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Which is better, the number of cores or the processor frequency? The whole truth about multi-core processors

Hello everyone. There has been a debate in the minds of users for a long time, what is better, high frequency or number of cores? Now there are many processors and they mainly differ either in the number of cores and frequency, or all at once, so to speak. Because these two points are the main factors that affect productivity.

So look, let me show with an example why sometimes many cores are better, and sometimes high frequency is better. Look, for example, let’s take an office computer, where they create and edit documents, use the Internet, and browsers. These are not particularly demanding tasks, but for comfort it is better that all this works quickly. Yes, you can take for example here Core processor i5 and it will still work quickly. But I would take the Pentium G3258 here (this is just an example), this is Penek, it has two cores and can be overclocked well. But it costs a lot less than the i5. You can overclock it to 4.4 GHz, so to speak safe overclocking. And these two cores at 4.4 GHz will allow you to get a fairly fast computer. And if you overclock it to 4.6 GHz, it's even better. At the same time, the processor does not heat up particularly terribly, but a good heatsink is, of course, necessary.

This overclocking of the Pentium G3258 will be justified both in terms of price and performance

Now let's take everyone's favorite games. Do you often play several games at the same time? I think not. Therefore in large quantities there is no point in cores. But on the other hand, two cores will not be enough. It's perfect here golden mean these are 4 cores, we have an i5 processor, I mean this for desktop computers, because i5 laptops can have either 2 cores and 4 threads, or just 4 cores, but laptop processors are definitely weaker. For games, the ideal is 4 cores at a high frequency, at least 4.2 GHz, this is already enough for a couple of years to come, as it seems to me. Well, for about three years that’s for sure. i7 is almost the same, but WEADER in power. You see. Not faster, but WIDER, that is, it will be able to pull something else besides the game, for example, a second game, if you are unique and play two games at the same time..

There is still such a moment. Regarding high frequency and two cores and why it is better for office computer. Are you sure that all your programs can run in multithreaded mode? And how well are they optimized for this mode? Well, what can I say, many programs work well in multi-threaded mode, old programs of course work worse. But whatever one may say, a NOT optimized program will work best on two powerful cores than on four with not very high frequency, well, for example 3 GHz. This is also a moment, take it into account if you choose a processor. So for a stupid office computer, I would take a dual-core processor with an unlocked multiplier, so that I could overclock it well later.

In general, it seems to me that the i7 is more suitable not for games, but for some more resource-intensive tasks. Well, for example, video processing, all sorts of photoshops, converting something... It’s also good for games, no doubt about it, and if you want to take a processor with a good power reserve, then of course it’s better to take an i7 (but it’s certainly not cheap).

Well, guys, that’s all, I hope that I was able to convey my thought to you and that everything was clear to you. Good luck to you and may you always have good mood

17.11.2016

The first computer processors with multiple cores appeared on the consumer market back in the mid-2000s, but many users still do not quite understand what multi-core processors are and how to understand their characteristics.

Video format of the article “The whole truth about multi-core processors”

A simple explanation of the question “what is a processor”

The microprocessor is one of the main devices in a computer. This dry official name is often shortened to simply “processor”). The processor is a microcircuit with an area comparable to a matchbox. If you like, the processor is like the engine in a car. The most important part, but not the only one. The car also has wheels, a body, and a player with headlights. But it is the processor (like a car engine) that determines the power of the “machine”.

Many people call a processor a system unit - a “box” inside which all the PC components are located, but this is fundamentally wrong. System unit- this is the computer case along with all its component parts - hard drive, RAM and many other details.

Processor Function - Compute. It doesn't matter which ones exactly. The fact is that all computer work is based solely on arithmetic calculations. Addition, multiplication, subtraction and other algebra - all this is done by a microcircuit called a “processor”. And the results of such calculations are displayed on the screen in the form of a game, a Word file, or just a desktop.

The main part of the computer that performs calculations is what is a processor.

