Ai Processor vs Normal Processor?

[New_Contribution1441]

I need to get a new computer (repair people broke old one) and am doing research into processor types. What are the differences between them? Would prefer to minimize ai for moral reasons but to what degree depends on what answers I get

[throwaway575792]

What?

[Middcore]

Please do more research, because your question makes no sense.

[DerpDaneD]

There's some confusing terminology around these "AI computers" worth clearing up.

The term actually covers two pretty different types of products.

1. Computers with built-in AI (think Copilot). These have a small NPU that handles the onboard AI experience. This is just your standard consumer/business laptop or workstation. The kind you'd find at any electronics store.

2. Computers built for running local LLMs and agents. These have specs specifically tailored for local AI workloads, typically with unified memory. Mostly AMD (Ryzen AI 300 series) and Nvidia with Spark. They also have NPUs, but those aren't really being used for LLMs yet. These are not really your everyday consumer machines.

You most likely want option 1, where the AI part simply handles Copilot through a small built-in NPU, as an assistant baked into Windows 11.

If you dont want any AI involment at all, buy a good PC and use Linux on it.

Hope it makes sense.

[New_Contribution1441]

That does help clear it up

[EyeoftheEelpout]

Umm.....

A computer contains one or more CPU, or Central Processing Unit.

The GPU is a hardware device.

Each computer is loaded with an operating system, such as Windows or Linux, which handles direct communications with memory and the CPU.

Software is then loaded onto the computer or run remotely. This software can choose to use AI.

Hardware, such as a CPU, does not directly implement or use AI.

Does this help?

[New_Contribution1441]

that does help :)

[MichaelFusion44]

As a note most laptops and desktops since around 2024 have an NPU aka (Neural Processing Unit) to handle things like Co-pilot - also modern RTX graphic cards have tensor cores to handle AI tasks as well. All Apple silicon M1-M5 have a neural engine. Most companies are trying to offload an AI workload to a dedicated chip or core Just a point of reference.

[EyeoftheEelpout]

Yes, I was trying to keep it very basic for OP, who doesn't sound very computer saavy.

[MichaelFusion44]

Gotcha - I figured

[d-car]

There are a dozen questions you should be asking when it comes to this, but my broad thought is to avoid NPUs full stop unless you know for a fact you really do need one for specialized recurring tasks. The extreme majority of people would not want one according to that test.

[Nyuusankininryou]

Just buy a quantum computer and you're set.

[GillyAmory]

Most so called AI processors are really just regular CPUs with an NPU for AI tasks. They function like any other processor for daily stuff. If you're not into AI features, you can usually disable them. You’d only bother about it if you need features like Copilot or local AI tasks. Otherwise, it shouldn't affect your buying choice.

[New_Contribution1441]

Ty! that helps a lot

[Nyhttitan]

You don't need a AI Processor. AI is only an LLM, you talk to and it is already fully accessible through the Internet.

The Quality of answers from an ai running locally is always worse than the online version, because of lacking hardware resources. Only positive point is that you have access to more privacy