The History of Dual-Core Processor
The dual-core processor was developed after years of microprocessor developers continuously increasing CPU speeds in a competition to create the fastest processors. The chip companies still compete for processor performance, but now they have added the power of multiple processors to a single chip.
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Description
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A dual-core microprocessor is a computer CPU that contains two cores. These cores are basically separate processors but share some parts of the processor chip's circuitry.
Purpose
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Major processor companies have consistently competed against one another to increase CPU speed. As clock speed advancements slowed, chip makers found a way to get better performance form CPUs by creating them with multiple processing cores. Major chip manufacturers produced their first dual-core processors in 2005.
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Benefits
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Dual-core processors don't directly increase CPU clock speed but can perform two functions simultaneously. This often results in faster-running applications, but not always.
Concerns
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Dual-core processors generate more heat than single-core processors. New cooling designs had to be developed to combat extreme overheating, such as the ability for some processors to shut down a core when it is not in use. Another concern is that dual-core processors don't always perform better than single-core processors. Software has to be specially designed for dual-core processors to achieve their maximum benefits.
Future
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Chip makers are still fighting the battle for CPU performance, adding more cores to processors. As of 2010, quad-core processors are common and Anant Agarwal, chief executive of a California chip manufacturer, speculates that by 2017, desktop CPUs will have over 100 processor cores.
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References
- Photo Credit cpu 1 image by Robert Molnar from Fotolia.com
