Dual-core refers to a processor (CPU) that includes two complete execution cores per physical processor. It combines two processors and their caches and cache controllers onto a single integrated circuit (silicon chip). It is basically two processors, in most cases, residing reside side-by-side on the same die.

With their two execution cores, dual-core processors are optimised for multi-threaded applications and multitasking. You can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching programs - while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background.

Dual-processor systems are those that contains two separate physical computer processors in the same chassis. In dual-processor systems, the two processors can either be located on the same motherboard or on separate boards. In a dual-core configuration, an integrated circuit (IC) contains two complete computer processors.

Usually, the two identical processors are manufactured so they reside side-by-side on the same die, each with its own path to the system front-side bus. Multi-core is somewhat of an expansion to dual-core technology and allows for more than two separate processors.

A dual-core processor has many advantages especially for those looking to boost their system’s multitasking computing power. Dual-core processors provide two complete execution cores instead of one, each with an independent interface to the frontside bus. Since each core has its own cache, the operating system has sufficient resources to handle intensive tasks in parallel, which provides a noticeable improvement to multitasking.

Complete optimisation for the dual-core processor requires both the operating system and applications running on the computer to support a technology called thread-level parallelism, or TLP. Thread-level parallelism is the part of the OS or application that runs multiple threads simultaneously, where threads refer to the part of a program that can execute independently of other parts.

A good example to explain this is a typical PC game. Most games require some form of rendering engine to display what is happening in the game. In addition to this, there is some sort of artificial intelligence to control the computers controlled events in the game. With a single processor, both of these must function by switching between the two. This is not necessarily efficient. If the system had multiple processors, the rendering and AI could each run on a separate processor.

The problem is that the game, like most applications, is not designed to take advantage of the multiple processors. As a result, both the rendering and AI happen on a single processor leaving the second processor essentially unused. As a result, a multiple core PC will not have any speed benefit. If the game is designed with multiple threads, then a dual-core processor would be advantageous over a single processor.

But even without a multithread-enabled application, you will still see benefits of dual-core processors if you are running an operating system that supports TLP. For example, if you have Microsoft’s Windows XP (which supports multithreading), you could have your Internet browser open along with a virus scanner running in the background, while using Windows Media Player to stream your favorite radio station and the dual-core processor will handle the multiple threads of these programs running simultaneously with an increase in performance and efficiency.

Today Windows XP and hundreds of applications already support multithread technology, especially applications that are used for editing and creating music files, videos and graphics because types of programs need to perform operations in parallel. As dual-core technology becomes more common in homes and the workplace, you can expect to see more applications support thread-level parallelism.

Both Intel and AMD have been slowing down the rate for increasing the clock speeds of processor. Part of this is due to the limitations of the current technology and designs. To try and keep up to pace with future developments, both companies started to introduce dual-core processors last year. Most people are still familiar with the fact that the higher the clock speed, the faster the processor will be. Dual-core processors are going to make things more complex. Since the dual-core processors are being designed to fit in roughly the same dimensions as a single core processor, speeds are not going to be equivalent.

A dual-core processor with each running at 1GHz should be equivalent to a single processor running at 2GHz. The problem is that this doesn’t work in practice when the applications are not written to take advantage of the multiple processors. Until the software is written this way, unthreaded applications will run faster on a single processor than a dual-core CPU.

You should also not confuse a dual-core processor’s multithreading with Intel’s Hyper-Threading, which is a technology embedded within a single core processor to make it appear to the system as if it had multiple processors. What this really does is speed up the rate at which a system can switch between multiple threads, thus boosting multitasking on personal computers.

If you are already using software that is multithreaded you will see the most benefit from the dual processor technology. For the majority of computer users, there is not going to be much of a benefit for the dual-core over a single core processor. This will gradually change as the dual-core model becomes more common, but it will likely take some time.

BIOS, Apr 05, 06 | Print | Send | Comments (2) | Posted In Processor