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What does "Core" mean?
- Thread starter jwolf6589
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You have 4 processing cores in your CPU.
The more cores you have the more you can process, and usually quicker.
Higher end CPU (i7/Xeon) are multithreaded, i.e. 4 cores = 8 threads, where yours is 4 cores = 4 threads.
So in rendering for example, the software would use 800% cpu processing (with 8 threads), in comparison to a single 'one core' processor would show 100%. So it would render roughly 8 times quicker.
The more cores you have the more you can process, and usually quicker.
Higher end CPU (i7/Xeon) are multithreaded, i.e. 4 cores = 8 threads, where yours is 4 cores = 4 threads.
So in rendering for example, the software would use 800% cpu processing (with 8 threads), in comparison to a single 'one core' processor would show 100%. So it would render roughly 8 times quicker.
Does this mean faster? For example my mom has a 2017 MacBook Air 2-core with the i7. Is mine faster?
Not necessarily, it also relates to clock speed (ghz) and other things.
Not so cut and dry.
In the same way, the new M1 Apple chips are not easily comparable with Intel chips, purely using core numbers.
Not so cut and dry.
In the same way, the new M1 Apple chips are not easily comparable with Intel chips, purely using core numbers.
The core of the earth.
Each core is basically it's own processor that can perform tasks independently from the rest. More cores means your computer can perform more tasks at the same time or, alternatively, a single task that can use multiple cores at the same time will run faster than when only using a single core. Another factor affecting performance is the speed of the cores, so a machine with a few fast cores may still perform better than another one with a greater number of slower cores for a given task.
In modern chips, like the M1, there are also different types of cores that excel at different tasks. The M1 has 4 "fast" cores and 4 "slow" cores. The fast ones obviously perform better, but use more power in doing so than the slower ones. But since some tasks aren't that sensitive to speed, the computer can save power by only using the faster cores when necessary and instead rely on the more efficient slow cores for doing simpler tasks. So while the M1 is technically an 8-core chip, it can be difficult to directly compare chips with different numbers of cores from different families.
In modern chips, like the M1, there are also different types of cores that excel at different tasks. The M1 has 4 "fast" cores and 4 "slow" cores. The fast ones obviously perform better, but use more power in doing so than the slower ones. But since some tasks aren't that sensitive to speed, the computer can save power by only using the faster cores when necessary and instead rely on the more efficient slow cores for doing simpler tasks. So while the M1 is technically an 8-core chip, it can be difficult to directly compare chips with different numbers of cores from different families.
Basic question. Is my MacBook Pro fast? Perhaps not for design work but for Office work it sure seems plenty fast for MsOffice.
Does it do everything you want it to do without taking so long you want to throw it out a window?
macOS tends to have bigger updates than iOS and your iPhone 12 is very fast. But assuming your referring to the 2020 MacBook Pro in your signature, then yes, it’s still plenty fast by today’s standards (I use one in my work as a physicist handling large datasets). Certain tasks benefit from GPU power, like rendering, but for most tasks you wouldn’t see much improvement in speed with a newer machine.
Good because I don’t do design. Yes I know Macs are best for design but millions of people use Windows for Office tasks and I prefer a Mac.
Macs are excellent for all kinds of tasks. I prefer them largely because they support important commercial software like Office and Photoshop, while also being Unix-based.
I love macs and prefer apple products. Yes I even prefer my appleTV over the competition.
The 2020 Intel MacBook Pro uses hyperthreaded CPUs on both the i5 and i7, so in this case the OP has a 4-core 8-thread CPU.
That’s not actually the case. Multithreaded cores don’t get anything like a factor two speedup.
I prefer a Mac for just about everything except gaming. I might be a minority, but I also prefer the preinstalled productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) over Office apps.
https://******.app/?q=what+does+core+mean+in+computers
Edit: LOL apparently ****** is blocked? I guess there's no way to answer this question. We don't have the technology.
Edit 2: I guess I can't even say it. No idea why "**************************" acronym is censored.
Edit 3: Okay, even the acronym spelled out is censored. Imagine how many times people had to ask easily Googleable questions for that to happen. That's genuinely hysterical
It was just a rough example of core numbers, and how it shows in % as witnessed on my Mac when rendering.....
I use those apps often, but realize the power of Word so I use that for most word processing tasks.
I do too, but most people I work with use Office and I need to stay integrated. Most of the writing I do myself is with LaTeX.
It’s also easier to ignore a thread than to leave a snarky comment. Picking on people asking for help doesn’t help anyone.
Outside of what's already been mentioned, the important thing to focus on is "the Scheduler" !
Apple refers to theirs as the "Performance Controller".
Intel calls theirs something else.
CPU "core" design hasn't changed must the past 20+ years !
Scheulders have, BIG time !
Apple's A10 had a simplified Performance Controller design, that made it lighting fast when running single-threaded code.
The A11 & A12 used fancier & fancier Performance Controller designs, to try to properly support multi-threaded code.
Theoretically, they would have been an improvement, but Apple forgot to test a certain use case, so each has a major HW bug !
Apple eventually resolved it, & the A13, & newer chips, don't have the same problem as the A11 & A12.
Apple doesn't talk about their Performance Controller design anymore because the A11/A12 HW bug, but Intel does now heavily promote their design.
It's actually a really good place to start learning about the Nuts & Bolts of what makes each Processor special, OR NOT.
Apple refers to theirs as the "Performance Controller".
Intel calls theirs something else.
CPU "core" design hasn't changed must the past 20+ years !
Scheulders have, BIG time !
Apple's A10 had a simplified Performance Controller design, that made it lighting fast when running single-threaded code.
The A11 & A12 used fancier & fancier Performance Controller designs, to try to properly support multi-threaded code.
Theoretically, they would have been an improvement, but Apple forgot to test a certain use case, so each has a major HW bug !
Apple eventually resolved it, & the A13, & newer chips, don't have the same problem as the A11 & A12.
Apple doesn't talk about their Performance Controller design anymore because the A11/A12 HW bug, but Intel does now heavily promote their design.
It's actually a really good place to start learning about the Nuts & Bolts of what makes each Processor special, OR NOT.