What are cores and threads and how do they affect processor performance?

Os processors They are the heart of any modern device, and understanding how they work is essential to knowing what to expect in terms of performance. Two of the main components that directly affect this performance are the cores and threads. Surely, when researching processors or the chips used in GPUs and mobile devices, you have come across these two terms.

But after all, what are these terms that we hear so much when it comes to CPUs? They are responsible for defining the number of tasks a processor can perform at the same time and the efficiency with which these tasks are carried out.

In this article we intend to simplify these concepts and show how they affect your computer’s performance, whether for everyday activities, such as browsing the internet, or for heavier tasks, such as video editing and games. Understand once and for all the role of cores and threads, their differences and how to use them to get the best out of your hardware. Let’s go!?

What are CPU cores?

CPU cores are the physical processing units within a processor. Each core is capable of performing a task independently, allowing the CPU to perform multiple operations simultaneously. This means that the more cores a processor has, the greater its ability to handle complex and demanding tasks.

Originally, processors only had a single core, which limited their multitasking capabilities. However, as technology advanced, manufacturers started adding more cores to improve performance. Today, it is common to find processors with four, eight or even more coreseach functioning independently to maximize efficiency.

In addition to having multiple cores, current chips also use cores with different capacities. In other words, depending on the architecture, it will have one or more super fast and powerful cores and other less powerful cores that will be used for less demanding tasks. This technique became known as big.LITTLE. If you want to learn a little more about her, just read the article below:

Cores are especially important for applications that require a lot of processing power, such as video rendering, gaming, and running multiple virtual machines. In these situations, the presence of multiple cores ensures that tasks are divided and carried out more quickly and efficiently, significantly improving the overall performance of the system.

What are threads?

Threads are sequences of instructions that a CPU core can process. While cores are physical units, threads are the smallest units of work that can be managed independently. Each core is capable of handling at least one thread, allowing several operations to be performed simultaneously. To understand this concept a little better, read the article below:

Physical threads are directly linked to the cores available on the processor, while logical threads are created through techniques such as Hyper-Threading. In a multi-core system, each core can support multiple logical threads, allowing the operating system to see more ‘cores’ than physically exist, which optimizes resource usage.

Hyper-Threading (Intel technology) and Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT, used by AMD) are techniques that allow each physical core to behave like two logical cores. This means that when a core is idle waiting for an operation to complete, it can start processing another thread, increasing efficiency. Although this technique does not double processing power, it significantly improves core utilization and allows for better task distribution.

Hyper-Threading was introduced by Intel in 2002, initially in Pentium 4 processors. AMD’s SMT works in a similar way, allowing each physical core to execute two lines of instructions in parallel, as long as the core’s resources allow it. This approach is ideal for tasks that are optimized for multiple threads, such as 3D rendering, software compilation, and general multitasking. The main advantage of Hyper-Threading and SMT is that it allows the CPU to utilize the maximum of its resources, minimizing downtime and increasing performance for compute-intensive tasks.

Differences between cores and threads

To understand how cores and threads impact processor performance, it’s important to explore their fundamental differences. Each has a specific role in processing and multitasking, and understanding these functions is essential to getting the most out of the hardware.

Cores are physical components of the processorthat is, they are the real units that carry out the processing. Already the threads are virtual componentsrepresenting sequences of instructions that can be distributed and managed by cores. While cores directly handle the execution of operations, threads allow these operations to be divided and managed more efficiently.

Cores are responsible for directly executing operations, and each core can process a task independently. Threads allow each core to process more than one task at the same time, increasing efficiency and multitasking capabilities. The more cores a processor has, the greater its ability to handle multiple operations simultaneously. Threads optimize the use of cores, allowing them to perform more work at the same time, reducing idle time.

Cores have a direct impact on the processor’s raw processing capacity. The more cores, the greater the ability to perform multiple operations at the same time, ideal for intensive tasks such as video editing and gaming. Threads help maximize the use of cores, ensuring that they are busy at all times, optimizing performance for tasks that can be performed in parallel.

Use cases for cores and threads

Cores and threads have distinct and complementary roles in different practical applications. Let’s look at some example use cases for gaming, video editing, and servers.

• Games: In modern games, additional cores are essential to ensure good performance, especially in games that use advanced physics or complex artificial intelligence. Threads are also important, as they help to distribute smaller tasks, such as calculating lighting and character movement, increasing the fluidity of the game and avoiding crashes.
• Video editing: Video editing programs such as Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve benefit greatly from multi-core processors. This is because rendering and applying effects are tasks that can be divided between several cores, speeding up the process. Additionally, multiple threads help manage other background activities, such as playing video while the software applies effects elsewhere in the project.
• Servers: In servers, especially in environments hosting multiple sites or virtual machines, each core can be dedicated to a specific task, such as serving a client request or maintaining a virtual machine. Threads, in turn, help to optimize the use of these cores, allowing multiple requests to be handled simultaneously without wasting resources.

When it comes to choosing between more cores or more threads, it is important to consider the type of task to be performed. More cores are needed when we are dealing with tasks that require heavy processing, such as rendering, simulations or intensive use of virtual machines. In these cases, each additional core increases the system’s ability to handle multiple operations at the same time, resulting in a significant improvement in overall performance.

On the other hand, multiple threads make a difference in situations where the objective is to make the most of available resources for tasks that can be parallelized, but that do not necessarily require raw processing power. Applications that involve multitasking, such as games optimized for multiple threads or audio and video editing, benefit from this approach because threads allow for more efficient use of cores, reducing idle time and improving overall multitasking performance.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between cores and threads is essential to making the most of your processor’s performance and choosing the best configuration for your needs. In general, cores determine raw processing capacity, while threads optimize the use of available resources.

Summary:

• CPU cores are physical units that allow the simultaneous processing of several tasks.
• Threads are sequences of instructions that use cores to execute multiple tasks in parallel.
• Difference between cores and threads: Cores are physical components, while threads are logical and help divide work more efficiently.
• Hyper-Threading e SMT allow one physical core to act as two logical ones, increasing efficiency without doubling processing power.
• Use cases: Gaming, video editing, and servers benefit from different combinations of cores and threads.
• When to choose more cores or more threads: Cores are best for heavy tasks and threads help maximize efficiency in using cores.

Understanding these concepts helps you make more informed choices about which CPU to purchase, ensuring that the processor is suitable for the specific tasks, whether multitasking, gaming or intensive data processing.