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Multicore Programming

This document discusses the transition from single-core to multi-core CPUs. It defines terms like dual-core, quad-core, and hexa-core to refer to CPUs with 2, 4, and 6 cores respectively. It distinguishes between dual-core, which is a generic term, and Core 2 Duo, Intel's specific dual-core product. It also discusses how multitasking and multithreading work differently on single-core vs multi-core CPUs. Finally, it provides an overview of CPU cache levels 1-3 and the front-side bus that connects the CPU to other hardware components.

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Faith Morilla
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53 views8 pages

Multicore Programming

This document discusses the transition from single-core to multi-core CPUs. It defines terms like dual-core, quad-core, and hexa-core to refer to CPUs with 2, 4, and 6 cores respectively. It distinguishes between dual-core, which is a generic term, and Core 2 Duo, Intel's specific dual-core product. It also discusses how multitasking and multithreading work differently on single-core vs multi-core CPUs. Finally, it provides an overview of CPU cache levels 1-3 and the front-side bus that connects the CPU to other hardware components.

Uploaded by

Faith Morilla
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Supplemental Material on

Multicore CPUs
10 July 2010
Single Core to Multicore
Processors were
originally developed with
only one core.
 The core is the part of
the processor that
actually performs the
reading and executing of
the instruction.
Multi-core
◦ Dual core – 2 cores
◦ Quad core – 4 cores
◦ Hexa core – 6 cores
Dual Core vs Core 2 Duo
Dual core - generic name given to processors
that have 2 cores on the same chip
Core 2 Duo - name given by Intel to its second
batch of dual core processors. It is a subset of
dual core processors available today.
◦ Intel’s dual core processors were simply 2 Pentium
3 processors that were fabricated in a single chip.
As they refined their product more, they decided to
differentiate their second set of processors from the
Core Duo and decided to call it Core 2 Duo.
Multitasking with a single core CPU
Multitasking with multi-core CPU
Multithreading on multi-core CPU
CPU Cache: Level 1, 2, 3
 Level 1 cache
◦ Primary; small, high-speed cache incorporated right onto the processor’s
chip
 Level 2 cache
◦ Secondary; used to catch recent accesses that are not caught by the level
1 cache
◦ Larger and slightly slower than level 1
◦ “External cache” found either on the motherboard or a daughterboard
that inserts into the motherboard; located between RAM and CPU
 Pentium Pro processors actually have the level 2 cache in the same package as the
processor itself (though it isn't in the same circuit where the processor and level 1 cache
are) which means it runs much faster than level 2 cache that is separate and resides on the
motherboard. Pentium II processors are in the middle; their cache runs at half the speed
of the CPU.
 Level 3 cache
◦ Larger and slower than level 2, but still faster than fetching from RAM
Buses
FSB – connects CPU to
various hardware
components
◦ Speed depends on how
wide the front side bus is,
its frequency, and the
amount of data it can
process per clock tick of
the CPU.
BSB/cache bus –
connects CPU to level
2 and level 3 cache EV6 FRONT SIDE BUS

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