How CPU Processors and Cores Work: A Simple Explanation

Introduction:

I am sure you've once wondered what those CPU Cores are, what their numbers signify, and how they differ from CPU Processors.
Maybe you checked the Internet and were bombarded with information on hyperthreading, multithreading, transistors, their sizes, etc, and got lost figuring out how they all fit together,

This Blog aims to explain the links in a short and easy-to-read format.

Basics of CPU Structure

It all starts with the Circuit Chip, which is a flat piece of Material with all the transistors and circuits connecting everything, It is where all processing occurs.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the "Brain" of the computer located on the chip that processes and manages Instructions (Logical, Arithmetic, Input/Output, etc) from the hardware and software running on the computer.

The Processor still usually refers to the CPU, so it is the same as the CPU in this context. Still, the processor is bigger than that as it includes other types (Graphics processor units, Multi-Core Processors, Microprocessors, Quantum Processors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

The CPU cores are physical processing units found in the processor, previously all processors had just one core which limited the number of programs and processes running at a given time but now single cores are a thing of the past with dual, quad, and multi-cores being more commonplace, as a rule of thumb when you come across intel cores of the 12th generation, the single processor has 2 times the number of cores display e.g: i3 processor has 6 cores, i5 has 10 cores and so on.

The Transistors are tiny decision-making switches used by the CPU in processing instructions, the more transistors on the chip the more powerful the CPU. The size of the Transistors is left tiny as large-size transistors allow for overheating around them defeating their purpose.

Threads are the smallest sequence of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by the operating system scheduler.

Multithreading is a process that allows a core to work on different threads pseudo-simultaneously. A single core can handle multiple threads by switching between them quickly, giving the illusion that multiple tasks are being processed simultaneously.

While Hyperthreading is a process that allows the system to work on multiple threads by having a single physical processor operate as two virtualized processors, the virtualized cores work independently so multiple threads can execute simultaneously.
To learn more about Multithreading vs Hyperthreading, read Multithreading vs. Hyperthreading | Baeldung on Computer Science

In Summary, The circuit chip houses the CPU, the computer's "brain" that processes instructions. A processor usually refers to the CPU, which contains multiple cores—physical units that allow multitasking. Transistors are tiny switches that enable processing, and more transistors mean a stronger CPU. Threads are the smallest tasks a CPU handles, and multithreading lets cores manage multiple threads at once. Hyperthreading creates virtual cores for better multitasking.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, have fun on your learning journey!

We learn something new every day🙂