Editing Coprocessor (section)

{{short description|Type of computer processor}}
[[File:AM9511-1 Arithmetic Co-Processor side.jpg|thumb|AM9511-1 arithmetic coprocessor]]A '''coprocessor''' is a [[computer processor]] used to supplement the functions of the primary processor (the [[central processing unit|CPU]]). Operations performed by the coprocessor may be [[floating-point arithmetic]], [[Computer graphics|graphics]], [[signal processing]], [[string processing]], [[Cryptographic accelerator|cryptography]] or [[Input/output#Interface|I/O interfacing]] with peripheral devices. By offloading processor-intensive tasks from the [[central processing unit#main processor|main processor]], coprocessors can accelerate system performance. Coprocessors allow a line of computers to be customized, so that customers who do not need the extra performance do not need to pay for it.