What is a processor core and multi-core

From the beginning of processor centuries, these microcircuits were single-core. The core is, in fact, the processor itself. Its main and main part. Processors also have other parts - say, “legs”-contacts, microscopic “electrical wiring” - but it is the block that is responsible for calculations that is called processor core. When processors became very small, engineers decided to combine several cores inside one processor “case”.

If you imagine a processor as an apartment, then the core is a large room in such an apartment. A one-room apartment is one processor core (a large room-hall), a kitchen, a bathroom, a corridor... A two-room apartment is like two processor cores along with other rooms. There are three-, four-, and even 12-room apartments. The same is the case with processors: inside one “apartment” crystal there can be several “room” cores.

Multi-core- This is the division of one processor into several identical functional blocks. The number of blocks is the number of cores inside one processor.

Types of multi-core processors

There is a misconception: “the more cores a processor has, the better.” This is exactly how marketers, who are paid to create this kind of misconception, try to present the matter. Their job is to sell cheap processors, moreover, more expensive and in huge quantities. But in fact, the number of cores is far from main characteristic processors.

Let's return to the analogy of processors and apartments. A two-room apartment is more expensive, more comfortable and more prestigious than a one-room apartment. But only if these apartments are located in the same area, equipped in the same way, and their renovation is similar. There are weak quad-core (or even 6-core) processors that are significantly weaker than dual-core ones. But it’s hard to believe in this: of course, the magic of large numbers 4 or 6 against “some” two. However, this is exactly what happens very, very often. It seems like the same four-room apartment, but in a ruined state, without renovation, in a completely remote area - and even at the price of a luxurious two-room apartment in the very center.

How many cores are there inside a processor?

For personal computers and laptops, single-core processors have not been produced properly for several years, and it is very rare to find them on sale. The number of cores starts from two. Four cores - as a rule, this is more expensive processors, but there is a return from them. There are also 6-core processors, which are incredibly expensive and much less useful in practical terms. Few tasks can achieve a performance boost on these monstrous crystals.

There was an experiment by AMD to create 3-core processors, but this is already in the past. It turned out quite well, but their time has passed.

By the way, AMD company also produces multi-core processors, but, as a rule, they are significantly weaker than competitors from Intel. True, their price is much lower. You just need to know that 4 cores from AMD will almost always be noticeably weaker than the same 4 cores made by Intel.

Now you know that processors come with 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 cores. Single-core and 12-core processors are very rare. Triple-core processors are a thing of the past. Six-core processors are either very expensive (Intel) or not so strong (AMD) that you pay more for the number. 2 and 4 cores are the most common and practical devices, from the weakest to the most powerful.

Multi-core processor frequency

One of the characteristics computer processors- their frequency. Those same megahertz (and more often gigahertz). Frequency is an important characteristic, but far from the only one. Yes, perhaps not the most important one. For example, a dual-core 2 gigahertz processor is a more powerful offering than its single-core 3 gigahertz counterpart.

It is completely incorrect to assume that the frequency of a processor is equal to the frequency of its cores multiplied by the number of cores. To put it simply, a 2-core processor with a core frequency of 2 GHz general frequency In no case is it equal to 4 gigahertz! Even the concept of “common frequency” does not exist. IN in this case, CPU frequency equal exactly 2 GHz. No multiplication, addition or other operations.

And again we will “turn” processors into apartments. If the ceiling height in each room is 3 meters, then the total height of the apartment will remain the same - the same three meters, and not a centimeter higher. No matter how many rooms there are in such an apartment, the height of these rooms does not change. Also clock frequency processor cores. It does not add up or multiply.

Virtual multi-core, or Hyper-Threading

There are also virtual processor cores. Hyper-Threading technology in Intel processors makes the computer “think” that there are actually 4 cores inside a dual-core processor. Very similar to how the one and only HDD divided into several logical — local disks C, D, E and so on.

HyperThreading is a very useful technology for a number of tasks.. Sometimes it happens that the processor core is only half used, and the remaining transistors in its composition are idle. Engineers came up with a way to make these “idlers” work, too, by dividing each physical processor core into two “virtual” parts. It’s as if a fairly large room was divided into two by a partition.

