If you buy a processor today, it is likely to have multiple cores.
You may also see several threads specified on its packaging.
But are cores and threads the same thing?
While you should always look to buy processors with more cores and threads, they are not exactly equal.
So, lets start.
What are CPU Cores?
CPU cores are the brain of your setup.
It is where the processor carries out the task that you perform on your rig.
Think of you scrolling this very webpage or playing back a Youtube video.
In essence, all these tasks are carried out by the processor.
So, what do the tasks look like for a processor?
These are simple mathematical or logical operations performed by the processor.
They are now known asinstructionswhich occupy a very small space on your RAM.
When theprocessor fetches and executesthese instructions, they are carried out serially.
For a single core processor, it can only carry out a single task at the same time.
So basically aCPU can process a myriad of instructions.
But that is not the end of it.
Even before dual-core processors arrived, you could run two applications at the same time.
That was achieved using Multithreading and Hyperthreading (by Intel).
We will explore this concept in the next section.
What are Threads and Logical Processors?
A thread is a virtual core that a processor has that aids in the execution of instructions.
Typically there are 2 CPU threads for each physical core.
The Logical core is simply the total number of threads that a processor has.
A processor without threading can only accept a single instruction.
When it has completed executing, it may wait while the next instruction is being fetched.
This causes idle time in the processor.
To eliminate this, a processor implements a thread.
This is just another pathway that accepts incoming instructions.
It is also known as theInstruction stream.
The processor now processes a new instruction instead of waiting.
This is basically multithreading in action.
Think of a single-core processor.
Normally it would only process a single instruction at a time.
But with Multi-threading, the processor switches between tasks atfixed time intervals.
The results of the executions are not lost but stored in the registers.
The CPU still processes instructions one at a time but creates an illusion of multitasking.
More Cores or More Threads: Which is Important?
If you have more physical cores on your system, it will provide you with faster instruction execution.
Because you have additional cores, the operating system can send more instructions.
But threads are not as powerful as physical cores.
In any setup, a physical core will always perform better than a virtual core.
So a two-core/four-thread processor will always be slower than a four-core/ four-thread CPU.
Newer processors have increased the core and thread count, particularly in the Mid-Range and Flagship models.
Intels Raptor Lake brought significant changes to the core count.
For the i5 13400, they went from 6 cores and 12 threads to 10 cores and 16 threads.
As applications utilize more cores and threads you will see their numbers increase in the upcoming processors.
We explored how thenumber of cores can improve performancein a separate article.
Do check that out.
Do you need Hyperthreading on your CPU?
Hyperthreading can help you if your applications utilize them.
Some tasks are optimized for taking advantage of multiple threads.Video EncodingandRenderingare good examples.
These tasks are parallelized by the operating system.
As a result, the instructions are carried out randomly and these do not affect the final output.
The video editing app can build the final file after numerous threads of instructions are executed.
As for single-threaded tasks, these instructions benefit from a faster single core.
Photoshop is an software that performs very well on CPUs that have good single-core performance.
We have compiled alist of processors based on your workload.
Do check this out before purchasing one.
Do all Processors Have Hyper-Threading?
No, not all processors are hyperthreaded.
Entry-level processors are not hyperthreaded such as the Intel Celeron G6900 which has 2 cores/threads.
Earlier Intel used to create different tiers of processors by disabling hyperthreading on specific models.
Intel i5 4590 had 4 cores and 4 threads.
For Intel i5 4790, you could get 4 cores with 8 threads.
These days, barring the low-end models every processor comes with hyperthreading.
Higher numbers of cores and threads separate each tier of CPUs.
Intel uses the term Hyper-threading while for AMD we have Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT).
These are the same thing but named differently.
You will mostly find 2 threads for each core in most models.
On a Mac, the System Report will show you the detailed specification of your processor.
For Linux Distros, thelscpucommand will reveal the CPU details.
Here you will additional information including the total process threads created by the operating system.
For your reference, I have included a screenshot of my system.
CPU-Z, HWiNFO, etc.
are some programs that you’re free to use to easilycheck the number of threads your CPU has.
But for detailed information about your processor, you have to use the Terminal.
It has built-in tools that will show you a detailed report including the core and thread count.
Here I am using the lscpu command on Terminal.
You will see the core count of your processor displayed on your screen.
We explore further howquad-core processor fares with a hexa-core processor.
Surely check that out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is logical cores and threads the same?
Logical cores are the total number of threads that a CPU has.
Are more cores or threads better?
More cores will always result in better performance for your machine.
Go for the maximum cores/threads in your budget when looking for a new processor.
Does 8 core mean 8 threads?
If the processor is not hyperthreaded, then your 8-core processor has 8 threads.
But with hyperthreading support present, it will have 16 threads present.
Is 4 core 8 threads better than 6 core 6 threads?
The more cores and threads you have, the better CPU performance you get.
In this scenario, if the workloads favor threads, you will fare better with the quad-core chip.
But for single-threaded tasks, the 6-core processor will have an advantage.
And I think you will have an easy time selecting your next processor should the time come.
Thats all for today.
Do not forget to comment if you want to add anything here or have a question.
Until then, its goodbye from us folks here.
