Word of the Day: GPU (graphics processing unit)

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | March 18, 2019 GPU (graphics processing unit) A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a computer chip that performs rapid mathematical calculations, primarily for the purpose of rendering images. A GPU may be found integrated with a central processing unit (CPU) on the same circuit, on a graphics card or in the motherboard of a personal computer or server. In the early days of computing, the CPU performed these calculations. As more graphics-intensive applications such as AutoCAD were developed; however, their demands put strain on the CPU and degraded performance. GPUs came about as a way to offload those tasks from CPUs, freeing up their processing power. NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and ARM are some of the major players in the GPU market. GPU vs. CPU A graphics processing unit is able to render images more quickly than a central processing unit because of its parallel processing architecture, which allows it to perform multiple calculations at the same time. A single CPU does not have this capability, although multicore processors can perform calculations in parallel by combining more than one CPU onto the same chip. A CPU also has a higher clock speed, meaning it can perform an individual calculation faster than a GPU. Therefore, a CPU is often better equipped to handle basic computing tasks. History of GPUs Specialized chips for processing graphics have existed since the dawn of video games in the 1970s. Graphics processing units came to high-performance enterprise computers in the late 1990s, and NVIDIA introduced the first GPU for personal computers, the GeForce 256, in 1999. Over time, the processing power of GPUs made the chips a popular choice for other resource-intensive tasks unrelated to graphics. Early applications included scientific calculations and modeling; by the mid-2010s, GPU computing also powered machine learning and artificial intelligence software. In 2012, NVIDIA released a virtualized GPU, which offloads graphics processing power from the server CPU in a virtual desktop infrastructure. Graphics performance has traditionally been one of the most common complaints among users of virtual desktops and applications, and virtualized GPUs aim to address that problem. Quote of the Day "When selecting GPUs, look at processing power, memory and OS support. These factors ensure hardware compatibility and effective performance in the data center." - Stephen J. Bigelow Trending Terms GPU supercomputer clock speed virtual GPU general purpose GPU AI accelerator video adapter Learning Center How do I successfully install server GPU cards? Installing server GPU cards in your data center increases processing capabilities and makes it easier to run high-performance workloads. To ensure a smooth setup, research application compatibility, rack space configurations, cooling procedures and workload management techniques. Which GPU specs are most important? There are a lot of GPU specs to evaluate during the selection and purchasing process. Focus on TFLOPS, the number of cores and memory requirements to narrow down potential options for your data center. What does GPU hardware do in the data center? GPU hardware can handle compute-intensive workloads within the data center. Here's how to experience faster processing times and simplified virtualization setups with GPUs. GPU virtualization evolves with new chip types on the horizon Major GPU vendors Intel, AMD and Nvidia already provide support for GPU virtualization using different technology and software, but core counts and core roles are changing. Get to know the current market and be on the lookout for new types of cores. How to use GPU for rendering graphics in VDI deployments Learn why IT should use a GPU for rendering graphics to keep today's virtual desktop and app users happy. Also discover how to deliver GPU-enabled virtual apps and why it's more important than ever to do so. Quiz Yourself Atom was chosen as the name for the processor as an _________ to the tiny but powerful particle of the physical world. a. allusion b. illusion c. elusion Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.