It is akin to a conventional computer's central processing unit (CPU), which performs calculations using the information held in binary bits – the 1s and 0s of data.

Bendix G-15 Central Processing Unit American History Museum Object Details maker Bendix Description The Bendix G-15 computer, first introduced in 1954, sold in several versions - a total of some four ...

So manufacturers of arcade machines invented the graphics-processing unit (gpu), a set of circuits to handle video games’ visuals in parallel to the work done by the central processor.