A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a highly parallelized circuit built to handle the massive mathematical computations required for rendering graphics. Unlike a CPU, which relies on a few fast cores for sequential processing, a GPU uses thousands of smaller cores to process matrices and vectors simultaneously. They are widely used beyond graphics for machine learning and scientific computing.
The thermal load from the graphics processing unit is causing the adjacent memory chips to throttle.
Also heard as
- GPU
Related terms
CPU
The central processing unit is the primary logic chip that executes instructions and coordinates system operations.
iGPU
An integrated graphics processing unit is a graphics core embedded directly inside the central processing unit.
dGPU
A discrete graphics processing unit that has its own dedicated memory and power delivery.
Multicore
A microprocessor architecture that places two or more independent processing units on a single integrated circuit.