Compute Workloads

Topic

The specific computing tasks that need to be performed, which serve as the primary driver of demand for new and specialized processor architectures in the semiconductor industry. The emergence of AI is an example of a new, massive compute workload.


First Mentioned

10/1/2025, 4:09:39 AM

Last Updated

10/1/2025, 4:12:26 AM

Research Retrieved

10/1/2025, 4:12:26 AM

Summary

Compute workloads are fundamental computational tasks and processes that demand processing power, memory, and other resources within a computing system. They are central to cloud computing, where they manifest as applications, services, or functions utilizing cloud-based resources like virtual machines, containers, and databases. These workloads are broadly categorized into types such as standard, high CPU, and compute-intensive, supporting diverse applications from web hosting and data analytics to scientific simulations and graphics rendering. The semiconductor industry is profoundly shaped by the evolving demands of these workloads, especially in artificial intelligence. Nvidia's market leadership in AI was significantly propelled by the AlexNet breakthrough, which showcased the efficacy of GPUs for parallel compute workloads. Arm's energy-efficient CPU architecture is crucial for advanced platforms like Nvidia's Grace Blackwell and is gaining prominence in emerging markets like Physical AI for robotics. The AI chip market is bifurcating into training and inference, with inference becoming highly competitive due to players like Google and their TPUs. Geopolitical factors, including the US-China Chip War and US Export Controls, also influence the global landscape for manufacturing and innovation related to these critical computational demands.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Types

    Standard compute, High CPU, Compute-intensive, Parallel computations, AI Training, AI Inference, Physical AI

  • Contexts

    Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics

  • Examples

    Virtual Machines (VMs), Containers, Serverless functions, Web hosting, Software development, Test/development environments, Scientific simulations, Data analytics, Batch processing, Financial modeling, Graphics rendering, Databases, Hadoop nodes, Microservices

  • Definition

    Computational tasks, processes, or data transactions requiring processing power, memory, storage, and network resources for the execution and management of applications and data.

  • Characteristics

    Can be cloud-native or non-cloud-native, can run on cloud resources, can be deployed with new versions for resiliency and portability

  • Associated Hardware

    CPUs, GPUs, TPUs, HPC clusters

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is "a paradigm for enabling network access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable physical or virtual resources with self-service provisioning and administration on-demand," according to ISO. It is commonly referred to as "the cloud".

Web Search Results
  • What Is a Workload?

    Compute workloads are applications or services that require processing power and memory to perform their functions. These can include VMs, containers and serverless functions. Storage workloads refer to services requiring large amounts of data storage, such as content management systems and databases. Network workloads, such as video streaming and online gaming, require high network bandwidth and low latency. [...] A workload is a computational task, process or data transaction. Workloads encompass the computing power, memory, storage and network resources required for the execution and management of applications and data. Within the cloud framework, a workload is a service, function or application that uses computing power hosted on cloud servers. Cloud workloads rely on technologies such as virtual machines (VMs), containers, serverless, microservices, storage buckets, software as a service (Saas), [...] Today, in the context of cloud computing, a workload is a cloud-native or non-cloud-native application or capability that can run on a cloud resource. VMs, databases, containers, Hadoop nodes and applications are all considered cloud workloads.

  • Cloud Workloads: Types, Common Tasks & Security Best ...

    Standard compute workloads: These workloads have a general-purpose resource requirement and can include tasks such as web hosting, software development, and test and development environments. High CPU workloads: These require powerful central processing units (CPUs) for tasks such as scientific simulations, data analytics, and batch processing.

  • Compute-Intensive vs Data-Intensive Workloads

    Compute-intensive workloads involve tasks that demand substantial computational power. These may include complex computations, simulations, and rendering processes. Compute-intensive jobs are characterized by high CPU utilization, which makes them perfect for applications such as financial modeling, scientific research, and graphics rendering. ### Data-Intensive Workloads [...] Compute-intensive tasks involve parallel computations, where multiple processing units can collaborate to solve a problem more quickly. High-performance computing (HPC) clusters—equipped with multiple CPUs or GPUs—demonstrate a typical scalable architecture for compute-intensive workloads. [...] ## Understanding Compute-Intensive and Data-Intensive Workloads Distinguishing between compute-intensive and data-intensive workloads is essential for tailoring solutions to specific task requirements. Each type of workload places unique demands on computational resources. With a comprehensive understanding of the differences between the two techniques, your business can better navigate the complexities of computing landscapes and make informed decisions. ### Compute-Intensive Workloads

  • Definition of Workload in Cloud Computing

    General compute: Workloads that don’t have specific computational needs and typically run on the default configuration of the cloud. These include common web apps, web servers, distributed data stores, and containerized microservices. [...] Simply put, a workload is about “putting elements together to get data, finding out what something means or developing something,” said Judith Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz & Associates and author of Cloud Computing for Dummies. “It’s fundamental to computing.” [...] A cloud workload, then, is an application, service, capability, or a specified amount of work that consumes cloud-based resources (such as computing or memory power). That makes databases, containers, microservices, VMs, and Hadoop nodes all cloud workloads. The great thing about cloud workloads is that every time they are deployed, a new version is created, enabling more resiliency and portability. Source: ScaleYourApp.com

  • What is a Workload? | Glossary

    A workload refers to type and amount of processing that compute resources perform to complete tasks or generate outcomes. Any application or program running on a computer can be considered a workload, therefore, workloads can vary greatly depending on the type and number of tasks being executed. Watch the video to learn about accelerating workloads to increase efficiency and performance. ### Workloads in cloud environments [...] As opposed to on-site workloads, cloud-based workloads are applications, services, computing, or capabilities running on cloud resources. Workloads in cloud environments give users a greater degree of agility and flexibility. When on-site servers reach the limit of internal resources, some or all of the workload can be transferred to or shared with the cloud for more computing power. Related HPE Solutions, Products, or Services HPE Compute ### What are examples of workloads? [...] Consider what it would be like to distribute work tasks across a team of employees, basing that distribution on each person’s experience, skills, strengths, efficiency, and availability. If these project tasks get completed efficiently and successfully, that would be considered great managerial skill. Similarly, workload management in computing is the process of allocating resources in compute environments to increase efficiency or reduce burden. Some processes can take place on-premises, while