What is a dual-core processor? (1 Viewer)

[SashatheMan]

can someone please explain it , in normal words to me.

from what i understand its a processor that somehow solves tasks better , so makingg it faster. but how and more info please

 

[fatmuscle]

http://www.betanews.com/article/AMD_Debuts_DualCore_Opteron_Athlon/1114098524

 

[sunny]

Essentially two CPUs, in the one physical package. Software run in threads so simulate concurrency. Having a dual core CPU means threads that would otherwise run on the core can now be distributed amongst two cores, speeding up the process.

 

[jm1234567890]

in laymans terms.

If you run lots of programs at once, you will probably benefit from dual core. Alot less wating.

but if you only use one thing most of the time, like full-screen games with nothing running in background. Then stick to single core for now.


Side note: The intel dual cores are pretty cheap.

 

[breaking]

can someone please explain it , in normal words to me.

from what i understand its a processor that somehow solves tasks better , so makingg it faster. but how and more info please

a processor with dual cores LOL

 

[SashatheMan]

so its not really two processors working at the same time, its more of a single processor beign able to divide tasks and complete then faster?

 

[jm1234567890]

so its not really two processors working at the same time, its more of a single processor beign able to divide tasks and complete then faster?

its two processors working at two different things.

not two processors working at the same thing (in general)

 

[SashatheMan]

its two processors working at two different things.

not two processors working at the same thing (in general)

so would that make CPU clock speed double?

 

[jm1234567890]

so would that make CPU clock speed double?

no,

think of it this way.

your running 2 programs.

in dual core:
core1 runs program 1
core2 runs program 2

in single core
core1 runs program1 for a while, then program 2

but if your only running one program
core 2 in dual core basicly sits there idle.

 

[SashatheMan]

no,

think of it this way.

your running 2 programs.

in dual core:
core1 runs program 1
core2 runs program 2

in single core
core1 runs program1 for a while, then program 2

but if your only running one program
core 2 in dual core basicly sits there idle.

yeh sweet i get it now thanks.

another question.
but are they able to make two processors work together to double clock speed anyway?

 

[sunny]

yeh sweet i get it now thanks.

another question.
but are they able to make two processors work together to double clock speed anyway?

Making two CPUs/cores work together is the idea of dual core; you have two cores running concurrently. It has nothing to do with clock speed.

For example, if you run a program that only runs in one thread, it will make no difference whether you have a dual core or single core processor - that one thread can only be processed by one of the cores. It doesn't mean your clock speed is doubled.

 

[jm1234567890]

yeh sweet i get it now thanks.

another question.
but are they able to make two processors work together to double clock speed anyway?

well, not double the clock speed

but when more multi-threaded applications are developed, you will be able to take advantage of dual core CPUs when running one application.

 

[McLake]

*Flashes of OS lecutre*

 

[AntiHyper]

Yes, I believe that dual CPU doesn't increase clockage but increase the bandwidth of processable data at an instance of time.

 

[SashatheMan]

is it true that the CPUs they will releave that are duel-core are actually ganna have slower clock speed. it will be faster perfornace but they just wond come in the same speed at the normal processors

 

[McLake]

There is no physical reason why the need to be slower.

 

[withoutaface]

I heard that with one game (Quake 3 from memory) you could make one processor render half the data and the other the other half, resulting in 30% speed increase.

 

[Slidey]

Clock speed won't increase, but the overall speed of things will, since two processors are being used, right?

 

[jm1234567890]

I heard that with one game (Quake 3 from memory) you could make one processor render half the data and the other the other half, resulting in 30% speed increase.

I think your thinking of SLI.

no game currently supports dual CPU

 

[velox]

speaking of dual core and sli, has anyone seen the dual core 6600gt that only works on gigabyte mobos? So dumb....