A Comparison of Single, Dual, and Quad Core

eBay Published by eBay

June 9, 2014 . 16K Views . 6 Comments . 5 Votes
A Comparison of Single, Dual, and Quad Core
Back in the day, computers were huge machines that took up entire rooms and had
to be run by punch cards. It wasnt until the 1970s that the microprocessor was fi
rst commercially sold, and since then, this tiny thing that packs a big punch ha
s found its way into everything that powers the world today. From the traffic li
ghts that keep the roads orderly to the microwave that heats up dinner, most eve
rything is run by computers, which in turn are powered by a Central Processing U
nit (CPU). Microprocessor CPUs are much faster than their previous counterparts
and eventually became the standard in computing. Of course, when the competition
was vacuum tubes and electric relays, it wasnt that hard.
Today, CPUs are getting faster, cheaper, and more advanced, doubling their cores
to make them even more powerful. This guide serves to compare the three types o
f cores, single, dual, and quad, by first explaining how a CPU works, and why mu
ltiple cores are even necessary. Next, the advantages and disadvantages of each
core will be explained. Processors can be purchased at a variety of computer par
ts stores and suppliers, but those who want a wider choice of CPUs should visit
eBay.
How a CPU Works
The CPU serves as the central brain of the computer. Also known as the processor
or core, this small chip inside the computer is quite powerful, as it takes all
the information and instructions given by the user, processes it, and then send
s it out to the rest of the computer to execute. Of course, at any given time, a
computer is processing dozens of instructions, such as typing the letters on th
e keyboard, interpreting mouse clicks, playing songs and movies, and everything
else a user does with a computer. Most of todays processors contain a single core
, dual core, or quad core, which is actually two dual core chips combined to for
m four cores. The table below shows a brief description of each type of core, an
d some sample capabilities.
Type of CPU
Description
Capabilities
Single Core CPU
Has one core to process different operations; microprocessors were single cores
from the early 1970s on
Word processing, checking email, surfing the Internet, watching videos
Dual Core CPU
Has two cores to process operations; able to process more information at the sam
e time
Flash-enabled web browsing, video and conference chatting
Quad Core CPU
Contains two dual core processors in one integrated circuit
Voice-GPS systems, multi-player gaming, video editing
Additional cores were added when it became apparent that increasing clock speeds
in a computer was getting to be too difficult. Thus, increasing the cores becam
e the manufacturers answer to this problem.
Necessity for Multi-core Systems
It used to be that processors were defined by their clock speed. The clock speed
(measured in gigahertz or megahertz) is the rate that a CPU can complete one pr
ocessing cycle. So, a one-gigahertz (GHz) CPU could complete about 1 billion cyc
les in one second. The often-quoted Moores Law states that the amount of transist
ors on integrated circuits doubles every two years, which many have interpreted
to mean that processing power would double as well; this law actually rang true
for a few decades. However, chipmakers hit a wall back in 2004, when Intel had t
o scrap their plans for a 4 GHz chip. The problem was, the chips ran too hot and
took too much power to be viable. Thus, the dual core chips were born, and even
while this was being released, the debut of a four-chip version was pending.
The Single Core CPU
The single-core CPU utilizes one core inside the processor. This was the very fi
rst type of CPU, and today, is still used in many machines, such as some smartph
ones, laptops, and netbooks. These types of CPUs have distinct advantages and di
sadvantages.
Advantages
Uses less power: It takes less power to run a single core CPU. Quad-core and dua
l core use up a lot of energy, which is not a problem with machines that are plu
gged into the wall, but it can drain laptop batteries quickly.
Runs cooler: Using less power means theres less heat generated by the core.
Sufficient for most software: Much of todays software isnt built for multi-core CP
Us; in many cases, having a second processor is unnecessary.
Disadvantages
Runs slower: In cases where the computer specs are comparable, the single-core p
rocessors run slower that multi-core processors. They simply do not have as much
computing capacity as the multi-core systems.
Freezing: Many of todays software programs use up a lot of computing power. Often
, a user will use many programs, which overloads the CPU and the computer simply
freezes to stop the user from opening any more programs.
The Dual-Core CPU
The dual-core CPU is a processor with two execution cores in a single integrated
circuit. These cores act as a single unit, but they will each have their own co
ntroller and cache, allowing them to perform faster than single-core processors.
