Conclusion

None of the processors with separate caches tested in this review can perform fast data transfers between the cores. Intel’s Core Duo (Yonah) and Conroe, each with a shared L2 cache, are the only processors that ensure fast processing of the same data block by two cores, yet their speed is limited too when the common data are modified. It means that the resources of dual-core processors are employed in the most efficient way when the execution threads are working with different memory sections or with the same memory section but without modifying the common data. For higher performance, the developer may want to strictly assign the threads to the cores because the OS may change the assignment of the threads when switching between the tasks which results in a higher percentage of cache misses.