What Is a GPU?

 In the realm of computers, graphics processing technology has developed to offer special advantages. The most recent GPUs provide new opportunities in gaming, content production, machine learning, and other areas.

The Function of a GPU?

For both consumer and corporate computers, the graphics processing unit, or GPU, has emerged as one of the most significant categories of computing technology. The GPU, which was created for parallel processing, is employed in a variety of tasks, including generating images and videos. GPUs are becoming increasingly widely used in artificial intelligence and creative production, despite their best-known application in gaming.

GPUs were first created to speed up 3D visual rendering. They improved their capacities as they become more adaptable and programmable. This made it possible for graphic designers to produce more eye-catching visual effects and realistic scenarios using cutting-edge lighting and shadowing methods. To significantly speed up extra tasks in high-performance computing (HPC), deep learning, and other areas, other developers also started to take advantage of GPU capability.

GPU and CPU: Cooperation

The GPU was developed as a complement to the CPU, its near relative (central processing unit). GPUs are made expressly to speed up computer graphics workloads, but CPUs have continued to bring performance advances through architectural breakthroughs, greater clock rates, and the addition of cores. Knowing how the CPU and GPU differ when choosing a system will help you make the most of both.

How Do GPU and Graphics Cards Differ?

Although the phrases graphics card (or video card) and GPU are sometimes used interchangeably, there is little difference between the two. Similar to how a motherboard houses the CPU, a graphics card is an add-in board that houses the GPU. The vast array of parts needed for the GPU to operate and link to the rest of the system is also included on this board.

GPUs may be divided into two primary groups: integrated and discrete. An integrated GPU is built right into the CPU, rather than being provided on a separate card. An individual chip installed on its own circuit board and commonly connected to a PCI Express slot is known as a discrete GPU.

A GPU (Integrated Graphics Processing Unit)

Most GPUs available nowadays are essentially integrated graphics. What are integrated graphics, then, and how do they function in your computer? Thinner and lighter systems, lower power consumption, and cheaper system costs are all made possible by CPUs that include a fully integrated GPU on their motherboard.

Leading integrated graphics technology is provided by Intel® Graphics Technology, which incorporates Intel® ArcTM and Intel® Iris® Xe graphics. Users may enjoy vivid visuals on devices that operate cooler and have long battery lives thanks to Intel® Graphics.

Distinctive Graphics Processing Unit

With integrated GPUs, many computer applications can function effectively. A discrete GPU, often known as a dedicated graphics card, is more appropriate for applications that require a lot of resources and have high-performance requirements.

These GPUs increase processing capacity at the expense of increased energy use and heat production. For discrete GPUs to operate at their best, separate cooling is typically required.

More programmable than ever, today's GPUs enable a wide range of applications outside of standard graphics rendering.

 What Purposes Do GPUs Serve?

Two decades ago, gaming and other real-time 3D graphics applications were the main uses of GPUs. However, as the twenty-first century came to a close, computer scientists discovered that GPUs may potentially address some of the most challenging computing issues in existence.

The general purpose GPU era began as a result of this insight. Today, graphics technology is used more widely to solve a wider range of issues. Since they can now perform more custom programming than ever before, today's GPUs may be used to speed up a wide variety of applications that go far beyond simple graphics rendering.

GPUs for video games

Video games now include hyperrealistic visuals, large, intricate in-game settings, and higher processing demands. The need for graphics processing is increasing quickly due to the use of cutting-edge display technologies like 4K panels and high refresh rates, as well as the popularity of virtual reality games. Both 2D and 3D graphics may be rendered using GPUs. Games may be played at larger resolutions, quicker frame rates, or both with an improved visual performance.

GPUs for content creation and video editing

Long rendering periods that clogged up computing resources and hampered creative flow have long been a problem for video editors, graphic designers, and other creative professionals. Now, rendering video and graphics in higher-definition formats is quicker and simpler thanks to the parallel processing provided by GPUs.

Machine learning with GPU

AI and machine learning are some of the most intriguing GPU applications. Since GPUs have a staggering amount of processing power, they can significantly speed up applications like image recognition that benefit from their highly parallel architecture. Many of the deep learning techniques used today rely on GPUs and CPUs working together.

What are the largest GPU manufacturers?

Nvidia

Founded in 1993, Nvidia is a US technology firm with headquarters in California that creates system-on-a-chip (SoC) units for mobile computing and the automotive industries in addition to GPUs for the gaming and professional sectors. GeForce, its main GPU product line, directly competes with Radeon from AMD.

The GeForce RTX 3080, Nvidia Titan V, and Nvidia RTX A6000 are a few of its well-known GPUs. It might be challenging to find one of its GPUs right now, especially its GeForce RTX 3070 cards, due to the global scarcity of graphics cards.

