Graphics Processing Units A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed for digital image processing and to accelerate computer graphics, being present either as a discrete video card or embedded on motherboards, mobile phones, personal co ...

(GPUs) are specialized

electronic circuits An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. It is a type of electric ...

designed to accelerate the processing of images, videos, and complex graphics tasks. They are essential components in various computing devices, ranging from

personal computers A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as Word processor, word processing, web browser, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and PC ...

data centers A data center is a building, a dedicated space within a building, or a group of buildings used to house computer, computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and computer data storage, storage systems. Since IT opera ...

. GPUs are broadly categorized into two types: Discrete GPUs and Integrated GPUs.

Discrete GPUs

Discrete GPUs are standalone graphics cards with their own dedicated memory, typically installed in a

PCIe PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a high-speed standard used to connect hardware components inside computers. It is designed to replace older expansion bus standards such as Peripher ...

slot on a

motherboard A motherboard, also called a mainboard, a system board, a logic board, and informally a mobo (see #Nomenclature, "Nomenclature" section), is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems. It ho ...

. They are primarily used in high-performance scenarios such as gaming, professional graphics work, and scientific computing. Discrete GPUs are known for their superior performance compared to integrated GPUs, as they do not share resources with the CPU.

Integrated GPUs

Integrated GPU A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed for digital image processing and to accelerate computer graphics, being present either as a discrete video card or embedded on motherboards, mobile phones, personal co ...

s are built into the same chip as the CPU and share the system's memory. They are designed for more energy-efficient and cost-effective computing, making them suitable for everyday tasks such as web browsing, video playback, and light gaming. Integrated GPUs are commonly found in laptops, budget desktops, and mobile devices.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Discrete and integrated graphics processing units Graphics processing units Lists of computer hardware