(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
- Will the GPU become the new CPU?
- Will the GPU ever become the metric that we use to measure PCs with, replacing the GHz-centric and core-centric CPU? by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
- Blog posts 2009-11-27
- Nimi Visuals 10.4 (Windows)
- Windows effect and customization engine offering over 58 inbuilt amazing effects like launchers, jelly windows, transparent windows, snow, blurred taskbar and many other check web page for more information. As well as advanced repository system for installing, managing and auto-updating 3rd part customization software, NV plug-ins, desktop scripts, wallpapers and...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Microsoft isn't the only one developing a hardware-accelerated browser
- It is a dumb idea.WAIT! Firefox and Chrome teams are looking to do the same?What a brilliant idea!I smell a large scale patent war brewingThis will be one that catches everybody's attention, not just the people who work in the industry.I'd bet that Office goes hardware-rendered, tooI'd bet that Office...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-24
- Is it time to go quad-core?
- Quad core, Chris?You have told us over and over that all you need is Google. You don't need a real OS, real apps, or any processing power to speak of. All you need is a browser, preferably Chrome. Why on Earth would you need a quad core...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-23
- TThrottle: Temperature Throttle 1.7 (Windows)
- TThrottle measures the processor core temperature, GPU temperature, and displays it in a graphic. Additionally you can reduce the amount of time a program uses to reduce the processor/gpu temperature. It was initially build to limit the time BOINC programs use. This in order to keep the temperature and the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- GPU-Z 0.3.7 (Windows)
- GPU-Z application was designed to be a lightweight tool that will give you all information about your video card and GPU. Main Features: support NVIDIA and ATI cards; displays adapter, GPU, and display information; displays overclock, default clocks and 3D clocks if available; validation of results.In version 0.3.5 ATI Radeon...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- ATI Radeon HD 5970 is world's fastest graphics card
- Isn't this card a little.... bigEven for most gaming class full-tower PC's?No, this is typical for high-end gaming cardsMost ATX cases will handle this. The main problem might be the power supply!And It's ATI...So I Will PassATI is garbage....I'll wait for NVIDIA's 300 series response...I was an ATI fan...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Microsoft to share some details on IE 9 at PDC show this week
- Tabs that dont hang and,1. HTML 5 standards compliance ahead of Chrome and FF2. Better plugins3. CSS 3 compliance4. FASTER!Trying to develop for IE8 is still a pain!Addon supportFor things like AdBlock Plus.Also, an x64 version of silverlight.Grow upso do not read this blog - OK? Prefer Firefox but...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- AMD turbo boosts Flash Player 10.1 with ATI Stream technology
- AMD seems to be the more viable choice nowThey certainly have improved their offerings over Intel and NVIDIA, which both seem to be up in the air at the moment. Intel isn't focused on offering good mainstream performance for the dollar - they're only working on Atom and the...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Alienware M15x (Intel Core i7 720QM, 250GB HDD, 3GB)
- Keeping the same revised look and feel as the recent 17-inch M17x version, the Alienware M15x is an imposing black slab of computing power that's thicker and heavier than most 17-inch laptops. We love having high-end options such as Intel's uberpowerful Core i7-920XM CPU, and it's a plus that...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- Intel to pay AMD $1.25 billion as companies end litigation war; Is it a new chip era?
- Inhell got off cheaplyProbably AMD needed the cash now because it would have gotten a lot more in a trial.This is good news for computer usersGood news all around. The cross licensing will allow advancements with a minimum of lawyer intervention.Won't matter, AMD is toastThey haven't produced a CPU worth...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-12
- Argus Monitor 1.1.14 (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 2009-11-09
- TMPGEnc KARMA..Plus 1.0.2.30 (Windows)
- TMPGEnc KARMA..Plus makes it easy to take control of your ever-growing digital video library. Sort, search, classify, play, and even compare your digital video with easy-to-use tools and controls. TMPGEnc KARMA..Plus supports NVIDIA CUDA technology for filter processing, decoding and H.264/AVC file output. By separating different processes into multiple elements...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- BoincTasks 0.27 (Windows)
- BoincTasks is an advanced BOINC graphic interface. A complete replacement of the default BOINC manager. Advanced filtering of WU's on specific state, like ready to start. is capable of handing local and remote machines in one screen. A history of complete tasks. User definable colors for warnings and states. Ideal...
- Software downloads 2009-11-08
- 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
- 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
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