CPU vs gpu clock speed

[beany_bot]

Forgive my hardware ignorance. But why does a high end AMD CPU run at 5ghz whereas a high end AMD GPU runs at 1ghz? Why is it so much slower and Why can't you use a CPU as a gpu?

 

[beany_bot]

The differences are a lot greater than simply clock speed. The GPU is designed to do a few things well, whereas the CPU can do a lot more.

This analogy is quite good, taken from here

One way to visualize it is a CPU works like a small group of very smart people who can quickly do any task given to them. A GPU is a large group of relatively dumb people who aren't individually very fast or smart, but who can be trained to do repetitive tasks, and collectively can be more productive just due to the sheer number of people.

Very nice explanation. Thanks. It does raise another question in my head though... If CPU's are so much "better" than GPUs. Why are GPU's more expensive?