Does this make any practical sense? trick with virtual cores? Most often - yes, although it all depends on specific tasks. It seems that there are more rooms (and most importantly, they are used more rationally), but the area of ​​​​the room has not changed. In offices, such partitions are incredibly useful, and in some residential apartments too. In other cases, there is no point at all in partitioning the room (dividing the processor core into two virtual ones).

Note that the most expensive and productive class processorsCorei7 mandatory equippedHyperThreading. They have 4 physical cores and 8 virtual ones. It turns out that 8 computational threads work simultaneously on one processor. Less expensive, but also powerful processors Intel class Corei5 consist of four cores, But Hyper Threading doesn't work there. It turns out that Core i5 work with 4 threads of calculations.

Processors Corei3- typical “average”, both in price and performance. They have two cores and no hint of Hyper-Threading. In total it turns out that Corei3 only two computational threads. The same applies to frankly budget crystals Pentium andCeleron. Two cores, no hyper-threading = two threads.

Does a computer need many cores? How many cores does a processor need?

All modern processors powerful enough for normal tasks. Browsing the Internet, correspondence on social networks and e-mail, office tasks Word-PowerPoint-Excel: weak Atom, budget Celeron and Pentium are suitable for this work, not to mention the more powerful Core i3. Two cores for regular work more than enough. Processor with big amount cores will not bring a significant increase in speed.

For games you should pay attention to processorsCorei3 ori5. Rather, gaming performance will depend not on the processor, but on the video card. Rarely does a game require the full power of a Core i7. Therefore, it is believed that games require no more than four processor cores, and more often two cores are suitable.

For serious work like special engineering programs, video encoding and other resource-intensive tasks Really productive equipment is required. Often, not only physical, but also virtual processor cores are used here. The more computing threads, the better. And it doesn’t matter how much such a processor costs: for professionals, the price is not so important.

Are there any benefits to multi-core processors?

Absolutely yes. The computer simultaneously deals with several tasks - at least Windows work(by the way, these are hundreds different tasks) and, at the same moment, playing the film. Playing music and browsing the Internet. Job text editor and music turned on. Two processor cores - and this is, in fact, two processors - will cope with different tasks faster than one. Two cores will make this a little faster. Four is even faster than two.

In the first years of the existence of multi-core technology, not all programs were able to work even with two processor cores. By 2014, the vast majority of applications understand and can take advantage of multiple cores. The speed of processing tasks on a dual-core processor rarely doubles, but there is almost always a performance increase.

Therefore, the deep-rooted myth that programs cannot use multiple cores is outdated information. Once upon a time this was indeed the case, today the situation has improved dramatically. The benefits of multiple cores are undeniable, that's a fact.

When the processor has fewer cores, it’s better

You should not buy a processor using the incorrect formula “the more cores, the better.” This is wrong. Firstly, 4, 6 and 8-core processors are significantly more expensive than their dual-core counterparts. A significant increase in price is not always justified from a performance point of view. For example, if an 8-core processor turns out to be only 10% faster than a CPU with fewer cores, but is 2 times more expensive, then it will be difficult to justify such a purchase.

Secondly, the more cores a processor has, the more voracious it is in terms of energy consumption. There is no point in buying a much more expensive laptop with a 4-core (8-thread) Core i7 if the laptop will only handle processing text files, browsing the Internet and so on. There will be no difference with the dual-core (4 threads) Core i5, and the classic Core i3 with only two computational threads will not be inferior to its more eminent “colleague”. And from a battery like this powerful laptop will work much less than the economical and undemanding Core i3.

Multi-core processors in mobile phones and tablets

The fashion for several computing cores inside one processor also concerns mobile devices. Smartphones and tablets with a large number of cores almost never use the full capabilities of their microprocessors. Dual-core mobile computers sometimes actually work a little faster, but 4, and even more so 8 cores are frankly overkill. The battery is consumed absolutely shamelessly, and powerful computing devices they simply stand idle. Conclusion - multi-core processors in phones, smartphones and tablets are just a tribute to marketing, not urgent need. Computers are more demanding devices than phones. They really need two processor cores. Four won't hurt. 6 and 8 are overkill for normal tasks and even games.

