As PC gaming becomes more and more popular, people are having to learn about the technology inside them to ensure they’re getting the computer they want. Figuring out what the difference between a CPU and GPU is might seem basic to gaming enthusiasts. Still, those new to the scene won’t know what they are or what functions they perform. However, those that are struggling can check out our explainer on what a CPU and GPU are in a computer to get acquainted with these two essential pieces of PC hardware.
What are a CPU and a GPU in a computer?
The CPU and GPU are the two key processing units in a computer. While there are massive differences between them from an engineering standpoint, they can be broken down very simply:
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): Handles general-purpose computing tasks.
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Handles graphics-related computing tasks.
The way these two components process data takes different approaches. A CPU quickly moves from one task to the next in the order they’re queued. A GPU handles many jobs in parallel. The two work in tandem, with CPUs, quickly accomplishing a wide range of computing tasks and GPUs processing massive amounts of graphics-related work simultaneously.
What are the best CPUs and GPUs for gaming?
The argument over what the best CPUs and GPUs are for gaming is a decades-old affair. In the 1990s, there were multiple companies producing processors and video cards. However, right now, there are a limited amount of manufacturers making enthusiast-grade hardware:
- CPUs: Intel, AMD
- GPUs: AMD, Nvidia
At this point, AMD is ahead in performance when it comes to CPUs, but Nvidia makes the most powerful GPUs. For years, Intel consistently outperformed AMD. However, AMD’s Zen series of processors made significant gains until the release of Zen 3 late last year. Right now, gaming PCs are trending towards AMD processors and Nvidia GPUs, but that can always change. In addition to CPUs, Intel has been working on bringing GPUs to market for the last few years. There is no enthusiast-grade Intel graphics cards available yet, and it’ll likely be some time before they even come close to the performance found in AMD and Nvidia GPUs.
