Multi-core proccesors

In 2005 AMD introduced the first commercially available dual-core processor, officially pushing the envelope and challenging the traditional concept of single core processors and introducing the multi-core processor concept. A multi-core processor is composed of two or more independent processors combined on the same integrated circuit. The benefit of having multiple processors on the same integrated circuit is that it is easy to transfer data from one possessor to the next, thus allowing for faster clock speed ( a measurement of processor performance). (1)

The developments of dual-core has had two main advantages. First it has enabled greater overall performance than single-core processors. The main limitation of processors is that the faster the clock speeds they run at the more power they consume and the more heat they generate. Once it the temperature gets too high the processors face several problems limiting performance. Thus by spreading the processes over two or more cores this high temperatures are not achieved and overall performance is greater. This additional performance has allowed software used in business such as ERA, CRM and data mining to process data at a much faster rate and give results at in less time. This creates a competitive advantage for in today's fast paced business environment, an advantage which may allow your business to excel. (2)

Here are various processes which benefit from increased performance of multi-processors:

The other advantage of multi-core processors is that power and thermal reduction. This in the long run will save business money and will be better for the environment.

The technology however still has a long way to go. It is still very expensive and there are some software difficulties as the new proccessors are not always compatibale with the old software used to run single-core processors and new new software to allow effective communication between multiple processors. In addition, the theory suggests that having 2 seperate processors each on a seperate integrated circuit would have more performance then dual-core, however the limitation is as we mentioned the slow interconnection between the two processes, once a solution to this problem is found it is likely that manufacture such as Intel and AMD will switch back to multiple-processors.

The technelogical challenge now is how many processors can be fit on the same integrated circuit and how to reduce the price to make it more commercial.

1- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-core
2-ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/eserver/benchmarks/Benefits_of_Dual_Core--Intel.pdf