Difference between Single core, Dual core and Quad core Processors

Deep Kakkaddeep- kakkad .g i t hub . i o

SINGLE CORE, DUAL CORE AND QUAD CORE PROCESSORS

BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN…

BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN…

IBM 711 card reader on an IBM 704 computer at NASA in 1957

Where is my “Hello

world” output?

When microprocessor was first commercially sold by Intel.

LET’S JUMP TO 1970…

INTEL C4004

I thought, how fun it would be to compare the first ever microprocessor with one of the best microprocessor available today.

LET’S COMPARE THE LOWEST WITH THE HIGHEST!

1. Clock rate: 740 kHz vs. 4.4 GHz of “Devil's Canyon”(recently launched by Intel)


7,40,000 vs. 44,00,000,000


2. No Interrupt support vs. Yes, Interrupt support!



3. Program memory: 4KiloByte vs. 32GB(maximum)







4. Transistor count: 2,300 vs. 1.4 Billion

…. Upto 1,40,00,00,000

What is a microprocessor ?

How is it related with CPU ? What do you mean when you say core ?

lets see…

ENOUGH OF FACTUAL COMPARISONS…

Any answers for difference between CPU, processor and microprocessor?

THE STORY OF PROCESSOR AND CPU!

Any answers for difference between CPU, processor and microprocessor?

No difference between Microprocessor, Processor and CPU as long as we’re talking about a modern computer.


No difference between Microprocessor, Processor and CPU as long as we’re talking about a modern computer.

Now, Let’s add out main actor “CORE” to the story.


A core is usually the basic computation unit of the CPU that handles the mathematical and logical operations.

While, CPU is something that can contain more than one core to perform more tasks at given time(software processes and threads scheduled by OS).

In Layman-terms, we can say core takes high level machine instructions and decode them into physical circuit operations and collection of such “cores” with supporting hardware makes a CPU.

THE STORY OF CORE AND CPU

Get to know about cores in your system by command:

Open command prompt with windows key + X + A

WMIC CPU Get /Format:List

For Mac Fans:

Click on the "About this Mac..." item on the Apple menu.Click “More Info”.

QUICK TIP:

How does “CORE” work ?

LET’S KNOW THE CORE, PERSONALLY

Fetch

Decode

Execute

Write-back

LIFE CYCLE(IT’S JUST ONE CYCLE)

Fetch instruction from memory(RAM/Cache) From where program counter is pointing.

Each part has an Opcode. Tells the core what should be done with the information that follows it.

Real operations are done to get the desired results

Places the result of what’s been worked on back into the memory.


So, Now we can are smart enough to understand:

More the number of cores, more the computer’s speed.

Right ??




More the number of cores, more the computer’s speed.

Right ??

Yes, right. But not exactly. How?




No, More number of cores does not necessarily promises more speed of computer.




No, More number of cores does not necessarily promises more speed of computer.

Because, CPU cores have to communicate with each other through channels and this uses up some of the extra speed.

How??


THEY NEED TO COMMUNICATE

Why do we need multiple cores?

As CPU speeds rose into the 3-4 GHz range the amount of electrical power required to go faster started to become prohibitive. The technical reasons for this are complex but factors like heat losses and leakage current (power that simply passes through the circuitry without doing anything useful) both increase faster as frequencies rise. While it's certainly possible to build a 6 GHz general purpose x86 CPU, it's not proven economical to do so efficiently. That's why the move to multi-core started.

Also because, we want to play games!

THE (MULTI-CORES)

THE DIFFERENCE!

Single Core Dual Core Quad coreCPU contains only one core to process different operations.

This was the very first type of CPU used back in 1970s.

Is still used in many machines, such as some smartphones.

Is multi-tasking possible in single core processor ?

I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION.

Is multi-tasking possible in single core processor ?


YES

How multi-tasking is possible in single core if there is only one core to perform operations??


How multi-tasking is possible in single core if there is only one core to perform operations??

Pre-emptive Round Robin scheduling


THE DIFFERENCE!




Dual-core CPU is a processor with two coresin a single IC.These cores act as a single unit, but they will each have their own controller and cache, allowing them to perform faster than single-core processors

THE DIFFERENCE!




Dual-core CPU is a processor with two coresin a single IC.These cores act as a single unit, but they will each have their own controller and cache, allowing them to perform faster than single-core processors

It contains two dual core processors in one integrated circuit.

THE DIFFERENCE!

Single Core Dual Core Quad coreUses less power

Less heat generated

Stays Cool!

Wastes power

Performs faster

But, But, But

Lower battery life

Multitasking

I know what is single core. OK! I know what is dual core. Great! I can understand the concept of quad core. Awesome!

But, What does the term “core 2 duo” mean?

MAY I ASK A QUESTION?

I know what is single core. OK! I know what is dual core. Great! I can understand the concept of quad core. Awesome!

But, What does the term “core 2 duo” mean?

Dual core processors are those that contains 2 cores in a single silicon chip while Core 2 Duo is the name given by Intel to its second batch of dual core processors.

MAY I ASK A QUESTION?

THE DIFFERENCE!

Single Core Dual Core Quad coreWord Processing, checking emails, surfing the Internet, watching videos, etc.

Flash-enabled web browsing, audio-video conference chatting, etc.

Voice-GPS systems, multi-player gaming, video editing, etc.

General overhead in hardware dictates that 2 cores are about 1.86x one core & 4 cores are about 2.56x one core.

QUICK FACTUAL NOTE:

Google Through which I could find many useful links.

RESOURCES:

ANY QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW ANSWER OF ?

QA&

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Difference between Single core, Dual core and Quad core Processors