What is the difference between a GPU and a Graphics Card in Laptops?
When it comes to laptops, you may have heard of CPU, GPU and graphics card.
A CPU, or central processing unit, is the primary component of a computer that handles most of the processing work. It is often referred to as the “brain” of the computer. The CPU performs calculations and executes instructions, such as loading and running software programs, managing system resources, and communicating with other components.
The confusion, however, often arises between a GPU and a Graphics Card. There is a distinct difference between GPU and graphics card even though these two terms are often used interchangeably.
The main task of the graphics card is to present images on the display unit. GPU is a unit located on the graphics card. It performs actual computations related to graphics.
Graphics in a computer are represented using mathematical concepts such as matrices. Therefore, the GPU is capable of performing a large number of calculations simultaneously.
It handles high-resolution graphics processing tasks and consists of multiple cores with small instruction sets. GPU reduces the workload of the main processor.
When considering graphics, two important factors are the resolution and the refresh rate. The resolution refers to the number of pixels used to display the image, while the refresh rate refers to the number of times the image is redrawn within a second. The graphics card consists of a specialized processor known as the GPU to perform the graphics calculations. Overall, the graphics card handles the display functionalities and frees the main CPU to perform other tasks.
In other words, a graphics card is a physical component that you can insert into your computer. It contains its own processing unit, memory, and cooling system. A graphics card can be upgraded or replaced if you want to improve its performance.
On the other hand, a GPU, or graphics processing unit, is a chip that is already built into your computer’s motherboard. It is responsible for processing graphical information and displaying it on your screen. Laptops usually have a GPU integrated into their motherboards, rather than a separate graphics card.
The main difference between a GPU and a graphics card is that a graphics card is a separate component that can be upgraded or replaced, while a GPU is a built-in component that cannot be replaced. Additionally, a graphics card usually has better performance than a GPU, since it has its own dedicated processing unit and memory.
It’s also worth noting that some laptops do come with a dedicated graphics card, rather than an integrated GPU. These laptops are usually more expensive and targeted toward gamers or professionals who need high-performance graphics processing. While we can also get an external GPU to boost the laptop.
An eGPU stands for ‘External Graphics Processing Unit’. It is an external enclosure that contains a dedicated graphics card, which can be connected to your laptop via Thunderbolt 3. By using an eGPU, you can boost your laptop’s graphics performance, which is especially useful for gaming, video editing, and other graphics-intensive tasks. Keep in mind that using an eGPU requires additional hardware and can be expensive, so it may not be a practical solution for everyone.
In summary, a GPU is a built-in graphics processing unit, while a graphics card is a separate component that can be added to a computer. Graphics cards usually have better performance than integrated GPUs, but they are also more expensive and require additional power and cooling.
If you’re looking for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card then we suggest you check out HP Omen and HP ZBook Power Laptops, they contain the latest RTX Series Graphics card and Intel 12th gen Intel processors that are sufficient for all your needs such as the Graphic design, Animation or even playing high graphic oriented games.
View and Compare the laptops with best Graphics cards.
