Sneak-Scope

Sneak-Scope t1_j6nptjl wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:04 PM

Reply to comment by psycotica0 in ELI5: Why do computers need GPUs (integrated or external)? What information is the CPU sending to the GPU that it can't just send to a display? by WeirdGamerAidan

I guess so, though I think it's being used wrong in that context. In the context of CPU/GPU, 'task switching' describes the hardware's ability to park a thread and start a different one executing.

In the case of the CPU, it has to dump cache to main memory, load new information and continue. Where the GPU, usually, is just like 'lol pause play!'

Sneak-Scope t1_j6lrgbb wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:37 AM

Reply to comment by TheLuteceSibling in ELI5: Why do computers need GPUs (integrated or external)? What information is the CPU sending to the GPU that it can't just send to a display? by WeirdGamerAidan

It's been a minute, but is this just incorrect? The CPU is much worse at task switching than the GPU.

The CPU is meant to be a generalist and so is bereft the purpose built hardware to excel at anything. Where the GPU is built to slam numbers together in a disgustingly parallel fashion.

I have been in airports for twenty hours now so I'm sorry if that's wrong!