What is the difference between an APU and a CPU when it comes to gaming on laptops?

If you're in the market for a gaming laptop, you may have come across the terms "APU" and "CPU". But what do these terms mean, and how do they affect your gaming experience?

What is an APU?

An APU, or "Accelerated Processing Unit", is a type of processor that combines a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) on the same chip. This means that an APU has both general-purpose processing power and dedicated graphics processing power in one package.

APUs are often found in lower-end laptops and desktops, as they are generally less powerful than separate CPUs and GPUs. However, they can still provide good gaming performance for less demanding games.

What is a CPU?

A CPU, or "Central Processing Unit", is the main processor in a computer or laptop. It is responsible for carrying out most of the instructions that the computer receives, and is generally the most important component for overall performance.

CPUs do not have dedicated graphics processing power, and instead rely on a separate GPU (either integrated or discrete) to handle graphics-intensive tasks like gaming.

Which is better for gaming?

When it comes to gaming on laptops, a separate CPU and GPU will generally provide better performance than an APU. This is because dedicated GPUs have more specialized hardware for graphics processing, and can handle more complex graphics tasks more efficiently.

However, APUs can still provide good gaming performance for less demanding games, and are often found in more affordable laptops. If you're looking to play more demanding games at high settings, though, a laptop with a separate CPU and GPU will likely be a better choice.

• An APU combines a CPU and GPU on the same chip.
• A CPU is the main processor in a computer or laptop.
• A separate CPU and GPU will generally provide better gaming performance than an APU.