[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well,...technically Vista doesn't run on the Graphics processing unit...but further into the article....Tesla is a processor that Nvidia is building for special applications....see this :

***********************EXCERPT***************************

The Evolution of GPU Computing

When matched with the right algorithms and programming efforts, GPU computing can provide some real speedups. Much of Fermi's architecture is designed to improve performance in these HPC and other GPU compute applications.

Ever since G80, NVIDIA has been on this path to bring GPU computing to reality. I rarely get the opportunity to get a non-marketing answer out of NVIDIA, but in talking to Jonah Alben (VP of GPU Engineering) I had an unusually frank discussion.

From the outside, G80 looks to be a GPU architected for compute. Internally, NVIDIA viewed it as an opportunistic way to enable more general purpose computing on its GPUs. The transition to a unified shader architecture gave NVIDIA the chance to, relatively easily, turn G80 into more than just a GPU. NVIDIA viewed GPU computing as a future strength for the company, so G80 led a dual life. Awesome graphics chip by day, the foundation for CUDA by night.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And it was less than 70 years ago when Bell Labs invented the Transistor and about 10 years later when the Integrated Circuit was invented...FR Thread on that :

Transistors, 1948

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[Marine_Uncle]

Interesting talks on the new generation GPUs. As you noticed I do not keep abreast on new developments in the IC world or computers in general. But find it interesting reading.