Quad-Core is what? Processor type Quad-Core

The term Quad-Core is familiar to many enthusiasts of digital technology. It is interesting primarily because it is used in a variety of contexts. What does this concept mean? Which brand manufacturers regularly use it in naming the produced electronic components? Are there devices in Russia in respect of which this term is applicable?

Definition

Quad-Core is what? The designation of a brand of a device or the collective name of devices, united by some characteristic? You can say that both. The point is that this concept has a direct translation - "four cores". Thus the first word, quad, - Latin, and the second, core, - English.

This term, thus, refers to electronic components (almost always - processors), which are equipped with four cores. At the same time, the concept under consideration is also used for naming specific brands of chips. In this case, certain sorts of permutations are possible in the sequence of each of the constituent words. For example, there is a processor such as Intel Core 2 Quad. The number of cores in a chip of this type determines the number of simultaneous data streams that the chip can handle. That is, a computer program can distribute internal computations in such a way that they are implemented by the processor simultaneously within several threads, and in fact - faster.

It is also worth noting that in the Russian-language online space, and even in English, too, the term Quad-Core is rarely used to designate the brand of any electronic component. Therefore, we can say that wherever we hear or read this term, it is most likely used in the context of any quad-core chip. It can be a processor type Intel Quad-Core or a certain type of mobile device.

4 core: subtleties of interpretation of the term

Of course, in the speech turnover of IT professionals, both Russian and foreign, the concept of Quad-Core for quad-core devices in principle, that is, without binding to a specific chip or device, is fairly regular. More often, of course, because of greater linguistic proximity to the term it is used by foreigners. In the Russian version, as a rule, direct translation is used - "quad-core".

Our task is to study the concept under consideration in the context of applicability to specific brands of devices and electronic components. However, where appropriate, we will apply the term in question in a free form - in a foreign manner. Let's start our little research with Intel Core 2 Quad, a powerful quad-core processor for PC.

Four cores by Intel version

We will study the basic information about the chip. Its full name is Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600. Sometimes a shorter and slightly modified processor name occurs. It sounds like the Core Quad Q6600. This is not a single chip model, but a whole series. It was released in 2007-2011, however, in terms of performance, each of the processors belonging to it as a whole quite satisfies most of the requirements that are relevant for today's users. Moreover, some types of microcircuits produced within the framework of the line in question are, to a certain extent, ahead of their time. A little later we will see why.

The processors of the Intel Quad-Core series were produced in the frequency range of 2.33-3.2 GHz, they used the technology of 65 and 45 nm. The chips were equipped with four cores by combining in one case two crystals of the Core 2 Duo type. Separately, they were also installed in dual-core chips. Is it possible to say that the Quad-Core processor outperformed the Core 2 Duo in terms of performance? Has its actual capacity doubled in the fact of doubling the number of nuclei? There is a thesis that buying a Quad-Core processor is something like getting into a marketing ploy: most of today's games and software still do not use 4 cores. Is he just?

Four cores vs. two: Is there a real growth in performance?

Comparing the Quad-Core processor from Intel and its "younger brothers" with two cores should be carefully in the sense that to correctly correlate characteristics and performance, you should choose processors with a fundamentally similar architecture. One of the possible criteria is that the only significant difference is the number of nuclei. Another possible indicator is the similarity of price. It is always interesting to determine which of the two processors: Quad-Core (4 cores) or the one that has a half the number of processed data streams, will be more productive at the same price.

Not bad for this purpose, as noted by some IT experts, such chips as the quad-core Core 2 Quad Q9300, as well as its "younger dual core" Core 2 Duo E8500. It is interesting that Duo and Quad-Core have almost the same price - about 7 thousand rubles. The quad-core chip works on the basis of Yorkfield technology, it is made on the architecture of 45 nm. The nominal frequency is 2.5 GHz, in the overclocked state it is 3.3 GHz. The dual-core processor from Intel functions on the Wolfdale core, the architecture is 45 nm, the clock frequency is 3.1 GHz. That is, not only the price of two chips is comparable, but also some characteristics.

Experts tried to compare the performance of these two processors in games, as well as applications that emulate them and simultaneously measure the processing speed in some units. In games such as TimeShift, as well as Call of Duty in the 4th version, both processors showed approximately equal, as noted by IT specialists who tested the chips, the results. Moreover, in some modes (for example, with a higher screen resolution) it was recorded that the dual-core chip was able to bypass its "colleague". Some experts at the same time managed to find games in which the quad-core processor from Intel turned out to be somewhat more productive, for example, it's World in Conflict.

