The term Quad-Core is familiar to many digital enthusiasts. It is interesting primarily because it is used in a variety of contexts. What does this concept mean? What brand manufacturers regularly use it in the naming of manufactured electronic components? Are there any devices in Russia for which this term is applicable?
Definition
Quad-core - what is it? The brand designation of a certain device or the collective name of devices united by some characteristic? It can be said that both. The fact is that this concept has a direct translation - “four cores”. In this case, the first word, quad, is Latin, and the second, core, is English.
Thus, this term refers to electronic components (almost always - processors) that are equipped with four cores. At the same time, the concept under consideration is also used to name specific brands of chips. In this case, a certain kind of permutation in the sequence of each of the constituent words is possible. For example, there is such a processor as the 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 process. That is, a computer program can distribute internal calculations so that they are carried out by the processor simultaneously within several threads, and in fact - faster.
It is also worth noting that in the Russian-language online space, and in the English-language too, the term Quad-Core outside the brand name of any electronic component is rarely used. 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 like Intel Quad-Core or a certain type of mobile device.
4 cores: subtleties of the interpretation of the term
Of course, in the speech turnover of IT specialists, both Russian and foreign, the concept of Quad-Core as applied to quad-core devices, in principle, that is, without reference to a specific chip or device, is encountered quite regularly. More often, of course, due to the greater linguistic proximity to the term, it is used by foreigners. In the Russian version, as a rule, a direct translation is used - "quad".
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 free form - in a foreign manner. Let's start our small research with the Intel Core 2 Quad, a powerful quad-core PC processor.
Four cores according to Intel
We study the basic information about the chip. Its full name is Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600. Sometimes a shorter and slightly modified processor name is found. It sounds like a Core Quad Q6600. This is not a single chip model, but a whole series. It was produced in 2007-2011, however, in terms of performance, each of the processors belonging to it as a whole completely satisfies most of the requirements that are relevant for today's user. Moreover, some types of microcircuits released within the framework of the line in question, to some extent ahead of their time. 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 a single case two crystals of the type Core 2 Duo. Separately, they were also installed in dual-core chips. Can we say that the Quad-Core processor in terms of performance proportionally outperformed the Core 2 Duo chips? Has its actual capacity doubled upon doubling the number of cores? There is a thesis that buying a processor like Quad-Core is a bit of a marketing ploy: the majority of modern games and software still don't use 4 cores. Is he fair?
Four cores versus two: is performance growth real?
To compare the Quad-Core processor from Intel and its "younger brothers" with two cores, you need to be careful in the sense that for the correct comparison of 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 cores. Another possible indicator is price similarity. It is always interesting to determine which of the two processors: Quad-Core (4 cores) or one that has half the figure for the number of processed data streams, at the same price, will be more productive.
Not bad for these purposes, as some IT experts say, chips such as the quad-core Core 2 Quad Q9300, as well as its "younger dual-core brother" Core 2 Duo E8500. An interesting fact is that both the Duo and Quad-Core prices are almost the same - about 7 thousand rubles. The quad-core chip is based on Yorkfield technology, it is made according to the architecture of 45 nm. The nominal frequency is 2.5 GHz, in the overclocked state it is 3.3 GHz. Intel's dual-core processor runs on the Wolfdale core, architecture - 45 nm, clock frequency - 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 version 4, both processors showed approximately equal results, as noted by IT experts who tested the chips. Moreover, in some modes (for example, with a higher screen resolution), it was recorded that the dual-core chip was able to bypass its "brother." At the same time, some experts managed to find games in which Intel's quad-core processor turned out to be somewhat more productive, for example, it is World in Conflict.
Thus, we can conclude that in games a chip like Quad-Core does not provide such a clear advantage compared to dual-core models.
The practical utility of 4 cores
In what cases is it advisable to use Quad-Core? Experts believe that the increase in the performance of any processor due to additional cores directly depends on how much games and programs that the user launches are adapted to such a “bonus”. If they implement multiplicity of flows in the distribution of calculations, 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 appearing on the quad-core architecture appear on the market of application software and computer games. And therefore, it is quite possible to buy the appropriate type of processor with an eye to the future.
We noted above that Intel chips with 4 cores are somewhat ahead of their time. Indeed, until the last moment, programs and games that would fully utilize several streams were relatively rare. But those electronics lovers who acquired a quad-core processor a few years ago, may well try out the available resource through modern applications.
Four cores from AMD
Intel, of course, is not a monopolist in the market in terms of production and sales of quad-core processors. The company's closest competitor, AMD, also prepared its version of Quad-Core. What kind of chip can be considered as an example? The processor of the AMD A10-4500M model is quite suitable. It belongs to the category of mobile, based on Trinity technology. This chip has been on the market since 2012. Note that it is produced on the basis of a 32 nm process. The processor is also equipped with its own graphics subsystem and a dual-channel memory controller.
The proposed AMD Quad-Core thus contains 4 cores based on the Piledriver architecture. At the same time, experts note that the processor can be considered quad-core with some degree of conventionality. The fact is that only two cores present in it perform floating point operations, while the other two work with integers.
According to IT specialists, Trinity technology cores outperform the corresponding elements based on the Bulldozer architecture installed on the processors of previous series. Note that, despite the large number of cores, AMD provided the processor in question with a module for accelerating performance in a single thread. It's about a technology called Turbo Core (in version 3). At the same time, as some analysts believe, in terms of efficiency it is somewhat inferior to the Turbo Boost solution developed by Intel, which is designed to solve the same problems.
