Difference Between Single Core & Quad Core
The main difference between a single-core and quad-core processor is the number of cores available to each processor. A quad-core processor is very fast when compared with a single-core processor, mainly because of its multiple cores. However, single-core processors are still widely used because most users do not need any additional speed to run most applications on their computers.
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Cores
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A single-core processor has one core but a quad-core processor has four cores. Early versions of quad-core processors integrated the four cores on multiple circuit dies, but recent improvements allow manufacturers to integrate all four cores onto a single die. A “die” is a block of semiconducting material that is a part of most integrated circuits (ICs). Multiple cores on a single die tend to increase the efficiency of a processor because data can travel easily between cores on a single die rather than on separate dies.
Frequency
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The speed of a processor is measured by its frequency. A single-core processor and a quad-core processor clocked at the same frequency do not mean that the latter separates the frequency among each of its four cores. For example, a quad-processor processor clocked at 3.00 GHz (gigahertz) means that each core has a frequency of 3.00 GHz, which brings the combined frequency to 12.00 GHz, though it is usually not stated on the package of the processor.
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Multi-Tasking
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A quad-core processor is more efficient than a single-core processor when it comes to processing a large number of applications simultaneously. A quad-core processor uses a method known as multi-tasking to allocate different processes to each of its four cores. A single-core processor will have to divide its frequency among each process when running multiple programs, which tends to slow down the overall speed of the operating system.
x64 Support
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Every available quad-core processor supports the x64 (64-bit) architecture, which allows more frequency and system memory to be available to the operating system and other applications. However, all single-core processors except for the Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition and the AMD Athlon 64 Series does not feature x64 support. Single-core processors support only the x86 (32-bit) and older architectures, which are significantly slower when compared with the x64 architecture.
Expert Insight
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Quad-core processors are very efficient and significantly faster than single-core processors. Operating systems such as Windows Vista and Windows 7 are designed to take advantage of the multi-tasking technology in quad-core processors. However, single-core processors are ideal for running simple programs and surfing the Internet, and the extra speed of quad-core processors does not matter in such instances.
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