central processing unit
noun
plural central processing units
: the component of a computer system that performs the system's basic operations (such as processing data), that exchanges data with the system's memory or peripherals, and that manages the system's other components : cpu
Examples of central processing unit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Games were starting to become more popular, but they were powered by CPUs, central processing units, and then graphics were kind of like an also-ran.
—
Lauren Goode, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024
Graphics processing units have been key to the rise of large language models and use more electricity than central processing units used in other forms of computing.
—Naureen S. Malik, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024
GPUs were designed to do matrix multiplication, a sophisticated form of linear algebra that is orders of magnitude faster than central processing units.
—Aydin Kilic, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
Intel has ruled the market for central processing units since the 1980s.
—Dan Gallagher, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2023
That means designing traditional computing engines–the central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU)–to run complex A.I. workloads, as well as creating new, dedicated A.I. engines like neural processing units (NPUs).
—Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2023
Direct-memory access A mechanism in a computer that bypasses the central processing unit to gain access to memory.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 July 2023
These chips combine Nvidia’s highest-performing Hopper H100 graphics processing units, now the top-of-the-line chip for generative A.I. workloads, with its Grace CPU, or central processing unit, that can handle a more diverse set of computing tasks.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 30 May 2023
These machines mainly rely on GPUs — graphics processing units — rather than standard central processing units, or CPUs, that drive a typical laptop.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Feb. 2023
Lauren Goode, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024
Graphics processing units have been key to the rise of large language models and use more electricity than central processing units used in other forms of computing.
—Naureen S. Malik, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024
GPUs were designed to do matrix multiplication, a sophisticated form of linear algebra that is orders of magnitude faster than central processing units.
—Aydin Kilic, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
Intel has ruled the market for central processing units since the 1980s.
—Dan Gallagher, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2023
That means designing traditional computing engines–the central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU)–to run complex A.I. workloads, as well as creating new, dedicated A.I. engines like neural processing units (NPUs).
—Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2023
Direct-memory access A mechanism in a computer that bypasses the central processing unit to gain access to memory.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 July 2023
These chips combine Nvidia’s highest-performing Hopper H100 graphics processing units, now the top-of-the-line chip for generative A.I. workloads, with its Grace CPU, or central processing unit, that can handle a more diverse set of computing tasks.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 30 May 2023
These machines mainly rely on GPUs — graphics processing units — rather than standard central processing units, or CPUs, that drive a typical laptop.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'central processing unit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Central processing unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/central%20processing%20unit. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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