What is Quad Core?

Quad Core Processors

A "core," in hardware jargon, is part of a central processing unit (CPU) that reads and executes program instructions; other parts of the CPU get instructions into and results out of the core. CPUs were originally developed with just one core. But in search of ever faster processing, chip makers developed CPUs that have multiple cores.

In a multi-core processor, two or more cores are wired together so that they process instructions cooperatively. It's like having two people picking tomatoes instead of one, or an 8-cylinder engine instead of 4 cylinders; the work goes faster and you get the desired results sooner. A two-core processor is called a dual-core; a quad-core processor has four cores.

A quad core CPU is about the highest-performing processor that one can get in a desktop computer these days. Quad core processors are used in high-end gaming machines; video processing workstations; computer-aided design (CAD) applications; statistical modeling; working with very large database files; and in other extremely calculation-intensive applications. Generally, quad core processors are used in highly profitable applications because they are not cheap to buy. Quad core servers, which process tasks for many users, are ideal applications for quad core technology.

Intel Corp., the dominant CPU manufacturer, sells quad core Xeon brand processors. A medium-fast clock speed quad core Xeon goes for around $300. AMD, Intel's smaller, feisty competitor, sells Opteron™ quad core processors for about half of Intel Xeon's price. Some say that AMD's quad core design is more elegant and efficient than Intel's.

Is a Quad Core Processor Right For You?

Before you buy a quad core processor, make sure the software you plan to use can actually benefit from quad core technology. Software must be written to take advantage of quad core's multiple streams of simultaneous data input and output; otherwise, you get only the performance of a single core or even less, as the software designed for a single core may have difficulty with four cores.

Quad cores come in 32- and 64-bit versions, and software must be designed for the matching bit bandwidth in order to maximize performance. A 32-bit core moves data in and out in blocks of 32 bits, while a 64-bit core does it twice as fast. But even if your software applications are not specifically designed for a quad core processor, you can benefit from the technology by using a newer operating system like Windows 7, which was designed to take advantage of multiple cores.

Also, consider the middle road of dual-core processors. There is a big difference between single- and dual-core performance, and a bit less of a difference between dual- and quad-core performance. The performance difference depends in part on your application. A good bit of research is necessary to determine with confidence whether a dual-core processor is sufficient for your needs, and whether the next step up to quad core is worth the price difference.

Quad core technology is not for everyone. But if you want the ultimate in desktop computing, a quad core processor is the best you can buy for now.

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