Thus, it can be concluded that in games the Quad-Core chip does not give such an obvious advantage in comparison with dual-core models.

Practical usefulness of 4 cores

In which cases is it appropriate to use Quad-Core? Experts believe that the performance gain of any processor due to additional cores directly depends on how adapted to such a "bonus" of the game and the programs that the user launches. If the multiplicity of flows in the distribution of computations is realized in them, then the more cores, the faster the work will go. A Quad-Core processor is something! But if such a function is not implemented, then 4 cores are useless. At the same time, as many IT specialists note, more and more products, adapted specifically for quad-core architecture, appear on the market of applied software and computer games. And therefore, it is possible to buy the appropriate type of processor with a view to the future.

We noted above that Intel's 4-core chips to some extent outstripped their time. Indeed, until the last moment, programs and games that fully utilized several threads were relatively infrequent. But those electronics enthusiasts who got a quad-core processor a few years ago, can quite easily try out the existing resource through modern applications.

Four cores from AMD

Intel, of course, is not a market monopoly in terms of the release and sale of quad-core processors. The nearest competitor of the company, AMD, also prepared its version of Quad-Core. What kind of chip can be considered as an example? Completely suitable processor model AMD A10-4500M. It belongs to the mobile category, it is based on Trinity technology. In the market this chip is present since 2012. We note that it is produced on the basis of the technological process at 32 nm. The processor also has its own graphics subsystem and memory controller with two channels.

The proposed AMD Quad-Core contains, thus, 4 cores, based on the Piledriver architecture. Experts also note that the processor can be considered quad-core with some degree of conventionality. The fact is that only two kernels present in it perform floating point operations, while the other two work with integers.

According to IT specialists, the cores made using Trinity technology outperform the corresponding elements based on the Bulldozer architecture installed on the processors of the previous series. Note that, despite the large number of cores, AMD provided the considered processor with a performance acceleration module within the same flow. It's about technology, which is called Turbo Core (in the 3rd version). However, according to some analysts, it is somewhat inferior to the Turbo Boost solution , developed by Intel, which is designed to solve the same problems.

Some experts have tried to compare the performance of the processor under consideration with competitive solutions, which traditionally are chips from Intel. The closest analogue of the Quad-Core from AMD experts call the Intel Core i3-2310M chip, which is based on Sandy Bridge architecture. In tests conducted by experts, both processors showed approximately equal results. At the same time, as noted by IT specialists, the graphics subsystem of the Radeon HD 7660G type embedded in the chip under consideration can in some cases show more impressive results in comparison, for example, with the HD Graphics 4000 video controller, which is manufactured by Intel and is embedded in processors running on Architecture of Ivy Bridge.

What other chips with four cores, manufactured by AMD, can we single out? Some experts pay attention to the AMD Phenom II X4 N930 processor. It, in turn, is a full-fledged quad-core model, and this despite the fact that it is older than the A10. The year of the chip is 2010.

In some, usually foreign directories, this chip is referred to as the AMD Quad Core Processor Phenom N930. The frequency of the chip is 2 GHz. The processor is implemented on an architecture of 45 nm. The closest analogue to it is called Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000.

There are, of course, a large number of other chips like the AMD Quad Core Processor. All of them, as noted by IT experts, are quite competitive with the most technological solutions from Intel. At the same time, the regularity regarding the performance of quad-core processors (which we noted above, when we say that the appropriate number of threads should support, above all, the games and applications themselves) is also relevant for AMD chips. By themselves, 4 cores can be useless if the software is incapable of fully utilizing this technological resource.

Four cores: made in Russia

Intel and AMD are leaders in the world market for PC processors, but not monopolists. These corporations have a strong competitor from Russia - the company "MCTS", which produces chips "Elbrus". Among the brands produced by the Russian brand there is a quad-core model. It is called "Elbrus-4C". In the spring of 2014, the company "MCTST" announced its readiness for the chip to be mass-produced.

What is this company that produces chips that many IT experts are able to compete with the world's leading brands? "MCST" has been operating since 1992. It was created on the basis of the Institute of Fine Mechanics named after SA Lebedev. The developments related to computer processors and which have become to a certain extent the technological base for the production of Elbrus chips were actually carried out in the Soviet era. At the same time, the Institute created and produced not only chips, but also full-fledged computer complexes, such as, for example, Elbrus 1KB. This tradition is still relevant today. Now the company "MCTS" produces under the Elbrus brand not only processors, but also computers.