The Cambridge-1, a supercomputer powered by some NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs, was turned on by Nvidia in July 2021.

AMD

Another US tech business with a Californian headquarters was created in 1969 and goes by the name AMD. For both the commercial and consumer industries, it creates items such as computer processors. Before spinning out this sector in 2008, it first produced semiconductors. After that, GlobalFoundries was created.

Motherboard chipsets, microprocessors, graphics processors, and embedded processors are some of AMD's most popular products. The AMD Radeon graphics line and the Ryzen line of processors are only a couple of its offerings.

The Ryzen 5000 Pro family of mobile CPUs for thin and light business notebooks was launched by the firm in March. The Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U, Ryzen 5 Pro 5650U, and Ryzen 3 5450U comprise this. With an eight-core, 16-thread architecture, 20MB cache, and base and boost clock rates of 1.9GHz and 4.4GHz, respectively, the 5850 has the greatest specifications of the three. According to AMD, this chip is the only one with eight high-performance cores that are made specifically for thin and light notebooks.

Suppliers of aftermarket GPUs

The fact that GPUs frequently undergo what is known as the "aftermarket treatment" sets them apart from CPUs. While the two usual suspects are responsible for the majority of the technology in graphics cards, several companies on the market will take these entry-level pieces of hardware, also known as "reference models" or "reference cards," and add some finishing touches to them, frequently bringing some performance upgrades.

This can take the form of overclocking, which removes the risky task from the customer's hands, the addition of customized housing, which is frequently done to improve thermal efficiency or the addition of a few more fans for the same purpose. If that's your thing, another prevalent type of lighting is RGB lighting.

EVGA

EVGA, situated in California, is best recognized in the gaming industry for its long-standing collaboration with Nvidia, whose GPUs it is arguably best known for tweaking.

These enhancements range from straightforward RGB lighting upgrades to overclocked capabilities and even specialized closed-loop liquid cooling systems, just for the GPU. They provide a variety of improved GPUs for Nvidia cards.

Additionally widely known for making motherboards, power supplies, gaming accessories, and more, EVGA now makes SLI bridges to daisy-chain GPUs together.

Gigabyte

Similar to EVGA, Gigabyte is a business that offers more than just aftermarket GPUs. Compared to EVGA, it offers a wider range of products, including displays, PCs, laptops, motherboards, and other PC parts like solid-state drives in addition to GPUs and peripherals (SSDs).

While expertly serving the gaming community, it also caters to the creative and artistic sectors of business with laptops and displays ideal for things like professional picture editing, for instance. Although these ventures are still in their infancy, it also has additional goals for future development in the fields of AI and deep learning.

MSI

MSI is another aftermarket supplier with a broad range of products. Although the company's core business is gaming, it also has several outlying divisions that serve the needs of creatives, 3D animators, video editors, and others. As part of its Business & Productivity Series, which focuses on high-performance, high-security computing, it also provides a variety of enterprise-grade computers. A true master of many crafts, MSI also has businesses in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).

It is one of the most reputable companies in the gaming industry and provides replacement GPUs for both AMD and Nvidia cards.

ASUS

Asus is another tech behemoth, not just for PC gaming, like MSI. The Taiwanese hardware company, which was established in 1989, asserts that it is among the top three laptop sellers worldwide and the world's leading motherboard and gaming brand.

The work that Asus has done in the aftermarket GPU sector will be well known to gamers. Along with its two gaming subsidiaries, TUF and Republic of Gamers, it makes cards under its primary brand name. Although there are much fewer alternatives available to AMD fans than there are for Nvidia cards, the manufacturers do cater primarily to Nvidia GPUs.

Which GPU Is Required?

You now understand the fundamentals of what a GPU works and the many types that are available. How then do you determine the one you require? You need a graphics card to play games on a desktop, and there are a ton of reviews available to guide you in making the best choice.

In general, make sure to purchase a graphics card that corresponds to the resolution of your display, such as 1080p, 1440p, or 4K. The functionality of video games is always evolving, necessitating new gear. This indicates that compared to other components, graphics cards tend to age faster. Desktop owners ought to get a model that is two to three years or newer.

A strong CPU is more crucial if you're interested in enthusiast video editing, but you also need a dedicated graphics card, even if it's a few generations old.

Everyone else can get by with integrated graphics. For simple web games, basic picture editing, or even basic video streaming, there is no need to purchase a graphics card. Make that your CPU does, in fact, have an integrated GPU. If not, you can have a discouraging revelation while attempting to start up that brand-new desktop build.