Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
Central processing units (CPUs) - statistics & facts
The central processing unit (CPU) market is at a crossroads, overshadowed by the increasingly dominant graphics processing unit (GPU) sector. Long considered the workhorse of computing, CPUs are contending with an era of parallel processing, artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, and high-performance gaming – applications where GPUs have become the preferred choice. However, CPU designers are fighting back, introducing innovative processors optimized for AI, machine learning, and data analytics.
Intel and AMD have led the charge on CPUs
With its history as one of the most common and well-known processor types, the CPU is responsible for processing and executing instructions in devices such as notebooks, desktops, and servers. Intel and AMD have long been the leading CPU companies worldwide, a market in which Intel has managed to maintain a healthy lead, particularly across laptop devices. And now, both companies are vying to be the dominant force in supplying chips for next-generation AI PCs, regarded as the new era in computing.AI processors powering the AI revolution
In addition to the common CPU and GPU processors found in traditional PCs, AI PCs accommodate another key component: neural processing units (NPUs). These accelerators serve as the brains behind AI, designed to supercharge generative AI and machine learning tasks. Rolled out extensively in 2024, Intel's Core Ultra processors, codenamed Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake, feature AI enhancements with an advanced NPU for AI acceleration. Similarly, AMD’s Zen 5 Ryzen processors, unveiled in 2024, boast higher performance and efficiency, integrating advanced AI capabilities through the help of an NPU.Disrupting the CPU market
From standalone CPUs to those integrated into a system on chip (SoC) featuring an NPU, a number of additional processor designers are aiming to get in on the action. Examples include Arm-based chips from the likes of Qualcomm and Apple. In the case of Qualcomm, its Snapdragon X Elite processors are powering Copilot+ PCs, a new category of Windows PC designed for AI. Meanwhile, Apple’s custom-designed CPUs feature on its SoCs found in iPhone and Mac devices under the A-series and M-series names, respectively.CPUs remain at the heart of computing
As the CPU market continues to evolve, the focus on higher performance, energy efficiency, and chips with additional AI capabilities will help to drive innovation. New architectures and technologies from a range of CPU designers will emerge to help meet these demands. While the latest trends in the GPU and NPU segments may have caught much attention, the humble CPU remains an essential component of computing.
