Use CPU instead of graphic chipset

[anandtechxhen]

Is it possible to design a board with AMD/Intel CPU that dedicate to handle the graphic stuff.

 

[ts3433]

Why would you want to do that?

If you're referring to onboard video, there are plenty of boards that have that. They use system memory, but their own dedicated GPU.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: anandtechxhen
Is it possible to design a board with AMD/Intel CPU that dedicate to handle the graphic stuff.

Simple explanation: A graphics card is much better at graphics then any CPU would be.

Im sure someone here can dig up the details, it's been asked before.

 

[ts3433]

Part of it's because a GPU is optimized for that kind of work. Aside from that, you really wouldn't want your video taking up CPU cycles, would you?

 

[anandtechxhen]

Originally posted by: ts3433
Why would you want to do that?

If you're referring to onboard video, there are plenty of boards that have that. They use system memory, but their own dedicated GPU.

I am just thinking if we can have a mother board with an upgradable GPU and video memory.This may be easy for upgrade. To add a new graphic card is an easy way. But why not only upgrade the chipset?Are there any performance comparison between the old CPU and the newest GPU?

 

[ts3433]

Upgradeable GPU and video memory by themselves? That seems a bit pointless, because GPUs probably wouldn't stay on the same socket or whatever for very long, and you also have to accommodate DDR3 slots on a board (the chips are currently just soldered on the board). Additionally, you'd have to upgrade your motherboard every time a new architecture is released. It would simply be more practical to drop in a new card that uses the same interface as your old one.

As for comparing an old CPU dedicated to video performance versus, say, an equivalently clocked 6800 series, the 6800 will win pretty much everything because the architecture is simply better suited to these applications. The CPU would probably have to execute slow software rendering too, since I don't think it would have hardware support for DirectX video instructions.

 

[anandtechxhen]

Originally posted by: ts3433
...... because GPUs probably wouldn't stay on the same socket or whatever for very long, and you also have to accommodate DDR3 slots on a board (the chips are currently just soldered on the board). Additionally, you'd have to upgrade your motherboard every time a new architecture is released. ....

That is why I think to use the CPU to instead of the GPU. But if the performace does not match, just forget it. Thanks for all reply.