Advantages
Performs tasks faster: Dual-core CPUs run faster than single-core ones, especial
ly in instances where there are multiple processes at one time. When a single-co
re processor has to do two different things, it must stop what its doing and then
switch to the next task. This switching is what creates lags, and in dual-core
processors, this switching between tasks is reduced because there are two proces
sors that can do the task at once.
Reduced costs: Even before there were dual-core CPUs, users were able to build d
ual-processor units that had the computing power of two computers. However, this
also meant it was like purchasing another computer, because that means buying a
separate processor and motherboard sockets. A dual-core processor can fit into
a single motherboard and computer.
Disadvantages
Wasted computer power: While dual-core CPUs certainly can blaze through numerous
applications, most regular users dont need that much power. Checking email, surf
ing through text-based sites, and typing documents dont actually use up a lot of
power. Unless the person uses graphics or video programs, the dual-core almost s
eems excessive.
Compatibility with software: Sure, dual-core CPUs will run any software, but the
software itself has to be programmed for the dual-core CPU. Programmers have to
tell the software that when one CPU is overloading, it needs to switch some of
the tasks over to the second CPU.
The Quad-Core CPU
Quad-core CPUs contain four processors. Depending on the manufacturer, this can
mean that four cores are on the same integrated circuit or the same chip package
. Since these are a little more complicated that dual-core CPUs, there are some
variations on this design. For example, some chips may or may not share resource
s like caches. Its also possible to have a quad-core processor with the same type
s of chips (homogeneous multi-core systems) or different chips (heterogeneous mu
lti-core systems).
Advantages
Multitasking: The quad-core system is one of the best systems for multi-tasking.
With so many cores, it can do many processes at once, while still maintaining t
he integrity of the system.
Run intensive applications: Applications that use up a lot of resources, such as
graphics programs, video editors, and anti-virus programs, can run smoothly at
the same time.
Less heat and power consumption: Most of the newer quad-core chips are so small
and efficient; they can actually use less power and generate less heat than sing
le-core systems.
Use for long term: The problem with Moores Law is that it practically guaranteed
that your computer would be obsolete in about 24 months. Since few software prog
rams are programmed to run on dual-core, much less quad-core, these processors a
re actually way ahead of software development.
Disadvantages
Lowers battery life: Depending on the type of applications, quad-core systems ca
n drain batteries faster.
Available software: Software needs to be programmed to take full advantage of qu
ad-core CPUs, so not all programs can utilize the four processors.
Hardware compatibility: Multi-core processors are compatible with certain mother
boards, so its not as simple as swapping out the old CPU with a brand new one. Pu
rchase of a new motherboard may also necessitate the purchase of other component
s that are compatible with the motherboard.
How to Buy a Processor on eBay
Computer processors are specialty parts that may not be available just anywhere;
thats why most people tend to order it via phone or on the Internet. eBay is an
ideal place to purchase any kind of processor. Before you make any purchase, sav
e some time and register for an account if you dont have one yet.
Finding a Processor on eBay
Its easy to find processors on eBay, especially if you use the search box on the
home page. Just type in any search term that describes what youre looking for, su
ch as "quad-core Intel processor" or "IBM dual-core processor." If youre looking
for something particular, you can use Advanced search to help you further narrow
down the search results.
Purchasing Processors and Other Computer Parts in eBay Stores
If youre purchasing a processor, most likely youre also in the market for other co
mputer parts, such as motherboards, cases, and graphics cards. eBay Stores can h
elp save you time and shipping costs. eBay Stores hosts virtual stores from sell
ers all over the world. When you search using eBay Stores, youll be able to see t
he different stores that sell processors and the different items they sell. Try
purchasing from the same store to save on shipping costs.
Conclusion
Its hard to deny that computers are vital to the world today. They keep the world
running, and stop it from turning into chaos. Computers are getting faster each
year, or at least, they were. In 2004, computer chip makers seemed to have hit
the ceiling on computer speeds, and thus they started the trend of placing more
than one computer core in a single processor to allow chips to process more info
rmation at the same time. Now, aside from single-core processors, dual and quad-
core processors are fast becoming the norm. Each type of processor has its own a
dvantages and disadvantages. Single core processors generally feature less power
and heat than multi-core systems, while dual and quad-core systems can make any
computer feel blazingly fast. No matter the type of core, using eBay is one of
the best ways to purchase a computer processor.