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GPU

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A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized microprocessor that offloads and accelerates graphics rendering from the CPU. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics, and their highly parallel (multi-core) structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms. In a personal computer, a GPU can be present on a video card, or it can be on the motherboard, or as in certain Core Intel CPUs, on a CPU die. More than 90% of new desktop and notebook computers have integrated GPUs, which are usually far less powerful than those on a dedicated video card.

The MersenneForum has a sub-forum dedicated to GPU computing. Programs that do trial factoring and the Lucas-Lehmer test have been written for GPUs. These are the two main tests that GIMPS uses.

The main issue why many GPUs can't be used for Mersenne prime-related work is that some GPUs are only single-precision, while the calculations performed require double-precision.

GPU clients

Primality testing
Trial factoring
P-1 testing

See also

External links