An accelerator card is a computer peripheral that can increase processing power beyond the CPU’s capabilities. They historically carried faster CPUs and FPUs, but now most use GPUs for graphics processing. They lighten the load on the CPU and improve performance, especially for graphics-heavy applications and games. Early accelerator cards were used to add an additional or improved CPU, while modern ones are used for graphics processing.
An accelerator card is a computer peripheral that can increase processing power beyond what the central processing unit (CPU) would otherwise be capable of. These expansion cards historically carried faster CPUs and floating point units (FPUs) that could boost a computer’s overall speed or aid in math-intensive tasks. In some cases, an accelerator card would carry a newer or faster version of the main CPU. Today, most accelerator cards use graphics processing units (GPUs) to speed up visual displays and render images in three dimensions. Modern ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) CPUs can be easily upgraded without special tools, which serves the same purpose as installing an expansion card with a generic second processor.
The various types of expansion cards each serve different purposes, but they all use hardware acceleration to lighten the load on the CPU. Without hardware acceleration, the CPU typically has to do these tasks on its own using software. This can lead to an overall slowdown as the CPU performs each calculation. When the hardware is used to perform these tasks without the help of the CPU, the overall performance can increase. This is especially true for graphics-heavy applications and games, many of which perform very poorly or not at all without graphics accelerator cards.
In the early days of the personal computer, floating point units were often used to perform heavy math tasks. Without a dedicated FPU, the CPU would have to do these tasks on its own. Some motherboards came with FPUs, while others had slots where the end user could install one. Other computers required an accelerator board with an FPU mounted on it. These cards typically plugged into the motherboard in the same way as any other expansion card.
Another early use of the accelerator card was to add an additional or improved CPU. Before the invention of ZIF processors, CPUs were difficult or impossible for an end user to remove and upgrade. An accelerator card provided an easy way to speed up a computer if the CPU it shipped with wasn’t fast enough. These accelerator cards often had larger power requirements, so sometimes the power supply unit (PSU) needed to be upgraded as well.
The most common modern use of the accelerator card is for graphics processing. Motherboards often come with integrated graphics, although many users find these chipsets insufficient for heavy use. In order to play many modern video games or perform heavy graphics and video editing tasks, some type of hardware acceleration is often required. This usually comes in the form of a GPU, which is a dedicated processing unit mounted on an expansion card. When one of these units is installed in a computer, it can take over the graphics processing tasks from the CPU.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