How to choose a multi-core processor and not make a mistake?

The practical part of today's article is relevant for 2014. It is unlikely that anything will change significantly in the coming years. We will only talk about processors manufactured by Intel. Yes, AMD offers good solutions, but they are less popular and more difficult to understand.

Note that the table is based on processors from 2012-2014. Older samples have different characteristics. Also, we did not mention rare CPU options, for example, a single-core Celeron (there are such even today, but this is an atypical option, which is almost not represented on the market). You should not choose processors solely by the number of cores inside them - there are others, more important characteristics. The table will only make it easier to select a multi-core processor, but specific model(and there are dozens of them in each class) should be purchased only after carefully familiarizing yourself with their parameters: frequency, heat dissipation, generation, cache size and other characteristics.

CPU Number of Cores Computational threads Typical Application
Atom 1-2 1-4 Low-power computers and netbooks. The goal of Atom processors is to minimize power consumption. Their productivity is minimal.
Celeron 2 2 The cheapest processors for desktops and laptops. Performance is enough for office tasks, but these are not gaming CPUs at all.
Pentium 2 2 Intel processors are just as inexpensive and low-performance as Celeron. An excellent choice for office computers. Pentiums are equipped with a slightly larger cache, and, sometimes, slightly increased characteristics compared to Celeron
Core i3 2 4 Two fairly powerful cores, each of which is divided into two virtual “processors” (Hyper-Threading). These are already quite powerful CPUs without being too high prices. Good choice for home or power office computer without special demands on performance.
Core i5 4 4 Full-fledged 4-core Core i5 processors are quite expensive. Their performance is lacking only in the most demanding tasks.
Core i7 4-6 8-12 The most powerful, but especially expensive Intel processors. As a rule, they are rarely faster than Core i5, and only in some programs. There are simply no alternatives to them.

A brief summary of the article “The whole truth about multi-core processors.” Instead of a note

  • CPU core- his component. In fact, an independent processor inside the case. Dual-core processor - two processors inside one.
  • Multi-core comparable to the number of rooms inside the apartment. Two-room apartments are better than one-room apartments, but only with other characteristics being equal (location of the apartment, condition, area, ceiling height).
  • The statement that the more cores a processor has, the better it is- a marketing ploy, a completely wrong rule. After all, an apartment is chosen not only by the number of rooms, but also by its location, renovation and other parameters. The same applies to multiple cores inside the processor.
  • Exists "virtual" multi-core— Hyper-Threading technology. Thanks to this technology, each “physical” core is divided into two “virtual” ones. It turns out that a 2-core processor with Hyper-Threading has only two real cores, but these processors simultaneously process 4 computational threads. This is a really useful feature, but a 4-thread processor cannot be considered a quad-core processor.
  • For desktop Intel processors: Celeron - 2 cores and 2 threads. Pentium - 2 cores, 2 threads. Core i3 - 2 cores, 4 threads. Core i5 - 4 cores, 4 threads. Core i7 - 4 cores, 8 threads. Laptop (mobile) CPU Intel have a different number of cores/threads.
  • For mobile computers Energy efficiency (in practice, battery life) is often more important than the number of cores.

When buying a processor, many people try to choose something cooler, with several cores and a high clock speed. But few people know what the number of processor cores actually affects. Why, for example, can a regular and simple dual-core processor be faster than a quad-core processor, or the same “percent” with 4 cores be faster than a “percent” with 8 cores. It's pretty interesting topic, which is definitely worth understanding in more detail.

Introduction

Before we begin to understand what the number of processor cores affects, I would like to make a small digression. Just a few years ago, CPU developers were confident that manufacturing technologies, which are developing so rapidly, would allow them to produce “stones” with clock speeds of up to 10 GHz, which would allow users to forget about problems with poor performance. However, success was not achieved.

