CG: applies when the matrix is symmetric positive definite.

GMRES: applies to any matrix, but there is a higher computational cost. This is similar to the difference between the Lanczos process and the Arnoldi process.

GMRES is simpler than CG because fewer optimizations are possible.

β€œJust solve a least-squares problem.”

Norm to measure error

The key in GMRES is to change the cost function we are optimizing:

CG choice:

GMRES choice:

This norm makes more sense once we apply it:

  • We can now explain the acronym!
  • GMRES = Generalized Minimal RESidual method.