The CPU Deep Dive

  • Some computers have two or four CPUs
    • All CPUs must be identical
    • Practically, this just adds more cores/threads
  • Most consumer CPUs have 6-24 cores, with some up to 64
  • Server CPUs tend to have more cores than consumer and range up to 96 cores
    • They usually require special RAM
    • An enterprising consumer can buy a server CPU if they want to
  • Historically AMD have had offerings with more cores than Intel, but Intel scores better on single-threaded benchmarks than AMD
    • Apple M series processors are blowing past these in some specific workflows