Some experts tried to compare the performance of the processor in question with competitive solutions, which are traditionally chips from Intel. The experts call the closest analogue of Quad-Core from AMD to the Intel Core i3-2310M chip, based on the Sandy Bridge architecture. In tests conducted by experts, both processors showed approximately equal results. At the same time, as IT specialists note, the integrated graphics subsystem such as Radeon HD 7660G in some cases can 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 Ivy Bridge architecture.
What other four-core chips manufactured by AMD can we single out? Some experts pay attention to the AMD Phenom II X4 N930 processor. He, in turn, is a full-fledged quad-core model, and this despite the fact that he is older than the A10. The year of release of the chip is 2010.
In some, usually foreign catalogs, the chip in question is referred to as the AMD Quad Core Processor Phenom N930. The frequency of the chip is 2 GHz. The processor is implemented on the architecture of 45 nm. Experts call its closest analogue Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000.
Of course, there are a large number of other chips as well, such as 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 pattern regarding the performance of quad-core processors (which we noted above, saying that the corresponding number of threads should be supported, first of all, by the games and applications themselves) is also relevant for AMD chips. By themselves, 4 cores can be useless if the software is unable to fully utilize this technological resource.
Four cores: made in Russia
Intel and AMD are leaders in the global market for PC processors, but not monopolists. These corporations have a strong competitor from Russia - the MCST company, which produces Elbrus chips. Among the chips produced by the Russian brand there is also a quad-core model. It is called "Elbrus-4C." In the spring of 2014, the MCST company announced its readiness to launch the chip in mass production.
What kind of company is it that produces chips that, according to many IT experts, can compete with products from leading global brands? "MCST" has been operating since 1992. It was created on the basis of the S. A. Lebedev Institute of Precision Mechanics. Developments related to computer processors and to some extent become the technological base for the production of Elbrus chips were actually carried out in Soviet times. At the same time, the Institute created and produced not only chips, but also full-fledged computing systems, such as, for example, Elbrus 1KB. This tradition is relevant today. Now the company "MCST" produces under the brand "Elbrus" not only processors, but also computers.
What are the technical specifications of the Russian Quad-Core? The Elbrus-4C processor runs on a 64-bit architecture. Each of the cores operates at a frequency of 800 MHz. It turns out that the total frequency, subject to the involvement of all processor cores, 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 leading world brands, in particular, Intel now produces 22 nm chips, the overall performance of the Elbrus-4C microcircuit in some types of tasks, as some experts note, may be comparable to indicators of analogues from world market leaders, such as, for example, Intel i3 chips. One way or another, many IT experts acknowledge that the Elbrus-4C processor is the most powerful Russian processor manufactured today.
Four military cores
At the same time, many experts believe that direct comparison of the Russian quad-core processor and analogs from Intel and AMD is not quite advisable due to the difference in the tasks they perform. Chips from Intel and AMD have successfully found their application in the 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 foreign-made electronics. The usefulness of the ICST chip for the armed forces is to some extent due to the fact that it is well adapted to temperature changes, which in conditions, for example, of military exercises, can become an important factor in the stability of electronic equipment.
At the same time, according to information in a number of sources, it is quite possible that the Elbrus-4C processors will be installed on computers designed not only for military purposes, but also for general civilian use. Such devices have already been developed by the MTsST brand. At the same time, it is assumed that in the product line from the Russian company there will be both desktop computers and laptops. The devices will run under the 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 malware. The software bundle supplied with the devices will include not only the main user applications, but also useful development tools for specialists, 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 due to support in the Elbrus processors for compatibility with code translation used in Intel and AMD chips.
Four cores on Android
So, we examined the features of the four cores in terms of equipping them with processors from Intel, AMD and "MCST". But, as we said at the very beginning of the article, Quad-Core is a term applicable not only to this type of chip. It can be used to name not so much individual electronic components as full-fledged devices. These include, for example, a device such as Android Quad-Core TV Box. What is it like? This device allows you to watch TV shows and various kinds of multimedia content via TV. And it is controlled by the Android OS. In this context, Quad-Core - what is it? 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 combination with chips under this brand.
Consider the basic characteristics of the device. The frequency of the processor, the brand of which we have 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 support for Bluetooth 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 Android OS - 4.2.2. Thus, the user can install modern applications such as MX Player or, for example, AceStream on the device. You can connect external disk media.
The device, as noted by some experts and users, is fast enough. It can be assumed that this is facilitated by those 4 cores with which it is equipped. The main task of the device is the simultaneous execution of several functions: a mobile gadget, TV set-top box, network adapter. He solves it, as IT experts say, not bad, and 4 cores is not the last factor in the quality of the device.
Universal technology
Note that the considered device is far from the only one running Android, which is equipped with a processor such as Quad-Core. 3G-tablets, smartphones in the widest range of brands are also increasingly acquiring high-performance chips with 4 cores. But, as is the case with PC chips, much from the point of view of a noticeable increase in the speed and operation of mobile devices depends on the programs running on them. If the appropriate applications implement the efficient use of multiple threads, 4 cores will give a tangible increase. , , .
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According to some experts, the resolution and size of the display of the device on which the microcircuit such as the Quad-Core can stand may matter. A 10-inch display can cause a slightly higher speed than, say, one whose diagonal is one and a half times larger. Although, according to experts, this may be more due to the degree of load not so much on the processor cores as on the graphics subsystem of the mobile device.