No matter how the technological process developed, both Intel and AMD ran into purely physical limitations that simply did not allow them to produce processors with a clock frequency of up to 10 GHz. Then it was decided to focus not on frequencies, but on the number of cores. Thus, a new race began to produce more powerful and productive processor “crystals”, which continues to this day, but not as actively as it was at first.

Intel and AMD processors

Today, Intel and AMD are direct competitors in the processor market. If you look at revenue and sales, the clear advantage will be on the side of the Blues, although Lately The Reds are trying to keep up. Both companies have a good range ready-made solutions for all occasions - from simple processor from 1-2 cores to real monsters, in which the number of cores exceeds 8. Typically, such “stones” are used on special work “computers” that have a narrow focus.

Intel

So, today we have Intel 5 types of processors are successful: Celeron, Pentium, and i7. Each of these "stones" has a different number of cores and is designed for different tasks. For example, Celeron has only 2 cores and is used mainly on office and home computers. Pentium, or, as it is also called, “stump”, is also used at home, but already has much better performance, primarily due to Hyper-Threading technology, which “adds” two more virtual cores to the physical two cores, which are called threads . Thus, a dual-core “percent” works like the most budget quad-core processor, although this is not entirely correct, but this is the main point.

As for the Core line, the situation is approximately the same. The younger model with the number 3 has 2 cores and 2 threads. The older line - Core i5 - already has full-fledged 4 or 6 cores, but lacks the Hyper-Threading function and does not have additional threads, except for 4-6 standard ones. Well, the last thing - core i7 is top processors, which typically have 4 to 6 cores and twice as many threads, i.e., for example, 4 cores and 8 threads or 6 cores and 12 threads.

AMD

Now it’s worth talking about AMD. The list of “pebbles” from this company is huge; there is no point in listing everything, since most of the models are simply outdated. It is perhaps worth noting the new generation, which in a sense “copies” Intel - Ryzen. This line also contains models with numbers 3, 5 and 7. The main difference from Ryzen’s “blue” ones is that the youngest model immediately provides full 4 cores, while the older one has not 6, but eight. In addition, the number of threads changes. Ryzen 3 - 4 threads, Ryzen 5 - 8-12 (depending on the number of cores - 4 or 6) and Ryzen 7 - 16 threads.

It’s worth mentioning another “red” line - FX, which appeared in 2012, and, in fact, this platform is already considered obsolete, but thanks to the fact that now more and more more programs and games begin to support multi-threading, the Vishera line has regained popularity, which, along with low prices only growing.

Well, as for the debate regarding the processor frequency and the number of cores, then, in fact, it is more correct to look towards the second, since everyone has long ago decided on clock frequencies, and even top models from Intel operate at nominal 2.7, 2.8, 3 GHz. In addition, the frequency can always be increased using overclocking, but in the case of a dual-core processor this will not give much effect.

How to find out how many cores

If someone does not know how to determine the number of processor cores, then this can be done easily and simply even without downloading and installing separate special programs. Just go to the "Device Manager" and click on the small arrow next to the "Processors" item.

Get more detailed information You can find out what technologies your “stone” supports, what its clock frequency is, its revision number and much more using a special and small program called CPU-Z. You can download it for free on the official website. There is a version that does not require installation.

The advantage of two cores

What could be the advantage dual core processor? There are many things, for example, in games or applications, in the development of which single-threaded work was the main priority. Take the game Wold of Tanks as an example. The most common dual-core processors such as Pentium or Celeron will produce quite decent performance results, while some FX from AMD or INTEL Core will use much more of their capabilities, and the result will be approximately the same.

The better 4 cores

How can 4 cores be better than two? Better performance. Quad-core “stones” are designed for more serious work, where simple “stumps” or “celerons” simply cannot cope. An excellent example here would be any 3D graphics program, such as 3Ds Max or Cinema4D.

