(Graphics Processing Unit) A specialized logic chip devoted to rendering 2D or 3D images. Display adapters contain one or more GPUs for fast graphics rendering. The more sophisticated and faster the GPUs, combined with the architecture of the display adapter, the more realistically games and video are displayed. See graphics pipeline and multi-GPU.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- NVIDIA Inside?
- When you think about it, it doesn't."When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense."Not really."ATI has the backing of chipmaker AMD"Frankly, I think it's safer to say that AMD has the backing of ATI, considering how much they were hurt by the Core 2 and never recovered."and...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- Is Nvidia planning to add X86 compatibility to its chipsets?
- I hope soNVIDIA with x86-64 technology would be Next Big ThingTM, although I'd rather see a new architecture replace the aging x86. 64-bit is just a tack-on feature set of x86. I'd rather see something in line with IA64 from NVIDIA to shake up Intel. I'm sure...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- New York AG files antitrust charges against Intel; alleges bribery, coercion
- Normally I'd say this is just another NY AG trying to run for higher officebut this seems to have legs. I hope Intel didn't do it - but if they did, they need to be repremanded.Great to see some justice against InhellI can hardly wait to see the M$...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
- A visit to Microsoft's first store
- I missed an explanation as to why...I should shop there."Three rows of tables displayed hardware from Dell, HP, Sony and Lenovo."The big chains sell those already. Why would I go to a Windows store to buy Dells, HPs, Sonys and Lenovos, when there are several sources for those same computers...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-30
- Argus Monitor 1.1.11 (Windows)
- Argus Monitor is a software for monitoring temperatures and status of several system components, e.g. CPU temperature, GPU temperature and HDD temperature. All temperatures are displayed graphically. Additionally, the status of the hard disk drive will be monitored by constantly checking the so called critical SMART attributes. If one attribute...
- Software downloads 2009-10-28
- Netflix arriving on PlayStation 3 next month
- Hail PS3!! PS3 is on the roar.. After beating XBox after a long time in console sale, they are back in news again after a successful deal with netflix.I was expecting this deal a year before. But its never too late. All the things will turn out to be good...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-26
- ScreenFlow 2.0 (Mac)
- ScreenFlow is a brand new application for creating amazing screen recordings on your Mac. Using a unique new screen capture system, powerful enough to capture the contents of your entire desktop at the same time as your video camera, microphone and computer's audio, it's simple to create beautiful screencasts. When...
- Software downloads 2009-10-26
- More Apple teardowns: Fall 2009 iMac & Magic Mouse
- The crack engineers at iFixIt are at it again. Yesterday I posted their teardown of the new "unibody" (a.k.a. poly) MacBook which revealed a relocated Bluetooth antenna and a larger 60 watt-hour battery. Today's installment includes teardowns of the new Fall 2009 iMac and the mysterious Magic...
- Blog posts 2009-10-22
- Apple Color 1.5.1 (Mac)
- Introducing Color, Apple's new professional color grading application. Quickly and easily experiment with primary and secondary color grade adjustments for SD, HD, and even 2K projects. Color lets you preview the results - at any resolution - in real time. When you have just the look you want, render at...
- Software downloads 2009-10-22
- Apple Motion 4.0.1 (Mac)
- Nothing like your old-school motion graphics system, Motion 2 ushers in a new paradigm, offering true film-quality output, GPU accelerated real-time performance and an astounding tool set that lets you create advanced motion graphics with drag-and-drop ease, startling clarity and unprecedented color fidelity.
- Software downloads 2009-10-22
- Apple's bumper crop of fall hardware, reviewed
- Where is the love for Nvidia?A number of questions come up:Why not Nvidia chipsets anymore? Why did they go back to Intel for core logic when they slammed them in a previous tech show for power management concerns?What happened to added graphics options on the Mac Pro? Where...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-21
- atMonitor 2.1.2 (Mac)
- atMonitor is the most advanced monitoring tool for Mac OS X that displays system activity in real-time. It is designed to allow quick assessment of computer's state, but it is powerful enough to make it a core utility in anyone's system troubleshooting toolkit. atMonitor offers a better alternative to...
- Software downloads 2009-10-17
- FxFactory 2.1.1 (Mac)
- A revolutionary visual effects package for Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Express and Adobe After Effects, powering hundreds of GPU-accelerated plug-ins. FxFactory is based on FxPlug, Apple's new plug-in architecture which guarantees the best integration with Final Cut Pro, Motion and Final Cut Express. FxFactory uses the graphics card in...
- Software downloads 2009-10-15
- Sony unveils new Windows 7 Vaio PCs
- Sony; Reliability and abysmal service????If you value reliability, good service and your business, I would NOT eventouch Sony with a barge pole, hope this saves others from serious down-time when using VAIOs for business. I am absolutely convinced SonyVAIO is designed to fail and a complete rip-off. They should be...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-13
- Gallery: HP's Mini 311 with Nvidia Ion graphics
- With Nivida's Ion GPU, coming to several Netbooks, but seen first in the HP Mini 311, we're one step closer to a low-power, low-cost system that really can be a laptop replacement for many. by CNET News.com
- Image galleries 2009-10-12
- HP Mini 311
- The Netbook wars have heated up, with PC makers adding upscale features such as larger HD displays and faster low-voltage CPUs to systems, in an effort for push prices up past the usual $299-$399 range. We've seen HD Netbooks from Sony and others, usually with prices closer to $599, so...
- Product reviews 2009-10-08
- End of the line for NVIDIA chipsets, and that's official
- GPU giant NVIDIA has confirmed that the company is putting the brakes on the Nforce chipset line because of legal wranglings with Intel. by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
- Blog posts 2009-10-07
- Is NVIDIA dead?
- RE: Is NVIDIA dead?Give me a break!Don't forget IntelThere have been rumors for some time that Intel was going to enter the discrete graphics card market, with cards designed to work with their processors and MB chipsets. Perhaps nVidia felt like the market is getting squeezed too much to...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-06
- Microsoft kicks off its Windows uber-branding campaign
- These phones are more powerful than the laptops of a couple years agoThey have lots of RAM, GPU, HW codecs, etc, so yes they can run Windows and it's past time they did. Stick a fork in WinMo, it should have already been part of history with 6.5. My...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-06
- Adobe and Nvidia bring GPU computing to the masses
- What about Intel and AMD?So Adobe is quietly ignoring everyone with Intel or AMD video GPU's? Sounds like Nvidia is trying to drive sales in smaller devices this way. Exclusive deal with Adobe maybe?Adobe Flash requires ridiculous and unjustified amounts of CPUAnd it's the worst with Flash 10....
- Discussion threads 2009-10-06
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