Explain Dual Core

bumblebee_tuna · 10-20-2007, 01:52 AM

In lay-men(spelling?) terms, how would you explain a dual core processor compared to a regular processor in terms of it's physical attributes?

hermeslyre · 10-20-2007, 02:26 AM

Physically they're pretty much the same, barring any socket differences. On the inside of the chip there are two processing units, two CPU cores. They are located adjacent to each other on the same die, sharing the L cache, or having their own.

Obviously a multi-core proc is most effective when presented with a concurrent amount of threads.

epidemik · 10-20-2007, 06:19 AM

http://www.funponsel.com/blog/archiv...dual-core-cpu/

Lol, i like the pregnant women analogy, not quite sure if i think its a good analogy but i like it.

2048Megabytes · 10-20-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermeslyre

Physically they're pretty much the same, barring any socket differences. On the inside of the chip there are two processing units, two CPU cores. They are located adjacent to each other on the same die, sharing the L cache, or having their own.

Obviously a multi-core proc is most effective when presented with a concurrent amount of threads.

I am going to expain some of the terms he used. Cache is high speed memory the processor is able to utilize. It is different than Random Access Memory.

If a program is threaded it is designed to take advantage of a dual core processor. One part of the processor will run one part of the program while the other part of the processor will run the remaining part of the program. It will make the program run better obviously than just having a single core Central Processing Unit (CPU) run the program.

A dual core processor also multitasks better than a single core. Multitasking is running more than one program at the same time on your computer.

bumblebee_tuna · 10-20-2007, 08:22 PM

For the most part, I wanted to know how to explain to someone, and to know my own self, how a dual core is built.

I know that a single core processor has millions of tiny little switches that flip on and off, known as transistors, that solve millions of equations per second with the process of 'if yes/no, then', essentially where binary code comes from (1's and 0's), often seen in movies; the 1's being yes and the 0's being no.

I'm guessing the 'die' is where all the transistors are located but when people talking about multiple dies on a process, is it like one die on top of another or is it side-by-side. I'm actually still iffy on the die part..........

I actually really didn't know too much about the on die(?) cache so that's good to know and I appreciate the response.

Edit: Actually, reading the article answered all my questions. Thanks.

StrangleHold · 10-20-2007, 10:00 PM

A Picture is worth a thousand words
AMD Quad

AMD dual core

Intel

bumblebee_tuna · 10-20-2007, 11:56 PM

Oh wow, those pictures were really informative. I didn't know northbridges were now built into the cpu now. (Shows how old me last computer was........)

Just as a laugh but look at the second pic; they put fuses into the processor. Try and change those out.........

I'm guessing for the Pentium D pic, the processors are built one on top of the other......?

StrangleHold · 10-21-2007, 12:03 AM

AMD has had the memory controller on the processor since the 754. And the Pen. D is side by side too.

bumblebee_tuna · 10-21-2007, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangleHold

AMD has had the memory controller on the processor since the 754. And the Pen. D is side by side too.

Hmmmm....... I had a mobo that was, to my knowledge, a socket 939, and it had a Northbridge........

Is the Northbridge and FSB different components...?

10-20-2007, 01:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
bumblebee_tuna Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 19 Posts: 1,326	Explain Dual Core In lay-men(spelling?) terms, how would you explain a dual core processor compared to a regular processor in terms of it's physical attributes? __________________ Dell Inspiron 1520 Jet Black Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz / 2GB DDR2 667MHz / 160GB 7200RPM nVidia GeForce 8600m GT 256MB 15.4" WXGA Anti-glare Display (1280x800) Microsoft Windows Vista Premium w/ Media Direct boot hack into Ubuntu Gutsy Haikus are easy. But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator.

10-20-2007, 06:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
epidemik Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ashland Oregon Age: 16 Posts: 2,556	http://www.funponsel.com/blog/archiv...dual-core-cpu/ Lol, i like the pregnant women analogy, not quite sure if i think its a good analogy but i like it. __________________ E7200 Sapphire HD4850 OCZ Platinum 2GB RAM Western Digital 320GB HD LITEON DVD Burner OCZ 600W SXS CF xFire Group: Click Here Then PM Me If You Apply

10-20-2007, 08:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
bumblebee_tuna Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 19 Posts: 1,326	For the most part, I wanted to know how to explain to someone, and to know my own self, how a dual core is built. I know that a single core processor has millions of tiny little switches that flip on and off, known as transistors, that solve millions of equations per second with the process of 'if yes/no, then', essentially where binary code comes from (1's and 0's), often seen in movies; the 1's being yes and the 0's being no. I'm guessing the 'die' is where all the transistors are located but when people talking about multiple dies on a process, is it like one die on top of another or is it side-by-side. I'm actually still iffy on the die part.......... I actually really didn't know too much about the on die(?) cache so that's good to know and I appreciate the response. Edit: Actually, reading the article answered all my questions. Thanks. __________________ Dell Inspiron 1520 Jet Black Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz / 2GB DDR2 667MHz / 160GB 7200RPM nVidia GeForce 8600m GT 256MB 15.4" WXGA Anti-glare Display (1280x800) Microsoft Windows Vista Premium w/ Media Direct boot hack into Ubuntu Gutsy Haikus are easy. But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator. Last edited by bumblebee_tuna; 10-20-2007 at 08:26 PM.

10-20-2007, 10:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 7,509	A Picture is worth a thousand words AMD Quad AMD dual core Intel __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600-3.3ghz. Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 1066-944mhz. 4gbs. PNY 8800GT/VD964 Cooler W/D Sata 3.0 500gb RE2 Humans are curious creatures and by nature insane. Lock us all in a room together and within hours we're dividing into groups, creating Gods and plotting on how to kill one another. Last edited by StrangleHold; 10-20-2007 at 10:07 PM.

10-20-2007, 11:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
bumblebee_tuna Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 19 Posts: 1,326	Oh wow, those pictures were really informative. I didn't know northbridges were now built into the cpu now. (Shows how old me last computer was........) Just as a laugh but look at the second pic; they put fuses into the processor. Try and change those out......... I'm guessing for the Pentium D pic, the processors are built one on top of the other......? __________________ Dell Inspiron 1520 Jet Black Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz / 2GB DDR2 667MHz / 160GB 7200RPM nVidia GeForce 8600m GT 256MB 15.4" WXGA Anti-glare Display (1280x800) Microsoft Windows Vista Premium w/ Media Direct boot hack into Ubuntu Gutsy Haikus are easy. But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator.

10-20-2007, 02:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
hermeslyre VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 18 Posts: 4,973	Physically they're pretty much the same, barring any socket differences. On the inside of the chip there are two processing units, two CPU cores. They are located adjacent to each other on the same die, sharing the L cache, or having their own. Obviously a multi-core proc is most effective when presented with a concurrent amount of threads.

10-21-2007, 12:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 7,509	AMD has had the memory controller on the processor since the 754. And the Pen. D is side by side too. __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600-3.3ghz. Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 1066-944mhz. 4gbs. PNY 8800GT/VD964 Cooler W/D Sata 3.0 500gb RE2 Humans are curious creatures and by nature insane. Lock us all in a room together and within hours we're dividing into groups, creating Gods and plotting on how to kill one another.

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