tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923155.post111368485998980410..comments2024-03-14T23:53:22.777-06:00Comments on Base Technology: Introduction to Hyper-ThreadingJack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923155.post-1127236457035150592005-09-20T11:14:00.000-06:002005-09-20T11:14:00.000-06:00In general, an HT core is faster than a non-HT cor...In general, an HT core is faster than a non-HT core (asuuming that the hardware is otherwise identical), although there are reports that for some application test cases it is slower.<BR/><BR/>Two cores are certainly going to be faster than one core even if it is an HT core (for hardware that is otherwise identical).<BR/><BR/>It is debatable whether a dual-core "chip" is truly a single "CPU" or is in fact two CPU's. The general public may not be able to discern the difference, but the technical term central processing unit should have a clear technical meaning. The essence of "dual-core" is that each "core" has the vast bulk of a distinct processor. So, I'd lean toward saying that a dual-core chip is really a dual-CPU chip. The other criteria is that a processor or CPU is the hardware that is capable of processing the instruction stream for a single process thread. HT confuses things a little, but it's more the exception that proves the rule. Intel's marketing literature does seem to refer to their chip as a "processor", but that may be confusion on the part of the marketing staff than a technical judgment as to the meaning of the term processor. In other words, maybe we have to cope with two distinct senses for "processor": 1) hardware that can execute a process thread, and 2) integrated hardware (chip) that contains one or more sense #1 processors.<BR/><BR/>My point is that each of the cores of a dual-core "processor chip" functions AS IF it were a distinct processor.<BR/><BR/>BTW, Intel says they are working on supporting HT for each core of a dual-core processor, but its not clear when that will be happening.<BR/><BR/>See: http://www.intel.com/personal/desktopcomputer/dual_core/<BR/><BR/>-- Jack KrupanskyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923155.post-1127194273804000642005-09-19T23:31:00.000-06:002005-09-19T23:31:00.000-06:00so with all things being equal, which cpu is faste...so with all things being equal, which cpu is faster a P4 3.0Ghz with HT or a P4 3.0Ghz with dual core.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com