The simplest answer for this question is YES.Now lets explain why not and how does it speed up render or encoding time. Most graphic card (newest) support CUDA and OPEN GL.Both of these are technologies that use graphic card processor to process data.In other words a Cuda or Open GL graphic card will work with computer CPU and make a faster proccessing.If you use only CPU to render/encode,and then you use both CPU and GPU the second combination will make rendering faster depending on the power and memory of your GPU. CUDA and Open Gl can be found on Nvidia GPU and ATI Radeon.