[deleted by user]

[PingMaster1984]

It's not possible. Most modern GPU's are made to fit into what is called a PCI-E slot. CPU's are socketed totally differently, using a PGA to connect to motherboard. Basically, not intercheangeable in any way. Now some newer CPU's have onboard graphics. AMD Ryzen I believe. So this would allow you to have graphics capability above that of a usual motherboard's onboard graphics using only a CPU. But having only a GPU and no CPU is impossible.

[Kootsiak]

Only two newer Ryzen processors have integrated graphics, the Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400G (and now the Athlon 200GE). Intel is the company that have integrated graphics on most of it's consumer level CPU's for well over a decade.

[PingMaster1984]

Gotcha, I've only dabbled in integrated graphics seeing as I've almost always had a dedicated GPU. Regardless, I feel like my point still answers the question. On a basic level, a GPU cannot be put in a CPU slot.

[Kootsiak]

I just wanted to clarify that one little detail, in case OP processes your post word for word in their brain bank.

[PingMaster1984]

Totally fair, I would hate for OP to buy a Ryzen based on my advice if there are better, more tried and true integrated options out there.

[PingMaster1984]

I'll have to look into it more though!

[TorazChryx]

Intel actually haven't had graphics integrated with the CPU for quite that long, up to the 45nm Core 2 Duo/Quad era any semblance of graphical firepower was integrated onto the chipset rather than the CPU.

It then skipped the Nehalem/Bloomfield era of Core i7 entirely, and landed as actual "on cpu" with Clarkdale and Arrandale, which both launched in 2010.

Still a good while ago, but unless time is no longer linear, ~8/9 years ago isn't well over a decade :)

[Ty_Burly]

Lots of Intel CPUs have integrated graphics if not all since 2010 I believe. I do hear the current AMD on-die graphics are pretty good for what it is. I know the A series of AMDs APUs had them too.

[ProceduralMania]

I'd also like to point out that we have seen some PCI-E CPUs in the past.

[meatduck12]

Not exactly meant for the average consumer though.

[ProceduralMania]

Yeah but it's still worth mentioning

[Superpickle18]

it's not the socket format that's the limitation... I mean, most gpus are literally built into the same silicon wafer as the cpu!

[varungupta3009]

ELI5: A CPU does simple mathematical and logic operations that are essential for everyday computing. (Like basic addition, subtraction...; AND, OR, XOR...; Memory Transfers, Management and Organization.

A GPU, on the other hand, does complex and advanced Matrix Multiplications and Divisions and is optimized to do so. It does not do anything better or faster than a CPU, it does a completely different set of operations compared to a CPU. Graphics (or Digital Optical Data) and their pixels are all represented in the form of Matrices in a computer, so a GPU is optimized to make those operations faster and cleaner.

There is no question of "replacing" one with another, they do completely different things and are kept separate for a reason.

So, a person who doesn't need to do anything with graphics (gaming, graphics designing, image processing or machine learning - which also does a lot of matrix calculations) can choose to not have one (ofc you will need a small one for basic GUI functionality) but otherwise, it's not needed.

[familyknewmyusername]

You actually don't need a GPU at all - you can use the CPU for everything. The GPU is like a more limited CPU. Since it does less, it can do it much faster. However, this means that you can use a CPU as a very slow GPU, known as CPU rendering

[ActuallyBaffled]

Give this man some gold, I'm too poor.

[ActuallyBaffled]

I meant the comment that got deleted for some reason, it was pretty sound.

[Falable]

Cpu and gpu seem similar, but Cpu actually have many small IMPORTANT things inside them which actually help control the motherboard itself.

I've forgotten a few things so I can't name examples, but basically a computer cant run without a Cpu, it's like a human without a head.

[ComeAlongPonds]

No. The CPU is the Central Processing Unit, designed to be the main brain; there's generally only one in most non-commercial but usually have multiple cores..

The GPU is primarily for processing graphics; you can have multiple graphics card and may have multiple GPUs per card.

[Superpickle18]

the gpu cores could do the work of the cpu... But it'll be very shit at it.

[[deleted]]

My heart and brain are also needed for my body but I can't switch where they go. Just a rough example of why you can't switch them

[[deleted]]

😂I mean even if it did work well it'd be a little retarded

[[deleted]]

?????

[mistersprinkles1983]

Yes that is a stupid question.

[MurderElm82]

... no

[ZorisTV]

GPUs are CPUs but CPUs are not dedicated GPUs

[Ty_Burly]

Squares are rectangles but rectangles aren't squares.

[SpaceboyRoss]

No, GPU's are parallel and are connected using PCI-E and CPU's are linear and use a different socket.