R Deep Learning Essentials - Second Edition

Do I need a GPU (and what is it, anyway)?

Probably the two biggest reasons for the exponential growth in deep learning are:

• The ability to accumulate, store, and process large datasets of all types
• The ability to use GPUs to train deep learning models

So what exactly are GPUs and why are they so important to deep learning? Probably the best place to start is by actually looking at the CPU and why this is not optimal for training deep learning models. The CPU in a modern PC is one of the pinnacles of human design and engineering. Even the chip in a mobile phone is more powerful now than the entire computer systems of the first space shuttles. However, because they are designed to be good at all tasks, they may not be the best option for ...