An accelerated processing unit (APU) combines a CPU and GPU on the same chip, increasing processing power and saving energy. The GPU can perform general CPU tasks and the CPU can send smaller tasks to the GPU. However, a powerful CPU with many subprocessors may still outperform an APU.
An accelerated processing unit (APU) is a combination of a central processing unit (CPU) chip and a graphics processing unit (GPU) chip, which adds many advantages over using only one CPU. While the GPU was initially made solely for loading graphics, it can be used in an accelerated processing unit to perform some general CPU tasks. The two chips are working together and are placed on the same section, so the tasks of both chips can be done with less power. One problem with an APU is that few subprocessors are used, and a CPU with many subprocessors may be able to run faster than an APU.
The CPU and GPU were traditionally two separate chips, and while the CPU was used for most of a computer’s processing, the GPU’s memory optimized to best load graphics. With an accelerated processing unit, both of these chips are on top of each other, so both chips work at the same time. Combining the chips in this way has been shown to increase processing power and also increases the speed of the computer.
The GPU was designed to optimize image loading, but when combined with a CPU, it can also do other processing. With an accelerated processing unit, the CPU is still used for general purpose computing and the GPU is used for graphics processing, but there is a relationship between CPU and GPU that increases processing speed. When the CPU has smaller tasks, it can send them to the GPU so that the CPU can use its power for large computations while the GPU uses its limited generic processing for smaller computations.
Less energy is required to run an accelerated processing unit for several reasons. The CPU can compensate for smaller tasks, so this energy is saved; the two chips are also in the same area, so there’s no need to waste power moving data across larger areas. While the power savings aren’t great, it does mean that laptops can run longer without being plugged in, and desktops don’t get hot while running.
While an accelerated processing unit improves upon the CPU-only processing used in most computers, a powerful CPU alone may be able to run faster than an APU. This is because the APU does not use or have much room for many subprocessors. These help increase the power of a CPU, and since a single CPU has room for multiple subprocessors, a CPU can outperform an APU in overall processing.
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