Multi-core CPUs started to invade the
market in 2005. Intel is the pioneer with multi-core model for servers based on
x86/x86-64 platforms of itself (Itanium chip series), AMD immediately responded
with dual-core Opteror chip models in April 2005. Intel took one step ahead
when introducing Pentium D chip for entry-level market in May 2005. This event
is considered “the starting point for the multi-core CPU competitions some
years later. This competition spread out from desktop segments to laptop
segments, from servers to smartphones and tablets. The number of cores is
changing all the time, from 2 cores to 4 cores, than 6 cores and even some
8-core chip has been outlined (Bulldozer construction of AMD). However, the
most popular to users are 2-core and quad-core chips, still. 6-core chips
hardly appear in the entry-level market. 8-core chips and so one are only
available for server systems. The question is, which should you choose to equip
your new computer, dual-core or quad-core?
Construction
of Pentium D chip
What does multi-core affect?
When your computer has a multi-core CPU, or
simply your computer can manage to do many things concurrently (multi-task), or
perform a great task more quickly than usual, if that apps are designed to
support multi-core. The definition of “multi-core” is easy to get: you can
browse the webs, check your emails regularly, process 20,000-cell Excel, and
those tasks are processed at high speed, because they do not have to take turns
like in single-core CPUs. When you handle only one task, CPU will separate it
into small fragments and assign them for the cores to process concurrently. It
results in the fact that your task will be processed much more quickly in
comparison with single-core CPUs. Another popular task is gaming. CPU will
distribute the 3D objects into many parts and blocks and each core will handle
a part of that object at the same time then they integrate the processed result
and output to the screen. Sounds simple? In general, imaging a multi-core CPU
is identical to a cash counter: the more cashiers, the more customers will
complete the payment processes concurrently.
So dual-core with high clocking frequency or quad-core is
more beneficial?
This is a question that I have set for
myself when comparing two 1st generation CPU core i7 620M and i7
720QM. One has 2 core but the clocking frequency is high (620M) and one has 4
cores but the clocking frequency is lower (72QQM).
Modern
construction of Core i7 chip
In general, for the normal tasks that we
use every day, the 2-core high-frequency chip will deliver a feeling of greater
speed than quad-core (with lower clocking frequency), simply because many softwares
now are designed to make full use of dual-core CPU. But, for heavy tasks
optimized for quad-core chips, quad-core chips will be much better than
dual-core chips in handling, no matter how high the clocking frequency is
(heavy 3D games, movie editors, photo editors, etc.)
A detailed example: Intel Core i3 2100
(dual-core, 3.1 GHz clocking frequency) in a Gateway ZX6961-UB20P can reach
2.639 scores for PCMark 7 (an app to check the daily working ability) but only
2.99 scores for Cinebench R11.5 (building 3D images benchmark).
Meanwhile, Intel Core i5 2500S (quad-core)
with much-lower clocking frequency of 2.7GHZ reaches 2.190 scores for PCMark 7
but 4.45 for CineBench.
So, what to choose?
If you are considering between dual-core
and quad-core, you get your answer based on your own demands. If you just need
it for normal demands such as browsing webs with many tabs, checking different
email accounts and playing simple games like Angry Bird, dual-core chip will
bring you best experiences with reasonable prices. If you have a passion for
gaming, especially 3D games, making movies and editing photos, quad-core CPUs
will be your best choice. Although the prices are higher, they do save you from
waiting.
However, when buying a new computer, we
tend to choose the stronger configuration than usual demands. But computers do
not include CPU only. It is a combination of other components. For example, CPU
is so quick but HDD is so slow, you have to wait to download the files and CPU
will be in the waiting mode. It is really a waste which is called “Bottleneck”
phenomenon. So, it is not necessary that CPU must be the strongest. Choose a
balanced configuration among CPU, mainboard, RAM, HDD/SDD and PSU and other
tiny things such as cooling glue or fan, which will help you to make full use
of performance and prolong the computer’s life. Finally, choices much depend on
your budget and interests, because dual-core and quad-core are only aimed at
demands of working or entertainment. It does not matter much how many cores it
has. The matter is your own satisfaction.
