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Introduction to the Multi-core processor

What is Multi-core processor

Multi-core processor is one of microprocessors, which mount multiple simple processor cores on a CPU package called a die.
Multiple cores enhance processing performance while avoiding the issue of power consumption and heat value. A dual-core processor contains two cores, and a quad-core processor contains four cores.

From Single-core to Multi-core

Type of Multi-core Processor

Multi-core processors come in "homogenous" which contains multiple same cores and "heterogeneous" which contains a mixture of different cores.

Generally, homogenous multi-core contains multiple general purpose CPUs which handle multiple tasks. In contrast, heterogeneous multi-core contains a mixture of general purpose CPUs and computing cores which is optimized for specific tasks. In addition, called DSP or GPU processor contains huge amount of computing cores for specific tasks.

Homogenous	Heterogeneous	GPU

Homogenous multi-core equipped same kind of general purpose cores.	Heterogeneous multi-core equipped general purpose core + computing cores.	GPU equipped lots of same computing cores.