The Difference between Cores and Threads?

[DimasRMDO]

So I'm a bit confused here, what's the difference between cores and threads? Intel has Hyper-threading which like "double" the threads of a CPU, but.... What's threads? What does "Threads" do in CPU?

[Nup]

 

 

[Pugs501]

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnS50lJicXc

[harrynowl]

Threads are the actual processing thread seen by the software and is what the instructions run on. Generally all processors will have a thread count equivalent to their core count (e.g. 4 cores 4 threads).

 

Technology like Intel's Hyperthreading allow software to see more threads (So 2 hyper threaded cores are 4 threads)- these are usually called logical cores. Basically a new instruction can be sent in the processing pipeline before the last one is finished, effectively making processing a bit more efficient by making use of un-used/under utilised resources.

 

On AMDs FX series its read as 4 cores 8 threads, but it's not like Intel's Hyperthreading, you have 8 cores that can process integer instructions, but only 4 floating point units and 4 front ends, so some resources are shared so you technically only have 4 full cores for a workload but there are extra integer threads that can be used.

[tmlhalo]

Think of a thread as a task and a core as person. Hyperthreading is like a person that is a good multitasker. Though it isn't as good as having 2 people doing 1 task each. 2 multitaskers (I3) < 4 people (I5) < 4 multitaskers (I7) in general performance, games will vary by thread count.