CPU vs. GPU

The brains and the visuals of your computer.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the "brain" of the computer. It performs most of the general computing tasks, handling everything from running your operating system to executing applications. It is designed for sequential processing and logic.

Measuring Parameters:

  • Clock Speed (GHz): The number of cycles the CPU can execute per second. Higher GHz generally means faster single-core performance.
  • Cores: The number of individual processing units. More cores allow the CPU to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Threads: A virtual core that can run a separate task. A CPU with more threads can handle more tasks at once.
  • Cache: A small amount of super-fast memory on the CPU that stores frequently accessed data for quick retrieval.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

The GPU is a specialized processor designed to rapidly render images, videos, and animations. Unlike the CPU, it is built for massive parallel processing, making it highly efficient for tasks that can be broken into many smaller, simultaneous computations.

Key Comparison

Feature CPU GPU
Main Function General-purpose logic Parallel processing
Cores Fewer, very powerful cores Thousands of smaller cores
Best for Sequential tasks, OS, everyday apps Gaming, video editing, AI
Analogy A small group of experts A large team of specialists