How many processors can a computer have

It's all done in parallel. So if you think eight processor cores is great, think about an Nvidia GeForce GPU with thread processors running at 1. These processors are very simple by comparison with the cores in a CPU, but there sure are a lot of them. There's no easy way to make direct comparisons between these numbers, so don't worry about it Then think about this: either one of those chips could, in principle, run a word-processing program all by itself. But such a program would probably run on only a few of those thread or stream processors, and inefficiently at that, so the program would probably run more slowly overall than it would on some old Windows 98 machine.

And this brings me back to the subject of yesterday's blog here. Or vice-versa. Programs within that OS can be designed to use both processors simultaneously. Likewise, multiple programs running within that OS can be assigned to separate processors.

Processors in symmetric environments share the same memory bus and other external resources. The multiprocessing model also has two physical implementations. The first and oldest types of multiprocessor-compatible motherboards were designed with multiple, separate CPU sockets. The motherboard itself is then constructed with architecture that shares the memory between the two processors, as well as allowing the processors themselves to communicate to each other.

Robinhood Hack Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone. Use Your iPhone as a Webcam. Hide Private Photos on iPhone. Take Screenshot by Tapping Back of iPhone. Should You Upgrade to Windows 11? Browse All Windows Articles.

Copy and Paste Between Android and Windows. Protect Windows 10 From Internet Explorer. Mozilla Fights Double Standard. Connect to a Hidden Wi-Fi Network. Change the Size of the Touch Keyboard. Check Bluetooth Device Battery Life.

Reader Favorites Take Screenshot on Windows. Mount an ISO image in Windows. Boot Into Safe Mode. Disable Startup Programs in Windows. Where to Download Windows Legally. Find Your Lost Product Keys. The Best Tech Newsletter Anywhere Join , subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. For example, the Intel Core iU processor does not have seven cores. This article is part of the Tom's Hardware Glossary.

Scharon Harding has a special affinity for gaming peripherals especially monitors , laptops and virtual reality.