Specifications

Computer Architecture and Maintenance (G-Scheme-2014)
appear as a quad-core processor to the OS. These processors combined 64-bit
instruction capability with dual internal cores—essentially two processors in a single
package. These chips were the start of the multicore revolution, which has continued
by adding more cores along with additional extensions to the instruction set. Intel
introduced the first quad-core processors in November 2006, called the Core 2 Extreme
QX and Core 2 Quad. AMD subsequently introduced its first quad-core desktop PC
processor in November 2007, called the Phenom.
Note: There has been some confusion about Windows and multi-core or Hyper-
Threaded processors. Windows XP and later Home editions support only one physical
CPU, whereas Windows Professional, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions
support two physical CPUs. Even though the Home editions support only a single
physical CPU, if that chip is a multicore processor with HT Technology, all the physical
and virtual cores are supported. For example, if you have a system with a quad-core
processor supporting HT Technology, Windows Home editions will see it as eight
processors, and all of them will be supported. If you had a motherboard with two of
these CPUs installed, Windows Home editions would see the eight physical/virtual
cores in the first CPU, whereas Professional, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate
editions would see all 16 cores in both CPUs.
Multi-core
processors are
designed for users
who run multiple
programs at the
same time or who
use multithreaded
applications,
which pretty
much describes
all users these
days. A
multithreaded
application can
run different parts
of the program,
known as threads, at the same time in the same address space, sharing code and data. A
multithreaded program runs faster on a multicore processor or a processor with HT
Technology enabled than on a single-core or non-HT processor.
Prepared By – Prof. Manoj.kavedia (9860174297 – 9324258878 ) (www.kavediasir.yolasite.com)
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