GPU

Overview
A GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), also sometimes referred to as a VPU (Visual Processing Unit) is an applied microprocessor that specializes in graphics processing, often including specialized algorithm processing for 2D and 3D information. These units are used specifically to offload graphics processing from the CPU. Aside from specialized functions, GPUs tend to specialize in floating-point calculations.

Relevant Background Information
Early GPUs implemented primarily 2D graphics using BitBLT operations to combine bitmap patterns along with specialty drawing functions such as arcs, circles, triangles, rectangles, and basic text. Most modern GPUs support 3D graphics.

The GPU manufacturing market share leaders as of Q1 2010 are: