do you mean "GPU" or "video card"?

[shangshang]

has the usage of GPU replace "video card" now?

 

[aka1nas]

GPU specifically refers to a 3d processing chip on a video card that has shaders(and hence are programmable to varying degrees). The term came into use with the Geforce 3. The shader aspect is important because chips prior to that were considered to be basically ASICs as they were almost entirely fixed-function.

 

[Modelworks]

Nope.
Video card still applies. There are still a lot of video cards that do not contain a GPU.

 

[Kakkoii]

It's usually just easier to use the word GPU. Since you can't really use a GPU right now without it being on a card, so it's implied as being a video card, even though it literally just means the graphics processing unit on said card.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Kakkoii
It's usually just easier to use the word GPU. Since you can't really use a GPU right now without it being on a card, so it's implied as being a video card, even though it literally just means the graphics processing unit on said card.

Yea I think I agree with this. I use GPU in place of video card, but a single video card can have more than one GPU.

I guess it is just faster than typing out discreet graphics card.

 

[MODEL3]

I think NV used for the first time the term GPU in Q4 1999 with the original GeForce 256!
The term was choosen probably to highlight the fact that it was the first Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to offer on chip hardware Geometry transformation!
I'm not sure but i think at 1999 many magazines called the GPU (Geometry Processing Unit)!
I wonder with whom guidance/support did that! :laugh:

Then Nvidia or ATI or 3Dlabs (I don't remember) used the term VPU (Visual Processing Unit) when DX9 capable discreet graphics cards came to the market!

And the next term is going to be vPU (viewtiful Processing Unit)

 

[nitromullet]

Not me.

GPU is interchangeable with: 'chip' and 'VPU' (VPU is what ATI calls their chips because NVIDIA coined 'GPU')
Video card is interchangeable with: 'card', 'graphics adapter', 'graphics card', etc...

If I'm asking someone what they have in their system, I'd ask them what kind of video card they have. The exception to this might be if I'm talking to someone about a laptop or an integrated chip.

When talking about a multi-gpu card or CF/SLI rig I might refer to them both as 'multi-gpu' though and not necessarily distinguish between cards and gpus. It really depends on the context of the conversation, and whichever is more applicable.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: shangshang
has the usage of GPU replace "video card" now?

GPU means the processor itself and does not include anything else related to the video card such as how many video outputs it has, whether or not it has HDMI, if the cooling is passive or active, or if it has 1gb vs 512mb memory.

Around here we usually mean GPU when we say GPU. People describe their system as having a "GTX 260" GPU as opposed to saying "EVGA SuperMegaClock Win Edition X76498d".

 

[shangshang]

Sorry shangshang, I accidently hit edit instead of quote. Feel free to retype your post if you like.

-BFG10K.

 

[BFG10K]

I use the terms interchangeably.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I understand the difference but still say GPU.

 

[faxon]

Originally posted by: shangshang
Sorry shangshang, I accidently hit edit instead of quote. Feel free to retype your post if you like.

-BFG10K.

lmao good job mods

as for the topic. it really depends on the context of the discussion. if im discussing something upcoming or im discussing the architecture itself, i usually use the term GPU, but if im working with a customer who wants a "Ph@t G4M!NG" rig i will probably use graphics card so they know specifically that im talking about a discrete add in unit to render their games with

 

[biostud]

I use GPU when discussing what a generation of videocards are cabable of, and using the term videocard when I have to decide which to buy.

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Kakkoii
It's usually just easier to use the word GPU. Since you can't really use a GPU right now without it being on a card, so it's implied as being a video card, even though it literally just means the graphics processing unit on said card.

Yea I think I agree with this. I use GPU in place of video card, but a single video card can have more than one GPU.

I guess it is just faster than typing out discreet graphics card.

Kinda like when people say CPU at times. CPU may mean central processing unit but a lot of people will just use CPU to mean computer.

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Not me.

GPU is interchangeable with: 'chip' and 'VPU' (VPU is what ATI calls their chips because NVIDIA coined 'GPU')
Video card is interchangeable with: 'card', 'graphics adapter', 'graphics card', etc...

If I'm asking someone what they have in their system, I'd ask them what kind of video card they have. The exception to this might be if I'm talking to someone about a laptop or an integrated chip.

When talking about a multi-gpu card or CF/SLI rig I might refer to them both as 'multi-gpu' though and not necessarily distinguish between cards and gpus. It really depends on the context of the conversation, and whichever is more applicable.

I've never really used VPU. The thing is when I'm discussing a video card on a forum like AT or similar, I may use GPU interchangeably with video card. When I'm discussing it with someone in real life, I always use video card. Especially when troubleshooting Joe User's computer.

 

[bendixG15]

Kinda like when people say CPU at times. CPU may mean central processing unit but a lot of people will just use CPU to mean computer.

Nobody that I know personally calls a computer a CPU .

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: bendixG15
Kinda like when people say CPU at times. CPU may mean central processing unit but a lot of people will just use CPU to mean computer.

Nobody that I know personally calls a computer a CPU .

Maybe not in a normal discussion, person to person, but I have had conversations in forums with others and we've used CPU to mean the computer.

 

[allies]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
GPU specifically refers to a 3d processing chip on a video card that has shaders(and hence are programmable to varying degrees). The term came into use with the Geforce 3. The shader aspect is important because chips prior to that were considered to be basically ASICs as they were almost entirely fixed-function.

I thought the addition of T&L signified the transition from "graphics accelerator" to "GPU" (the first GeForce)... no?

 

[Kakkoii]

Originally posted by: akugami

Originally posted by: bendixG15
Kinda like when people say CPU at times. CPU may mean central processing unit but a lot of people will just use CPU to mean computer.

Nobody that I know personally calls a computer a CPU .

Maybe not in a normal discussion, person to person, but I have had conversations in forums with others and we've used CPU to mean the computer.

That's not really the same as what were talking about with GPU.

A computer has many different component's that can be configured. While using GPU to mean Graphics Card isn't much of a leap. Saying CPU for the whole computer is quite stupid lol.

 

[zebrax2]

Originally posted by: Kakkoii

Originally posted by: akugami

Originally posted by: bendixG15
Kinda like when people say CPU at times. CPU may mean central processing unit but a lot of people will just use CPU to mean computer.

Nobody that I know personally calls a computer a CPU .

Maybe not in a normal discussion, person to person, but I have had conversations in forums with others and we've used CPU to mean the computer.

That's not really the same as what were talking about with GPU.

A computer has many different component's that can be configured. While using GPU to mean Graphics Card isn't much of a leap. Saying CPU for the whole computer is quite stupid lol.

It may sound stupid but i know a lot of people who call their case along all that is inside a cpu.