What does a dual core processor actually do in real life terms?

Question

In regards to actually sitting down and using a computer, what differences are noticeable when using a dual core processor as opposed to a single core? Some examples would be teriffic. Thanks

Answer 1

there are 2 processors. If the O/S (operating system) can utilize the other core (processor), then it can use the 2nd core, for example, to run another application instead of giving the 2nd application time slices. The result is that you see greater speed (shorter job time) for 2 apps running concurrently. That's enjoyable for the user...more work getting done faster.

But it's arguable for the gamer. The gamer generally runs one application (game) at a time. And many games are not yet written to utilize the dual core. That means you might get better performance from a single core than a dual core, or that you might see no improvement in speed over the single core. In fact, you could see a performance hit with dual core.

There are some great performance charts for games and other apps across a wide variety of CPUs on Tom's hardware...link below. Note that Wolfenstein (an old game) does better on a high-end single core CPU than many dual core. It wasn't written with dual core capability.

Answer 2

There are two answers:
1) Now, it means that when you are doing multiple things at once, you will not slow down as much, with each additional program open.

2) In a few years, however, there will be programs that are what's called 'multithreaded". This means that one program can use BOTH cores at the same time.

If you are looking to buy a new computer, wait till this fall. Intel is introducing a new series of processors called the Core2 Duo's (as opposed to the current Core Duo). They are faster and more efficient than a comparable AMD. This includes the new Socket AM2 processors.

Answer 3

You can do twice the amount of things at the same speed as a single core at the same ghz as each of the 2 cores in the dual core.
A dual core CPU is basically 2 of 1 certain processor stuck together
like for example, you have a dual core 2.8 ghz processor
It is like have 2 single core 2.8 processors
It's no speed boost or anything, but
lets say theres a program that uses 100% of all your CPU power when you had your single core 2.8ghz CPU
well with the dual core, you can run 2 of that program at the same time, with the same amount of speed as running that program 1 at a time

Answer 4

If you imagine that you have two computer processors each working independently of each other but feeding the same data transfer bus, then you will get the general idea.

One could be doing your virus check, the other playing a game. You will notice a that you are not slowed down nearly as much when you perform two functions, which require a great deal of processing power, at the same time.

You will notice very little difference if you only run one application at a time.

To be truly effective they must be coupled with a high data clock speed board with large resident ram.

Answer 5

A dual core processor acts like two processors, that share mahy features and assets, in a shorter and smaller transit, which speeds up the processing of those processes.

The currently preferred dual core solution is AMD, due to innovations in speed and topology on the dies.

Answer 6

For the sake of this answer, lets call twin center: 2 chips in a million equipment twin processor: 2 programs with a unmarried center in each and each. The opteron multi processor forums regularly have ram dedicated to each and each processor equipment, they can percentage this utilising the hypertransport bus. in case you take advantage of twin center besides the undeniable fact that, you'll usually limit 2 cores to be utilising a similar block of reminiscence (the plus area is that the L2 cache sahring, also through hypertransport, will be swifter between those 2 coes) So, twin center vs twin processor: twin center can in nice condition 2 processors interior a similar socket, yo would opt for twin socket for unmarried center answer twin center would have swifter L2 cache sharing twin center can't use separate bus for ram get entry to for each center, twin processor can twin center would have severe thermal themes compared to twin proc

Answer 7

dual core processors are good for running programs that require a lot of processing power, gaming, or heavy multi-tasking doing the day to day stuff you wont notice a big difference

Answer 8

It is the next logical step in processing.
Everyone has heard of HyperThreading....Well, dual core processors let you run multiple threads simultaneously.

Answer 9

dual core just makes the cpu faster. in other words you use more programs at the same time.

Answer 10

Running multiple programs at once is where you'll notice the biggest difference.