Dual core vs single core

What is exact difference between 1GHz dual core processor and 1GHz single core processor? And what is difference between 2GHz single core and 1GHz dual core processor?

Dual core device actually has two processor cores in one package. So, presumably, you can do twice as much processing per clock cycle. The software has a lot to do with this, though-if the software can't take advantage of multiple cores, they're just going to waste.

A dual core with 1GHz clock may be much faster than a single core with a much faster clock. The faster single core may be forced to wait for a printer or slow port which can really slow it down.

The dual core can use one core for the slow process while the other core can continue to process data at full speed. As Barry wrote this is only true if the software is written to take advantage of 2 or more cores.

A dual core processor has two independent cores which can work on separate tasks at the time. It basically meant faster multitasking or parallel processing. And a dual core has Hyperthreading abilities.
By hyperthreading abilities, i means to say that the software being used should also use multiple cores to execute a task. You can have a 1 GHz dual core processor but if a program isn't multithreaded it'll be able to use only 1GHz and not all 2GHz.
Multi Tasking is a very important factor.
If you open up a word document or an application while playing an Online game the Single Core would process each one at a time which would be slower.

The Dual Core (There are two physical cores) could have 1 core working on the game while the other works on the application meaning multi tasking meaning more work gets done in a shorter amount of time with a Dual Core processor rather then a Single Core Processor.

PS :- A dual core processor is much faster than a single core processor.

ashubrads said:

You can have a 1 GHz dual core processor but if a program isn't multithreaded it'll be able to use only 1GHz and not all 2GHz.

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Does that mean 1GHz dual core is same as 2Ghz single core??

No, a 2GHz single core processor can't be same as that of 1GHz dual core because multitasking won't be possible with a single core processor.. it becomes much slow.

ashubrads said:

No, a 2GHz single core processor can't be same as that of 1GHz dual core because multitasking won't be possible with a single core processor.. it becomes much slow.

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So which one is better, 1GHz dual core or 2GHz single core?

Parallelization is desired for the performance advantage mentioned earlier.
It is also desired for reducing power consumption and heat.

Rohitchampion said:

So which one is better, 1GHz dual core or 2GHz single core?

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Depends on your application. If you're just doing a single task a 2GHz single core would be faster. If you're multitasking, the dual-core would probably be faster.

1 GHz dual core processor will be better because with dual core processors multitasking and parallel processing is possible which is not possible with single core.

I always think of the train engineer shoveling coal example. There are 2 engineers (Instruction decode) and each are shoveling coal into the flame (processing units). There are some limitations, both can't access the coal at the same time (like memory). While 2 slower coal shovellers can shovel in more coal over all, a very fast shoveller can exceed either individually. So if the code is single threaded, a faster single CPU is best, if the code is parallelized (and most modern software is) then a dual or multi-core cpu is more beneficial. I have found that a really fast CPU is good for games. I recall playing an older game (simcity 3000) on an older Athlon 3500+ (Win 98/2000) being much faster than a quad core intel i7 2630 (Win 7).

" if the code is parallelized (and most modern software is) "

It is amazing that many high end software tools to include SolidWorks through 2009 (except for shading) and the current Altium are primary written for a single core. In fact Altium is still a 32 bit application. Even MATLAB is basically a single core program unless you specifically purchase the Parallel Processing tool box. I expect this to quickly change over the next several releases but for now having a dual socket motherboard with two 6 core Xeons with hyper threading (24 equivalent cores) makes for great Passmark scores and keeps the office warm in the winter but these apps actually run slower.

Thread is created 10.07.2013. and should be "Dual vs Quad Core" not "Dual vs Single Core".

For 2007. year thread question is ok.


On multicore nothing you will see better, maybe even worse, until software is writen for multi core environment. Some software give lower performance results on dual core than on single core.

Question is linked with programming and ways how software is written to use system resources.


Best ergards,
Peter

:wink:

tpetar said:

Thread is created 10.07.2013. and should be "Dual vs Quad Core" not "Dual vs Single Core".

For 2007. year thread question is ok.

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I was confused about concept of cores. It is not about latest technology.

Rohitchampion said:

I was confused about concept of cores. It is not about latest technology.

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In fact, since the mid-1960’s, the number of transistors that can fit on a chip has doubled approximately every two years, a trend referred to as "Moore’s law." Unfortunately, while in theory more, higher-frequency transistors mean faster calculations, too many can cause the CPU to generate a great deal of heat, which counteracts at least some of the improvements.

Instead of using more transistors to create more complicated CPUs that operate at high frequencies and produce a lot of heat, why not combine several simpler processing units to perform the task in less time? This is quite like getting some friends to help you with a chore instead of rushing to get it done alone. Computer designers first tried this by connecting multiple processors to each other. However, it can take a longer time for signals to travel between separated CPUs than it does to travel within a single, small unit, which can limit the improvements. It wasn’t until the mid-nineties when one research group put several processing units on the same tiny piece of silicon, and the multi-core processor was born. Over the next decade or so, the idea caught on! Today, multi-core processors are used to make computers, from smartphones to servers, more responsive and powerful with decreased heat generation.

**broken link removed**


Best regards,
Peter