i5 dual core and i7 quad core say they do not support multiprocessing

Hi forum,

I was thinking about upgrading my dual core i5 to a quad core i7

when I look at the cpu specs they say they do not support multiprocessing

How is this possible if they are quad core and dual core? Does that mean only once core is being used?
I hear windows 8 only supports dual core? Is quad core even worth buying and using?


CPU-Upgrade: Intel Core i7-3610QM CPU

General specs
Microarchitecture: Ivy Bridge
Core Name: Ivy Bridge
Manufacturing Process: 0.022 micron
Socket Type: Socket G2
The Number of Cores: 4
The Number of Threads: 8
Multiprocessing: Not supported
Frequency: 2.3 GHz
Maximum Turbo Frequency: 3.3 GHz

 

Cores: 4, Threads: 8 - Multi-tasking cpu.

Multiprocessing: The ability to use two or more cpu's concurrently on the same Motherboard; not supported.


As to whether it is worth buying/using a QC based platform - it depends on your workflow.

Even for a 'lighter' workflow... If you demand the most responsive platform available today; yes, it is worth it.

 

Ok I still cant make sense of why a quad core processor can not do multiprocessing

does a quad core processor count as 1 cpu? or 4 cpu?

Does this mean my quad core cpu can only use 1 core at a time?



I read that a dual core or quad core should be a multiprocessing cpu

https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100904065415AAJJ2OB

Multiprocessing means the use of two or more Central Processing Units (CPU) at the same time. Most of new computers have dual-core processors, or feature two or more processors, therefore they are called multiprocessor computers.

 

1 CPU can have multiple cores and threads, and use all simultaneously.

Many CPU's are not designed to run in multiple CPU set ups though (can't have 2 x quad core processors).

 

Xeons can.

 

The above posters are correct. Multiprocessing normally means SMP Multiprocessing, multi core and Hyperthreading are a whole different aspect.

Symmetric multiprocessing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiprocessing

currently the only intel chips supported are Xeons.

example of a fun multiprocessor motherboard ( not intel )
http://tyan.com/Motherboards_S8812_S8812WGM3NR

 

great, thats what I thought but the yahoo answers website made me question my judgement

I just wanted to make sure before I upgrade my cpu

 

Yahoo 'answers' are usually not very accurate, nor trustworthy when technical details are important to understanding a topic.

 

Yahoo " Answers " is however really good for a laugh though

 

Sometimes its good but sometimes, its just a massive fail

 

It as good as the knowledge of the person answering it. But there is no qualifying test for their accuracy. That said, you should fir consider the complexity of the application: does the program even take advantage of quad-core processing?

 

Krane, the OP is talking about multi-tasking, not about a single program that can take advantage of multiple cores.

 

Blame Intel's twisting of naming conventions.
Technically speaking, all CPUs with more than 1 core is a multiprocessor. However, since technology has allowed dual, quad, hexa etc cores within the same CPU package. The term Multiprocessing now refers to the ability of the CPU to be used in tandem with other CPUs in a dual, quad, rackmount etc processor systems. IIRC, the Dual processor (i.e. 2 actual CPUs, perhaps with 4 cores each) systems are common within workstation machines but software support for NUMA is paramount.

In your scenario, a quadcore is a CPU with 4 execution cores + cache, memory controller, video block and iGPU. Consumer Intel CPUs don't support multiprocessing as they lack the high speed QPI interconnect required to talk to other CPUs, traditionally, only high-end Xeons have this capability.

 

Multiprocessing has been around for a long time. Even with dual cores and quad cores arrived with Core 2 and Athlon X2 architecture and their server CPU counterparts (Xeon, Opteron). There's multicore and multiprocessor. However, frequently cores are referred to as processors. To me a processor is a single physical package regardless of architecture or cores.

 

Insufficient data. Its even more confusing now.

 

Posts 1, 2 and 6.

All you need to know.

 

proper nomenclature helps sometimes.

Processor. a physical package with one or more Processing cores in that package.
Multiprocessing: able to allocate and use more that more than one physical Processor unit ( CPU package ) at once.
Multithreading : allows a single processing core to run out of sync instructions so acts as a logical core tied to its physical core ( acts like two )
Multi-core: a single processor package that has two ore more physical cores to divide up the workload in or out of sequence.

to make it a bit more simple I have a whole pile of i7 laotops that are all multicore ( 2-4 physical cores some with HT show as 8 ) but every one of these units has a single CPU soldered or socketeted onto the motherboard.

HOWEVER at home I have my render server ( its motherboard is linked in post 6 ) it has four separate CPU packages ( 16 core Opteron's to be exact ) socketed to that board. with special instruction sets and an extra bus that are not found in most " normal " CPU packages all 4 chips and all 64 cores act as a giant cluster on a single board.

Krane if you are much for the Star Trek think of SMP or multi CPU as the Borg. keep plugging them in until its fast/big enough.

yep, first one I ever saw was a dual CPU Pentium Pro circa 1996 for a Corel Draw demonstration.

 

Uniprocessor - one CPU package regardless of number of cores / threads.

Multiprocessor - more than one CPU package, also regardless of number of cores / threads.

 

Speaking of Star Trek: "your words have no meaning."


I know you guys mean well but in the future consider the analogy. Otherwise you're defining a word with other words that nobody understands,.

Reminds me of math class: A linear equation is an equation in the form Y= mx + b. Yes, its the correct definition, but in a language form that nobody speaks.

Just releasing some pent-up frustrations from my difficult HS past. No denigration intended.

 

I believe the equation is Y = mx + c and not b

 

Math *IS* the international language.

 

But would you like the answer given using the metric or imperial system?

*cough* ..if the Borg had limited multiplexing towards each intelligence in both bandwidth and instruction set width.

Funny how we're able to easily envision advanced and ruthless artificial intelligences sprouting out of what would.. probably really evolve into a .. twitchy duracell-bunny, that falls over, and gets stuck in an endless "recovery" loop, when it tries to nibble you for no reason.