How to turn on hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration uses specially-built computer hardware (i.e., silicon microchips) to do a narrow set of tasks faster than a general-purpose CPU (central processing unit).

What does that mean to you as the user?

You’ll often have the option of turning hardware acceleration on or off in your applications.

Use hardware acceleration when available'' on or off

So how useful is hardware acceleration, and what does it do?

What Is Hardware Acceleration (Simple Edition)

Here’s a simple explanation of hardware acceleration. Skip to the next section for an in-depth look at the process. 

The CPU in your computer can solve just about any type of mathematical problem.

CPU circuits use more components to deal with many kinds of tasks. They take up more space, generate more heat, and aren’t as elegantly designed as a circuit built for a single job. 

With hardware acceleration, a special integrated circuit or microprocessor does one specific task or a narrow set of related jobs.

The circuit’s design is not wasted on anything else, and this provides a significant performance advantage. 

Sometimes that hardware is bu

what does use hardware acceleration when available do

what does use hardware acceleration when available