The GPU (or Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized electronic circuitry that enables high-speed and high-resolution 2D and 3D graphics. GPUs are used in personal computers, workstations, digital video recorders, video games and more.
GPUs provide the best image quality by crunching hundreds of billions of pieces of data to display beautiful images on your screen. A GPU consists of hundreds or even thousands of smaller processing units – each one is dedicated to a small part of the drawing process.
The information related to these small parts (known as “fragments”) is then collected together and processed into an image just before it’s sent to your display device such as a monitor or TV set.
For example, in a 3D game when you turn around to look at what’s behind you, your computer is rapidly drawing together and processing all the little pieces of data that make up where everything is. It then takes this information and compiles it into a single image before sending it to your screen. That process can be likened to taking a jigsaw puzzle with 500 pieces and putting it together in a split second.
Having a graphics card worth its salt will allow gamers to play their favourite games at good frame rates, however having the latest technology isn’t enough on its own — games must also be designed to work well on GPUs. In time manufacturers will need to deliver future proof hardware that ensures top-notch visuals over the next five years or more.
In addition to high performance, gamers also want personalization and customization options which allow them to make their PC stand out from the crowd. They want a rich software ecosystem that provides new ways to play — both on virtual worlds and in real life.
For example, gamers can show their prowess as a player through NVIDIA GeForce Experience , which includes Optimal Playable Settings for hundreds of the most popular games. There’s even an option to stream your game action over multiplayer services such as Twitch TV Live Streaming . You can also record gameplay videos that you can post online without leaving the game first.
The latest technology is only one piece of the gaming puzzle; it must be combined with great content and features that provide a rich experience on PCs or whatever games platform gamers choose.
GPUs are also good at doing repetitive tasks quickly. For example, most modern GPUs can easily calculate millions of complex physics simulations per second which would take a normal CPU years to compute!
When playing computer games, you will want a high-end graphics card for best performance; however even mid range cards on laptops (such as those provided by Nvidia) can give satisfactory performance depending on game requirements.
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