What are the technical characteristics of the Russian Quad-Core? The Elbrus-4C processor runs on a 64-bit architecture. Each of the nuclei operates at a frequency of 800 MHz. It turns out that the total frequency, provided that all the processor cores are used, can be 3.2 GHz. The processor is based on 65 nm technology. Despite the fact that according to this criterion, Russian development is inferior to solutions from the world's leading brands, in particular, now Intel produces 22nm chips, the overall performance of the Elbrus-4C chip in some types of tasks, as some experts note, may be comparable to Analogues from world market leaders, such as, for example, Intel i3 chips. One way or another, many IT specialists admit that the Elbrus-4C processor is the most powerful Russian processor produced today.

Four cores of military designation

Many experts also believe that direct comparison of the Russian quad-core processor and analogs from Intel and AMD is not entirely feasible due to the difference in their tasks. Chips from Intel and AMD have successfully found their application in a civilian environment. In turn, it is assumed that the capabilities of the Elbrus-4C processor will be in demand primarily by military structures. The fact is that in the army it is extremely undesirable to use electronics of foreign production. The usefulness of the chip from the "MCTT" for the military is to some extent due to the fact that it is well adapted to temperature changes, which, under conditions, for example, military exercises, can become an important factor in the stability of electronic equipment.

However, as information in a number of sources shows, it is quite possible that Elbrus-4C processors will be installed on computers intended not only for military purposes, but also for general civilian use. Such devices are already developed by the brand "MCTST". It is assumed that in the line of products from the Russian company will be present as computers in the format of desktops, and laptops. Work devices will be running OS "Elbrus", created on the basis of Linux. According to many experts, this OS is characterized primarily by a high level of protection against viruses and malicious programs. The bundled software that comes with the device will not only have basic user applications, but also useful development tools for professionals, in particular modules for programming in common languages. At the same time, computers from the Russian brand will also have a technological opportunity to install Windows. This is possible thanks to the support in Elbrus processors compatibility with the translation of codes used in Intel and AMD chips.

Four cores on Android

So, we examined the features of four cores in the aspect of equipping them with processors from Intel, AMD and "MCST". But, as we said at the beginning of the article, Quad-Core is a term that applies not only to this type of microchip. It can be used for naming not so much individual electronic components as full-fledged devices. For example, an Android Quad-Core TV Box. What is it? This device allows you to watch TV shows and various multimedia content via TV. And it's controlled by Android OS. In this context, Quad-Core is what? This is the name of the processor that the device is equipped with. The chip in question is the Cortex A9 Quad-Core. Android is an operating system that is often used in conjunction with microchips under this brand.

Consider the basic characteristics of the device. The processor frequency, the mark of which we indicated above, is 1.8 GHz. The amount of RAM that the device is equipped with is 2 GB. Built-in flash memory - 8 GB, you can install an additional module up to 32 GB. There is Bluetooth support in the 4th version. You can use the connection via Wi-Fi. There are several slots - USB, microUSB, OTG, HDMI. The device is running a fairly new version of the Android OS - 4.2.2. The user, thus, can install on the device modern applications such as MX Player or, for example, AceStream. You can connect external disk media.

The device, as some experts and users have noted, works quite quickly. It can be assumed that the 4 nuclei with which it is equipped contribute to this. The main task of the device - the simultaneous execution of several functions: a mobile gadget, a set-top box, a network adapter. He decides it, as noted by IT professionals, not bad, and 4 cores - not the last factor of the quality of the device.

Universal technology

Note that the device is not the only one running Android, which is equipped with a processor like Quad-Core. 3G-tablets, smart phones in the widest range of brands are also increasingly getting high-performance chips with 4 cores. But, as in the case of microcircuits for PCs, much in terms of a noticeable increase in the speed and performance of mobile devices depends on the programs running on them. If the appropriate applications implement the effective use of multiple threads, 4 cores will give a significant increase. If not, the increase in performance may not be as noticeable as if the gadget were equipped with a less advanced processor.

Thus, the rule according to which 4 cores are useful only if the device is on the device is relevant, it is also true for mobile devices. At the same time, as analysts say, some modern IT brands as a whole begin to consider the release of software that can effectively use 4 cores on computer and mobile processors as a priority.

According to some experts, the resolution and the display size of the device on which there is a Quad-Core chip can be important. The 10-inch display can cause a somewhat higher speed of work than, say, the one whose diagonal is one and a half times larger. Although, according to experts, this may be more due to the degree of workload not so much on the processor core as on the graphics subsystem of the mobile device.