CPUs and GPUs work hand in hand to provide computing power.
A computer's central processing unit, also known as its processor, is a very important part of the machine, performing most calculations and providing instructions needed for the device to run properly. A graphics processing unit, while not as essential as a CPU, acts as a backup processor that's used primarily for 3-D applications, like video games.
CPU
Often referred to as the brains of a computer, the CPU is the most important component of a computer in regards to the machine's computing power. In larger computers, such as mainframes used by a company, the CPU occupies several circuit boards. In personal computers and mobile devices, including mobile phones and tablet computers, the CPU is contained in a single chip known as a microprocessor. As of the date of publication, microprocessors are the more widely used types of CPUs.
GPU
Similar to a CPU, a GPU is a single-chip processor that performs complex calculations needed to create lighting effects and to transform objects each time a 3-D application draws a new scene. GPUs are designed to specifically perform mathematically-intense tasks that would otherwise tie up much of the CPU's resources and would result in overall sluggish performance of the device as a whole. With a GPU in place, the CPU is allowed to focus its efforts on the calculations needed by the computer's other applications.
Speed
A typical GPU, such as the GeForce 256 GPU, is able to perform billions of calculations per second and processes a minimum of 10 million polygons per second. Polygons represent the lines and angles needed to produce content viewed on a computer. CPU processors are capable of a wide range of calculation speeds, but average about 100 million calculations per second. These calculations and processes take place using more than 22 million transistors, or connections, while a CPU processor, such as the Pentium III, uses nine million. Advanced GPUs are used in Computer Aided Drafting programs and can process more than 200 billion calculations per second.
Components
A CPU processor is comprised of two main components: the arithmetic logic unit and the control unit. The ALU performs all mathematical and logic-based calculations, while the CU is designed to pull previously used calculations from the computer's memory and uses the ALU when new calculations are needed. A GPU, on the other hand, is composed of one component that performs all of the functions needed for it to work properly.
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