Difference between GPUs and Graphics Cards?

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Christian Angelo
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized processor that offloads 3D graphics rendering from the microprocessor. It is used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms. In a personal computer, a GPU can be present on a video card, or it can be on the motherboard. More than 90% of new desktop and notebook computers have integrated GPUs, which are usually far less powerful than those on a dedicated video card.

A video card, video adapter, graphics-accelerator card, display adapter, or graphics card...
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Christian Angelo

Christian Angelo

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A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized processor that offloads 3D graphics rendering from the microprocessor. It is used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms. In a personal computer, a GPU can be present on a video card, or it can be on the motherboard. More than 90% of new desktop and notebook computers have integrated GPUs, which are usually far less powerful than those on a dedicated video card.

A video card, video adapter, graphics-accelerator card, display adapter, or graphics card is an expansion card whose function is to generate and output images to a display. Many video cards offer added functions, such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes, video capture, TV-tuner adapter, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoding, FireWire, light pen, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors, while other modern high performance cards are used for more graphically demanding purposes such as PC games.

^Ripped the above from some searches from people that can explain it better than I can.

One thing to note is people use these terms interchangeably all the time
 
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Solution
ShindoSensei

ShindoSensei

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What Jinayhvora said. The GPU is the unit (hence it's name graphics processing unit); but a graphics card is the PCI express chip, fans, etc. They are more or less interchangeable but it's always good knowing the difference :)
 
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Oh! So it in a way like the CPU except the CPU of the graphics card? The GPU would be Intel Chipset or whatever right?

 
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jaguarskx

jaguarskx

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GPUs fall into two basic categories: integrate and discrete. Integrated GPUs or iGPUs are integrated inside the CPU (AMD calls them APUs instead of CPUs); all current Intel CPUs have some type of iGPU inside of them; the exception is the i5-3550p (I think that's the model #). While it does have an iGPU, it has been disabled. AMD's Llano, Trinity and Richland APUs all have iGPUs. The FX series CPUs do not have any iGPU inside of them.

Discrete GPUs or just GPUs, are any physical graphics card that is installed in PC. That includes the lowly Radeon HD 5450 and the high performance GTX Titan.
 
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You still need a graphics card even if you have a iGPU right?
 
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Christian Angelo

Christian Angelo

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iGPU's suffice with basic use, such as browsing the internet. But if you want to play video games you'll need some sort of discrete card. Although the integrated graphics on processors are slowling getting better, slooooowly.
 
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