lets professional image and video applications such as After Effects, Adobe Premiere and Camtasia run well.
• Using an embedded system on professional computers, you can easily check a graphics card's specifications.
• Ray tracing simulates light sources shining on objects to create light and shadow areas. The graphics card's ray tracing function makes video games look more realistic.

A GPU runs thousands of processing cores at once, tuned for many kinds of workload, especially operations that need complex calculation. Parallel processing lets the Graphics Processing Unit render realistic 3D as required. Demanding games run faster and more smoothly with sharper images. Graphics cards are what allow game and image creators to make high-quality premium products.

The graphics card was created to take workload off the CPU, so the central processor doesn't have to do too much. That saves time and eases the pressure of producing quality output. Graphics cards, applied to real-world problems, deliver very smooth, sharp images. Besides supporting 3D games and architecture software, the Graphics Processing Unit also supports professional image and video software.

Real-world applications of GPUs

Here are some real-world applications of graphics cards.

GPU in gaming

Anyone who plays games often, especially high-quality graphics games, needs a Graphics Processing Unit. Every gaming computer has a graphics card. This processor makes game images appear as realistic as possible. Streamers of games like PUBG or Call of Duty must use a graphics card to process the image.

GPU in design

In design, the Graphics Processing Unit is also widely used. For designing structures, the graphics card's CUDA cores directly affect rendering and video work. The Graphics Processing Unit receives and processes large amounts of information from the user's commands. When you make video, the graphics card processes and calculates so that playback doesn't stutter.

GPU in other fields

A graphics card runs operations in parallel on many data files at once. It is increasingly used in science and artificial intelligence because of the need for repeated calculation. In 2010, China successfully built a supercomputer using more than 7,000 Graphics Processing Units alongside CPUs to reach a record operating speed.

Many researchers predict that the uses of the Graphics Processing Unit will go even further. Artificial intelligence will support graphics cards in fields such as electronics, medicine, scientific research, financial modeling and geological exploration. Improvements in graphics cards bring high expectations for users, pointing toward robots that help people do more work.

Can a GPU replace a CPU?

A GPU is Graphics Processing Unit while a CPU is Central Processing Unit. Many people still confuse these two components, but in construction, purpose and operating efficiency a graphics card and a CPU are completely different.

The central processor (CPU) is the brain that analyzes and processes data sent to the computer as command files. A graphics card, by contrast, is designed to process image, graphics and video data. In addition, the Graphics Processing Unit also has high-speed memory that supports multithreaded, parallel processing.

The main function of the Graphics Processing Unit is to handle graphics, image and video computation, but that is not enough for a computer. A graphics card is used to compute data, not to receive and control information like a CPU. So the Graphics Processing Unit sits at a lower classification level and is a supporting component of the CPU.

Fundamentally, the Graphics Processing Unit cannot yet replace the CPU. In the past, the CPU also took on the graphics card's role through the IGPU. But that could not meet heavy workloads, so the dedicated Graphics Processing Unit was developed. Today the graphics card supports the CPU and runs in parallel with it.

How to choose a GPU for your computer

Although not as important as the CPU, a graphics card is still necessary for a computer to run. You can use the following criteria to choose the best Graphics Processing Unit for your computer.

Choose a graphics card by price: Graphics cards cost much more on average than other computer components. In return, they last longer and are more durable. A card that is too cheap will need frequent upgrades. So choose mid-range or above, ideally from brands such as Nvidia or AMD/ATI.

For a Graphics Processing Unit, price goes with quality. The higher the price, the better the graphics card performs. If you want to save money, choose a newly released Graphics Processing Unit from a major brand.

Buy a graphics card by intended use: Choosing a graphics card by use lets you get the most out of it. There are cards for gamers and for designers at various prices. If you are buying a Graphics Processing Unit to play games, consider the AMD Radeon RX 56 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. For design and programming, the GTX 1060 and RX 580 are suitable. For even higher requirements there are the GTX 1070 or GTX 1070 Ti.

That covers some information about the GPU and whether it can replace the CPU. The graphics card is one of the factors users care about most today. We hope this article helps you learn about this processor and how to choose a GPU that fits your needs.

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