CPU VS GPU

What is a CPU?

Constructed from millions of transistors, the CPU can have multiple processing cores and is commonly referred to as the brain of the computer. It is essential to all modern computing systems as it executes the commands and processes needed for your computer and operating system. The CPU is also important in determining how fast programs can run, from surfing the web to building spreadsheets.

What is a GPU?

The GPU is a processor that is made up of many smaller and more specialized cores. By working together, the cores deliver massive performance when a processing task can be divided up and processed across many cores.

What is the difference?

CPUs and GPUs process tasks in different ways. Regarding interrelations, they are often compared with brain and brawn. A CPU (the brain) can work on a variety of different calculations, while a GPU (the brawn) is best at focusing all the computing abilities on a specific task. That is because a CPU consists of a few cores (up to 24) optimized for sequential serial processing. It is designed to maximize the performance of a single task within a job; however, the range of tasks is wide. On the other hand, a GPU uses thousands of smaller and more efficient cores for a massively parallel architecture aimed at handling multiple functions at the same time.

Modern GPUs provide superior processing power, memory bandwidth and efficiency over their CPU counterparts. They are 50–100 times faster in tasks that require multiple parallel processes, such as machine learning and big data analysis.

CPU	GPU
Central Processing Unit	Graphics Processing Unit
Several cores	Many cores
Low latency	High throughput
Good for serial processing	Good for parallel processing
Can do a handful of operations at once	Can do thousands of operations at once

CPU vs GPU

Architecturally, the CPU is composed of just a few cores with lots of cache memory that can handle a few software threads at a time. In contrast, a GPU is composed of hundreds of cores that can handle thousands of threads simultaneously.

GPUs deliver the once-esoteric technology of parallel computing. It’s a technology with an illustrious pedigree that includes names such as supercomputing genius Seymor Cray. But rather than taking the shape of hulking supercomputers, GPUs put this idea to work in the desktops and gaming consoles of more than a billion gamers.