During the rendering process, these programs use maximum computer resources, including RAM and processor. Dual-core CPUs will be very slow in render processing time, and the more complex the scene, the longer they will take. But processors with four cores will cope with this task much faster, since additional threads will come to their aid.

Of course, you can take some budget “protsik” from the Core i3 family, for example, the 6100 model, but 2 cores and 2 additional threads will still be inferior to a full-fledged quad-core one.

6 and 8 cores

Well, the last segment of multi-cores is processors with six and eight cores. Their main purpose, in principle, is exactly the same as that of the CPU above, only they are needed where ordinary “fours” cannot cope. In addition, full-fledged specialized computers are built on the basis of “stones” with 6 and 8 cores, which will be “tailored” for certain activities, for example, video editing, 3D modeling programs, rendering ready-made heavy scenes with a large number of polygons and objects, etc. .d.

In addition, such multi-core processors perform very well when working with archivers or in applications that require good computing capabilities. In games that are optimized for multi-threading, such processors have no equal.

What is affected by the number of processor cores?

So, what else can the number of cores affect? First of all, to increase energy consumption. Yes, as surprising as this may sound, it is true. There is no need to worry too much, because Everyday life this problem, so to speak, will not be noticeable.

The second is heating. The more cores, the better the cooling system is needed. A program called AIDA64 will help you measure the processor temperature. When starting, you need to click on “Computer” and then select “Sensors”. You need to monitor the temperature of the processor, because if it constantly overheats or works too hot high temperatures, then after some time it will simply burn out.

Dual-core processors are unfamiliar with this problem, because they do not have very high performance and heat dissipation, respectively, but multi-core processors do. The hottest stones are those from AMD, especially the FX series. For example, take the FX-6300 model. The processor temperature in the AIDA64 program is around 40 degrees and this is in idle mode. Under load, the number will increase and if overheating occurs, the computer will turn off. So, when buying a multi-core processor, you should not forget about the cooler.

What else does the number of processor cores affect? For multitasking. Dual-core processors will not be able to provide stable performance when running two, three or more programs simultaneously. The simplest example is streamers on the Internet. Apart from the fact that they are playing some game on high settings, they have a program running in parallel that allows you to broadcast game process to the Internet online, an Internet browser with several open pages, where the player, as a rule, reads the comments of the people watching him and follows other information. Not even every multi-core processor can provide proper stability, not to mention dual- and single-core processors.

It is also worth saying a few words that multi-core processors have very useful thing, which is called "L3 Cache". This cache has a certain amount of memory that is constantly written to various information about running programs, performed actions, etc. All this is needed in order to increase the speed of the computer and its performance. For example, if a person often uses Photoshop, then this information will be stored in memory, and the time to launch and open the program will be significantly reduced.

Summarizing

Summarizing the conversation about what the number of processor cores affects, we can come to one simple conclusion: if you need good performance, performance, multitasking, work in heavy applications, the ability to comfortably play modern games etc., then your choice is a processor with four cores or more. If you need a simple “computer” for the office or home use, which will be used to a minimum, then 2 cores are what is needed. In any case, when choosing a processor, first of all you need to analyze all your needs and tasks, and only then consider any options.

Good day, dear visitor. Today we’ll talk about what processor cores are and what function they perform. We want to say right away that we are not going to go into the jungle, which not every tech geek can handle. Everything will be accessible, understandable and relaxed, so grab your sandwiches.

I would like to start with the fact that the processor is the central module in the computer, which is responsible for all mathematical calculations, logical operations and data processing. In fact, all its power is concentrated, oddly enough, in the core. Their quantity determines the speed, intensity and quality of processing of the received information. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at the component.

Main characteristics of CPU cores

The core is a physical element of the processor (not to be confused with logical cores -), which affects the performance of the system as a whole.

Each product is built on a specific architecture, which indicates a certain set of properties and capabilities inherent in the line of manufactured chips.

The main distinguishing feature is the size of the transistors used in the production of the chip. The indicator is measured in nanometers. It is transistors that are the basis for the CPU: the more of them placed on the silicon substrate, the more powerful a particular instance of the chip is.

