CPU VS GPU | Difference between CPU and GPU

What is CPU?

The central processing unit (CPU), composed of millions of transistors and capable of having multiple processing cores, is called the brain of the computer. the CPU is critical to all modern computer systems as it executes the commands and operations required by the computer and operating system. It is also important to determine the response speed of your application

What is GPU?

If the CPU is the brain, the GPU must be the soul. the graphics processing unit (GPU) is a processor with many smaller, specialized cores. when a processing task can be split and processed across multiple cores, all cores can work together to deliver massive performance.

Difference between CPU and GPU

What's the difference between CPU and GPU?

The difference between the CPU microprocessor and the GPU microprocessor is how they handle different tasks. a CPU performs a variety of computations to handle tasks, while a GPU can focus all computational functions on a specific task. a CPU consists of multiple cores (up to two) that are used for sequential serial processing.

GPUs use thousands of small, efficient cores to process multiple tasks simultaneously. If you are considering investing in a microprocessor, it is important to learn all about its capabilities. to make an informed decision, you need to define your rendering needs. not only are microprocessors expensive, but their performance can impact your workflow.

Key Differences between CPU and GPU

Here are some of the differences between CPU & GPU provided in the form of a table;

CPU	GPU
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.	GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit.
CPU is a general-purpose processor.	GPU is a Special purpose processor.
The CPU is more flexible, has a larger instruction set, and can perform a wide range of tasks.	The CPU has limited guidance and is capable of only graphics-related tasks
It can generally complete any task, including graphics, but not very efficiently	While the GPU’s sole purpose is to process images and 3D graphics much faster than the CPU.
To distribute the workload, the CPU may have a few powerful cores.	The GPU is made up of several weaker cores that work together to perform a simple, repetitive operation.
Its processing speed is very high & runs at a very high clock speed of about 3 to 5 GHz but with fewer processing cores.	It runs at a lower clock speed of around 800 MHz but it has hundreds to thousands of processing cores.
It requires more memory (RAM) as compared to the GPU.	It required less RAM as compared to the CPU, which is why the integrated GPU shared the RAM with the CPU.
The CPU mainly focuses on low latency (the time delay between instructions and data transfer).	The GPU prioritizes throughput (parallelism, and the number of instruction executions in a time interval).
The CPU is optimized for sequential instruction operations.	The GPU is designed to perform parallel instruction operations
The CPU focuses on calculating any data received.	while the GPU receives the data from the CPU and generates the visual images accordingly.
It Interacts with multiple computer components such as RAM, ROM, and I/O ports to perform instructions	The GPU only communicates with the memory and the display unit to determine how each pixel on the screen should be displayed.

This is where the GPU comes in. modern GPUs offer more processing power and memory bandwidth than traditional CPUs. additionally, GPUs are more efficient at handling tasks that require multiple parallel processes. In fact, GPU rendering is about 50–100 times faster than CPU rendering.

CPU vs GPU render farm: which to choose for rendering 

CPU Rendering

Quality and Accuracy

Rendering takes time, and quality takes time. rendering an image can take hours (or even days), but CPU rendering is more likely to provide a higher-quality, sharper, and noise-free image. a CPU has far fewer cores than a GPU, but with a higher clock speed, each core runs faster. also, the CPU now has up to six cores for great rendering. for example, connecting multiple CPUs together and using them in a render farm-like environment can potentially produce a better end result than GPU rendering. CPUs are the usual standard for producing high-quality frames and images in movies, as there are no hard limits when it comes to rendering.

RAM

The CPU has access to the onboard random-access memory (RAM), allowing the user to easily render scenes with huge amounts of data. for example, the Threadripper 3990x can support 512 GB of RAM, while graphics cards only have up to 48 GB of VRAM. this massive amount of memory enables the CPU to render any complex scene, even with 1TB+ textures or millions of polygons.

Unlike the CPU, the GPU is limited by the amount of VRAM, not to mention the number or performance of graphics cards installed. the latest NVIDIA graphics card, the RTX 3090, has only 24 GB of VRAM, which is kind of enough for most users, but it can become a bottleneck in highly complex scenes with loads of elements.

Memory Capacity

Most graphics cards have a maximum memory capacity of 12 GB. If you're a busy graphics designer juggling multiple projects, you'll burn through 12 GB of memory extremely rapidly. because GPU memory does not stack, you must exercise caution when adding additional GPUs to an existing setup to avoid bottlenecking the performance of existing GPUs. memory in a computer system can range from 8 to 64 GB. the worst that you can expect from a CPU is that it will slow down if you exceed your computer's maximum memory.

Consistent performance

If your computer is experiencing frequent crashes, the graphics card is most likely the cause of the problem. unfortunately, the graphics card is one of the least stable and most complicated parts of setting up a computer. If you see a driver update, expect rendering issues later. with the CPU-based solution, you don't have to worry about such issues. It's a stable and established renderer with few issues. If you value reliability and predictability, a CPU-based solution is your best bet.

Easily Add Nodes

The GPU renderers can process multiple keyframes in seconds, but expanding memory requires additional licenses, and graphics card compatibility is an issue on any computer. If you need a spare or additional machine, a CPU-based renderer will do the job with minimal effort. adding a computer as a render node using the rendering software that comes with the main rendering engine (such as 3ds Max or Corona) is much easier with the CPU renderer.

GPU Rendering

Faster Rendering

GPU-based solutions are popular because the technology is exciting and fast. Since GPUs have more core processors than CPUs, a single GPU renderer will outperform 5–20 CPUs. traditional rendering methods would have taken hours. but with the GPU renderer, the output is done in minutes. If you need to change it, you can do it and save a lot of time over rendering with the CPU.

The all-in feature

GPU allows artists to create high-end designs without paying big bucks for a CPU render farm. If you're a freelance artist, you can work from the comfort of your own home, and Ray's tracings can handle the most difficult areas of rendering, such as depth of field and glossy reflections. with a GPU-based solution, you can install three units and create studio-quality output at a fraction of the cost.

Flexibility

Each CPU comes with separate maintenance and power costs that are not an issue with GPU-based solutions. the GPU-based solution makes it easy and cheap to upgrade your system. you can add more GPUs as needed without incurring additional maintenance and power bills, which are always a problem when adding CPUs. additionally, GPUs are energy efficient, further reducing power consumption costs.

Perfect for graphics-intensive rendering

The GPU is ideal for graphics-intensive rendering, especially game creation, 3D visualization, image processing, deep machine learning, and big data processing.
this solution is also suitable for handling scenes integrated with virtual reality. this is because the GPU can render quickly and produce realistic images with proper shading and lighting.

Best CPU Render Farm

Fox Renderfarm supports the best CPU rendering, especially 3Ds Max, Maya, or C4D. Some of the CPU rendering engines that can be used in this render farm are Corona, Renderman, or Clarisse.

fox renderfarm

Most importantly, fast support is a plus when using Fox Renderfarm services. Fox Renderfarm offers its customers 24/7 support through live chat on its website and is always ready to answer all your questions and queries. to know more about Fox Renderfarm click here 

Conclusions and Findings:

Both CPU rendering and GPU rendering have their strengths and weaknesses. but in summary, if you have a very complex project and need precision and stability, CPU rendering is the way to go. on the other hand, if you need high speed, GPU rendering is a good choice. you should carefully consider your project's needs and the software you are using to determine what works best for you. nevertheless, we believe GPUs are the future of rendering due to their potential technology. we believe that many developers have the same idea as us.