cpu - What is the difference between an execution core and a execution unit?

07
2014-07
  • Wouter

    What is the difference between an execution core and a execution unit in a processor? I know that an ALU or FPU is an execution unit, but what is the difference with a execution core?

    • Answers
  • David Schwartz

    An execution core consists of one or more execution units, a control unit, and various other parts. On modern CPUs, each core typically consists of more than one execution unit. A quad-core CPU has four cores. If it's hyper-threaded, then the execution units in each core can be shared by two threads simultaneously. Execution units perform the actual operations such as branching, mathematical operations, memory operations, and so on. Each core has a control unit which distributions instructions to the various execution units in the core.


    • Related Question

    cpu - Whats the difference between intel Dual-Core and Core 2 Duo?
  • WindyCityEagle

    Whats the difference between the Intel Dual-Core(brand name) processor and the Core 2 Duo? It seems like clock speed is the only difference, but I want to make sure that is the case. It seems like anything over 2.6GHz is Core 2 Duo, and anything under 2.6GHz gets the label Dual-Core.


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  • Troggy

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_Dual-Core

    The Intel Dual Core is its own product line of Intel processors.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2

    The Intel Core 2 is also another product line of Intel processors.

    The pentium dual-core processor is a one of Intel's value or basic processors available. That is why you save so much going with that processor. The Core 2 is the more powerful desktop processor from Intel, hence why you pay more for it.

    Here is a review comparing performance between the two: (This is well put together)

    http://expertester.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/core-2-duo-vs-pentium-dual-core/

    And a forum discussion about the differences:

    http://www.devhardware.com/forums/intel-processors-30/pentium-dual-core-vs-core-2-duo-188459.html

    I assume you mean the difference like on this inspiron 537 between the two middle models:

    http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-inspiron_537s?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

    If you notice next to the processor names is the intel e5200 and the intel e7500. These are the processor numbers you can look up on the internet for futher specifications and reviews.

    The E5200 is listed under the Pentium Processor for Desktop on intel's website:

    http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ParentRadio=All&ProcFam=2841&SearchKey=

    The E7500 is listed under the Core 2 Duo Desktop Processor

    http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ParentRadio=All&ProcFam=2558&SearchKey=E7500

  • Axxmasterr

    Dual core refers to a processor that contains two separate processing cores. Core 2 Duo is a brand name of a processor which is also in a dual core configuration. This is the short answer. The brand name and the descriptive name match up precisely in this one case.

  • joe

    The Core 2 Duo has two cores inside a single physical package. The Core 2 Quad has four cores in its package. In applications that utilize multithreading, such as Photoshop or video editing, you will see a tremendous improvement over a Core 2 Duo at the same clock speed. In single-threaded applications, there will be less of an improvement.

    from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_an_Intel_Core_2_Duo_and_an_Intel_Core_2_Quad

    And

    dual core is 2 cpu in a package

    2 cpu's in a die = 2 cpu's made together 2 cpu's in package = 2 cpu's on small board or linked in some way

    core 2 duo = brand name of certain kind of cpu like pentium or amd atholon