What advantage do dual core amd quad core processors have over single core?

Answer 1

The most gaping advantage can be very easilly explained through example:

Single core processors have a single thread, and can process a single set of instructions per clock cycle. This looks like this (Saying this processor can process 2 instructions a clock):

(Note this is in an optimal setting where data is perfectly threaded)

Clock 1: Instruction 1; Instruction 2;

Clock 2: Instruction 3; Instruction 4;

Clock 3: Instruction 5; Instruction 6;

Clock 4: Instruction 7; Instruction 8;

Dual-Core processing would do this same instruction set much quicker:

Clock 1: Instruction 1; Instruction 2; Instruction 3; Instruction 4

Clock 2: Instruction 5; Instruction 6; Instruction 7; Instruction 8

In a perfectly threaded application, two equivilent-performance cores on a dual core processor would power through the work twice as quickly as a single-core model. A quad-core with these specs would do the entire instruction set in a single clock.

Even if it isn't always a 2x increase, multiple-core procesors have a distinct advantage in a very large range of applications.

Answer 2

If you need to open a gazillion programs all at once, a quad core processor is certain to handle it; however, for the average, home user, I see no need for more than a dual core processor...and not an expensive one at that! My quad core shows little to no activity ever in cores 3 or 4 -- even though every program in my computer is open and I am doing a bit of "gaming."

Answer 3

Multi-core processor systems are capable of reading and executing multiple instructions simultaneously. For example, if a single-core processor can computer 100 instructions per second, a quad-core processor can do the same number of tasks, but in 0.25 seconds.

Answer 4

A quad processor is essentially a chip with four separate units that read data. The more computer central processing units (CPUs) that a computer has, the more efficient it will operate and function for the user.

Answer 5

A benefit of a multi-core processor is that it each processor acts independently from one another and therefore can perform calculations simultaneously. An example for a multi-core processor is the Intel I7 series.

Answer 6

The advantage of dual core and quad core processors over single core processors is that a dual or quad core processor can perform more calculations per second than a single core processor.