Floating-point unit - FPU
The first CPU's could only work with whole numbers. Therefore, it was necessary to add a
mathematical co-processor (FPU), when better math power was needed. Later, this FPU was
built into the CPU:
It is said that Intel's CPU's have by far the best FPU units. Processors from AMD and Cyrix
definitely have a reputation for providing sub standard performance in this area. But, you may
not utilize the FPU. That depends on the applications (user programs) you are using. Common
office programs do not use the floating point operations, which the FPU can handle. However,
3D graphics programs like AutoCad do. Therefore, if you use your PC in advanced design
applications, the FPU performance becomes significant. For most users, it is only of limited
importance.
The first CPU's could only work with whole numbers. Therefore, it was necessary to add a
mathematical co-processor (FPU), when better math power was needed. Later, this FPU was
built into the CPU:
It is said that Intel's CPU's have by far the best FPU units. Processors from AMD and Cyrix
definitely have a reputation for providing sub standard performance in this area. But, you may
not utilize the FPU. That depends on the applications (user programs) you are using. Common
office programs do not use the floating point operations, which the FPU can handle. However,
3D graphics programs like AutoCad do. Therefore, if you use your PC in advanced design
applications, the FPU performance becomes significant. For most users, it is only of limited
importance.
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