nonCPU
NonCPU is a descriptor used in computing to refer to hardware or components that perform computation without a traditional general-purpose central processing unit (CPU). The term is informal and can describe dedicated processing units or co-processors that accelerate specific tasks, offload work from the CPU, or operate in embedded or specialized environments. In practice, nonCPU components include GPUs, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and microcontrollers. These devices perform calculations, data handling, or control tasks optimized for particular workloads.
In modern systems, nonCPU accelerators participate in heterogeneous computing, where a host CPU delegates parallelizable or
Programming models vary: drivers, APIs, and compilers target each accelerator type, and data transfer overhead between