Introducing multi-core technology
The evolution of multi-core technology
With the introduction of the first computer came market demands for more computing capacity. Symmetrical multi-processing (SMP) has long been a technology used to increase computing performance and efficiency by spreading computing loads across multiple processors. SMP is especially effective in multi-threaded environments where many tasks (threads) need to be handled simultaneously.
As application performance demands grow, processor designers are facing the issue that it takes more power to drive more computing capability. More power means that dissipation levels also need to be managed. Add to this the demands of the industry for computers to become smaller (more servers in a rack, thin and lighter laptops) and smaller footprint for a desktop system. Multi-core processing will help address these computing challenges. This evolution in technology will allow for increased performance and higher productivity in smaller computers that can simultaneously run multiple complex applications and successfully complete more tasks in a shorter amount of time.
The multi-core advantage
| In today's digital world the demands of complex 3D simulations, streaming media files, added levels of security, more sophisticated user interfaces, larger databases and more on-line users are beginning to exceed single-core processor capabilities. Multi-core processors enable true multitasking. On single-core systems, multitasking can max out CPU utilisation resulting in decreased performance as operations have to wait to be processed. On multi-core systems, since each core has its own cache, the operating system has sufficient resources to handle most compute intensive tasks in parallel. Multi-core technology can improve system efficiency and application performance for computers running multiple applications at the same time. |
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