What is a GPU?

A GPU is a chip, or part of one, with thousands of small cores. They do the same simple math at once, for pictures and AI.

1. Drawing every frame
A GPU, or graphics processing unit, draws what you see on screen. When things move, it draws a new picture, called a frame, often 60 times a second.
2. Few cooks, many helpers
A CPU has a few strong cores, like skilled cooks. A GPU has thousands of simple cores, like kitchen helpers who all chop carrots together when the cook says “chop”.
3. Same math, lots of data
Pictures, science and AI all repeat the same math on huge amounts of data. GPUs do that math in parallel, all at once, so they speed up AI and science too.
4. Inside the main chip, or on a card
An integrated GPU sits inside the main chip and shares the main memory with the CPU. A separate (discrete) GPU is its own chip with its own memory, often on a plug-in board called a graphics card.
5. Fast when needed, resting when still
A GPU can use a lot of power, so it changes its clock speed often. When the screen does not change, it switches its drawing parts off, but the picture stays on the screen.

Words to know

GPU (graphics processing unit): The processor that draws what you see on screen.
Frame: One full picture on the screen.
Parallel: Many jobs done at the same time.
Integrated GPU: A GPU built into the main chip, sharing the main memory with the CPU.
Discrete GPU: A GPU that is a chip of its own, often on a graphics card.
AI (artificial intelligence): Programs that learn patterns from many examples.

A power team checks that the GPU lowers its clock when work is light, and switches its drawing parts off when the screen is still.

Why do GPUs speed up AI?Think first, then tap to see the answer.

AI repeats the same math on lots of data, and thousands of GPU cores do it at once.