Dual Core CPUs = More Power

Dual-core processors combine two processor logic modules (brains) into a single chip package that fits in a single socket.

Dual-core Intel processors are now standard in Xtraordinary's Dedicated Servers.

Because each core is essentially an independent processing unit, Dell's new PowerEdge servers can now run multiple computing threads simultaneously in parallel, yielding dramatic performance improvements when compared to the previous generatio of servers.

Intel Dual-Core Xeon 3000 Series

The new Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor provides up to 66% more computing capacity over the previous generation of single-core processors.

FAQ

Why are dual-core processors available at a lower clock speed than single-core processors? Wouldn't it be reasonable to expect higher performance with higher clock speed processors?

This is a necessary concession to generated heat. Because dual-core processors were developed to deliver higher performance in the same thermal range as previous Xeon processors, the clock speed has been slightly reduced.

What applications are best suited for dual-core?

Dual-core processors will run any application, but the more threads the application spins out, the better the potential performance gain. Applications such as database manipulation and other processor-bound applications will have the best performance increase from dual-core.

Will applications need to be recompiled for dual-core?

No. All current single-core x86 applications should run on dual-core processors without modification. Future compiler changes and optimizations may help increase performance for dual-core processors over time, leading to better software performance in the future.

What is meant by FSB?

The front side bus (or FSB) is the path between the processor and the memory. The speed of this bus is measured in megahertz. The higher the clock speed, the faster data moves between the processor and memory, speeding up the access of memory.

How are dual core processors treated for software licensing purposes?

Microsoft are treating dual core CPUs as single CPUs. Most other software vendors are also taking this approach.