I’m currently considering which new Mac to buy, and so Jay Kinghorn’s blog post today was of particular interest. Kinghorn is a digital imaging educator who is always articulate and often ahead of the curve. If he’s ahead of the curve on this one, I’d better look into the GPU of my next purchase, not just the CPU.
GPU What?
“In most specifications, the Graphics Processing Unit, or GPU, is way down on the spec list and is rarely, if ever, considered by photographers looking to purchase a new computer,” Kinghorn writes. “This is likely to change by the time you purchase your next computer.”
Actually, truth be known, I’m on a limited budget and choices for Macs are few, so GPU appraisal might not factor into my purchase. However, truth be known, I’m pleased to know about the GPU, of which I will appraise, and of which Kinghorn explains the importance:
“GPU vs. CPU
“Traditionally, when we make corrections to our photos in a program like Photoshop or Lightroom, the application applies those corrections serially, one pixel at a time, until all the pixels in the photo are adjusted. This is the way CPU (Central Processing Unit) computations are made and is the current standard for most applications on your computer.“The GPU works differently. Instead of queuing up a list of corrections and applying them pixel by pixel, the GPU performs calculations on several pixels simultaneously. By performing corrections in parallel, the GPU significantly reduces the amount of time needed to perform a complex correction. So, for difficult tasks, you’ll spend less time waiting and more time working.”
Kinghorn explains that while photographers might be in the dark about the GPU, “GPU processing has been used in CGI and 3D modeling for many years.”
He explains that CGI and 3D technology is quickly making its way into the realm of all image making, and as more programs are developed that take advantage of GPU technology, the need for GPU-powerful computers will become as critical as having sufficient RAM.
Action To Take?
For now, Kinghorn suggests, what is important is simply to be aware. And so, when I go to purchase my next Mac, even if economics don’t really give me an option, I’m still going to check out what kind of GPU technology I’m getting. Like Kinghorn, I want to try to stay one step ahead of tomorrow’s technology.