A specialised circuit known as a GPU (Graphics Processor Unit) is used to speed the image output in a frame buffer intended for output to a display.
For algorithms that handle huge blocks of data in parallel, GPUs are typically more efficient than general-purpose CPUs in manipulating computer graphics.
Current smartphones come with sophisticated integrated chipsets that, depending on their programming, are capable of performing a wide range of functions. These chipsets must have GPUs, and as mobile games test the limits of their capabilities, the GPU performance is becoming more and more crucial.