Let's take for example two models of devices from Intel - Core i7 2600k and Core i7 7700k. Both have 4 cores in the processor, but the process technology is significantly different: 32 nm versus 14 nm, respectively, with the same die area. What does this affect? The latter shows the following indicators:

  • base frequency - higher;
  • heat dissipation is lower;
  • the set of executable instructions is wider;
  • maximum throughput memory - more;
  • support more functions.

In other words, reduction in technical process = increase in productivity. This is an axiom.

Kernel functions

The central processor core performs 2 main types of tasks:

  • intrasystem;
  • custom.

The second includes application support functions through the use of a software environment. Actually, application programming is precisely designed to load the CPU with the tasks that it will perform. The developer's goal is to set the priorities for the execution of a particular procedure.

Modern operating systems allow you to intelligently use all processor cores, which gives maximum system productivity. From this it is worth noting a banal but logical fact: the more physical cores on the processor, the faster and more stable your PC will work.

How to enable all cores to work

Some users are chasing maximum performance want to use the full processing power of the CPU. There are several ways to do this, which can be used individually or combined several points:

  • unlocking hidden and unused cores (not suitable for all processors - you need to study the instructions on the Internet in detail and check your model);
  • activation of the mode to increase the frequency for a short period;
  • manual overclocking of the processor.

The simplest method is to run everything at once active cores, as follows:

  • open the Start menu with the corresponding button;
  • enter the command “msconfig.exe” in the search bar (only without quotes);
  • open the item “ Extra options" and set the required values ​​in the "number of processors" column, having previously activated the checkbox opposite the line.

How to enable all cores in Windows 10?

Now, when Windows starts, all computing physical cores will work at once (not to be confused with threads).

For owners of old AMD processors

the following information will be useful for owners of old AMD processors. If you are still using the following chips, you will be pleasantly surprised:
The technology for unlocking additional cores is called ACC (Advanced Clock Calibration). It is supported in the following chipsets:
The utility that allows you to open additional kernels is called differently for each manufacturer:
In this simple way you can turn a 2-core system into a 4-core one. Most of you didn't even know about this, right? Let's hope I helped you achieve productivity improvements for free.

In this article, I tried to explain to you in as much detail as possible what a core is, what it consists of, what functions it performs and what potential it has.

In the following educational programs, many more interesting things await you, and therefore not material. Bye bye.

It greatly depends on the number of cores in the central processor. overall performance systems, especially in multitasking mode. You can find out their number using either third-party software or standard Windows methods.

Most processors are now 2-4 core, but there are expensive models For gaming computers and data centers with 6 and even 8 cores. Previously, when the central processor had only one core, all performance was in the frequency, and working with several programs at the same time could completely hang the OS.

You can determine the number of cores, as well as look at the quality of their work, using solutions built into Windows itself, or third party programs(the article will discuss the most popular of them).

Method 1: AIDA64

- This popular program to monitor computer performance and conduct various tests. The software is paid, but it is available test period, which is enough to find out the number of cores in the CPU. The AIDA64 interface has been completely translated into Russian.

The instructions look like this:


Method 2: CPU-Z

– free program, which allows you to get all the basic information about your computer components. It has a simple interface, which is translated into Russian.

To find out the number of cores using this software, you just need to run it. In the main window, find at the very bottom, on the right side, the item "Cores". Opposite it will be written the number of cores.

Method 3: Task Manager

This method is only suitable for users of Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Follow these steps to find out the number of cores this way:


Method 4: Device Manager

This method is suitable for everyone Windows versions. When using it, you should remember that for some Intel processors the information may be displayed incorrectly. The fact is that Intel CPUs are used Hyper-threading technology, which divides one processor core into several threads, thereby increasing performance. But at the same time "Device Manager" can see different threads on the same core as multiple separate cores.

The step-by-step instructions look like this:


It is not difficult to independently find out the number of cores in the central processor. You can also simply look at the specifications in the documentation for your computer/laptop, if you have it at hand. Or Google the processor model if you know it.