GPU stands for graphics processing unit. It is a processor designed to perform many suitable operations in parallel, originally for graphics and now also for workloads such as media processing and some computing tasks. A GPU does not replace the CPU; the two perform different, complementary roles.
Simple explanation
A GPU creates and transforms the images shown on a display. Its parallel design can process many pixels, vertices or similar data elements at the same time.
Integrated graphics shares a package or system resources with the CPU platform. A discrete graphics card is a separate device with its own processor and usually dedicated video memory.
Technical context
Useful GPU capability depends on architecture, supported APIs and codecs, video memory capacity and bandwidth, power, cooling, drivers and application support. A larger model number or more memory is not by itself a complete performance comparison.
Some applications can use dedicated hardware encoders or compute features, but software support and output requirements decide whether those features help.
Practical example
Basic office work and video playback may fit supported integrated graphics. A 3D game, GPU-accelerated editor or complex multi-display workflow may justify discrete graphics after checking software, display, power-supply and enclosure requirements.
Sources and further reading
Technical statements were reviewed against these references. External pages may change after our review date.
- CPU vs. GPU: What's the Difference? — Intel
- Hardware Encoding — OBS Project