DEV Community

Cover image for How CPU Interacts with GPU ๐Ÿ•น
aryan015
aryan015

Posted on

How CPU Interacts with GPU ๐Ÿ•น

The CPU interacts with the GPU through the system's bus (usually PCIe) and driver-level APIs. Here's a breakdown of the process:


๐Ÿ”„ How the Interaction Happens:

  1. CPU Prepares Work
  • Runs the main game or application logic.
  • Determines what needs to be rendered (e.g., scene, camera angle, models).
  1. Sends Commands to GPU
  • Uses graphics APIs like:

    • DirectX (Windows)
    • OpenGL / Vulkan
    • Metal (macOS)
  • These APIs translate CPU intentions into GPU-friendly instructions.

  1. Data Transfer via PCIe
  • CPU sends:

    • Textures
    • Geometry (models, vertices)
    • Shaders
    • Instructions
  • All transferred over the PCIe bus into the GPU's VRAM.

  1. GPU Executes Tasks
  • GPU receives and processes rendering tasks in parallel.
  • Uses thousands of cores to efficiently compute visuals.
  1. Result Output to Display
  • GPU sends the final rendered frame to the display via HDMI or DisplayPort.

Summary:

  • CPU = Director: Plans and instructs.
  • GPU = Worker: Executes rendering and parallel computations.
  • Communication relies on PCIe bus and graphics APIs.

Top comments (0)