MultiCore Technology

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Multi-Core Technology

• By Nathan Torell

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General Information

• Multi-Core Technology refers to multiple
  processors in one central-processing chip, or
  die.
• Each company has its own name for the dual-core
  CPU
• (E.g. Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon X2, AMD
  Dual-core, etc.)
• Dual-core technology is popular at present, and
  quad-core technology is emerging.

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What is on the chip?

• The chip, or die, contains numerous minuscule
  wires that serve as pathways for electricity to
  travel.

• The chip also has an attachment device to join
  it to the motherboard, often a large amount of
  prongs that lock the chip into a specific slotted
  location on the motherboard.

Image from Wikipedia.com
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So what does Dual core mean? (Or Quad Core)
Dual Core


Quad Core
x4
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Advantages of this Technology

• The centrality of the chip allows for faster
  clock speeds signals do not have to travel off
  the chip to another destination.
• Signal is stronger less distance for the
  signal to diminish.
• A dual or quad core processor uses less power
  than the same number of individual chips linked
  together.

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Disadvantages of this technology

• Adjustments must me made to the operating
  system and other software to accommodate the
  structure and function of the CPU.
• The only efficient way to operate multiple
  applications is multi-threading, and some
  applications dont function well with this
  concept.
• Sharing of the same bus and memory causes
  increased bandwidth, limiting the speed of
  processes.

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Why use multi-core technology?

• Multi-tasking-Multi-threading technology
  virtually eliminates high latency while running
  several programs, or background applications such
  as anti-virus software.
• The use of silicon surface area is greatly
  increased, making better use of supplies in turn
  driving down costs.
• The speed of normal processes is increased.
• More processing power than standard CPUs.

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Future developments

• Developers are working on integrating even more
  processors into a single die.

• Increasing computing power while decreasing
  heat emissions.

• Decreased power consumption