How do threads work?

[ayan]

I for example have a P4 3,4 Ghz CPU which has 2 threads. Also, the multi-core technology seems develop alot lately using threading. What is it an how does it work?

 

[lucasbytegenius]

It helps the CPU perform multiple tasks better. This is the simple, dumbed-down version.

Here's an excellent Wikipedia article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading

 

[StrangleHold]

Pretty sure he means how Multithreaded programs work. Not how Hyperthreading work on a Intel processor.

Pretty sure how multithreaded programs work is each thread is really released under the same process. Then can be run individually on different cores. Simple way of saying it.

 

[ayan]

So basically the whole old school "one operation at a time at a very fast rate" is now extended to multiple parallel operations?

 

[lucasbytegenius]

Basically. I think multiple threads go slower though than the full CPU speed, but I may be wrong.

 

[Cromewell]

So basically the whole old school "one operation at a time at a very fast rate" is now extended to multiple parallel operations?

Basically. I think multiple threads go slower though than the full CPU speed, but I may be wrong.

It really depends. Threading is a bit too complicated to explain really well here, an analogy (which isn't the greatest ) is kind of like having a team of workers. Each worker could be considered a thread. If each worker is doing something different than the other workers they can get a lot done, but if they have to share their tools (i.e. you are only able to run 1 thread at a time) they get less done, maybe more than a single worker but less than if you had 2 sets of tools.

 

[lucasbytegenius]

Makes sense, thanks for explaining that Cromewell.