Intel Core i7?

Simple question(s) for some, I'd assume ... but Im lost.

I know CoH doesn't utilize Quad cores, does that still apply to Intel Core i7's?

How exactly "does" a quad core work with CoH anyway? Does it only use two of the cores?

Then a question on numbers!
If a Core 2 Duo core has a speed of 2.5GHz, does that mean there are two 2.5's ... equal to 5GHz, all useable by CoH?

Then does that mean i7's with a speed of say, 1.6GHz, have a total of 6.4GHz, of which CoH only uses 3.2? ... or is that the formula for Quads? Then what would be the formula for i7's?

Overall, should I invest in an i7? Or is a Core good enough if CoH is really the only game I play? ... (This is for a laptop by the way, of which I don't own ... trying to make a decision before Black Friday )

P.S. sorry for the frantic-ness, but I'm just so confused!

--Thank you in advance!

Warning, poorly constructed analogies and technical explanations ahead.

First a program can be constructed out of one or more subprograms called threads. Each thread can do their specific thing with ideally little or no interaction with other threads. Think of jugglers that every so often may pass a ball between each other.

Now today's computers often have one or more cores, some real, some only logical (code word Hyperthreading, older Pentium 4s also had HT logical cores). You can think of these cores as check out lines at your market and customers as threads. If you don't have a lot of lines (cores) open but a lot of customers (threads), it will take longer on average for a customer to check out than if you have a lot of lines open and few customers.

The operating system, Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, OS X, assigns threads waiting to run to cores, trying to limit the number of threads waiting to run on a core. Each thread can only run for a limited time and then the OS will allow another thread a turn to run and the current thread goes to the end of the line. It should be pointed out that the OS itself is composed of dozens if not hundreds of threads themselves. Fortunately most are waiting for specific things to occur before it gets in line for time on a core.

CoH/V has only two core intensive tasks. This is why the program itself doesn't really use more than two cores.

The Intel i7-8xx and i7-9xx CPUs have four cores/eight logical cores. Each core runs at the stated speed but each core can also be assigned two threads at a time. But doesn't this make each thread run half as fast you ask? Well yes and no. Due to the complexity of modern CPUs, often each core isn't being used to it's fullest, there are parts in the core not doing anything at all. However assigning two threads of work allows more of the core to be utilized over the same period of time. Now instead of two threads, each taking one unit of time each to run on a single core (2 times units total), the pair executing on a core that can handle two threads at a time could run both in, lets say, 1.8 time units. Ideally the OS assigns one thread to each idle core before it starts doubling them up.

So to summarize.

A program has one or more threads.

Your system currently has hundreds of threads started. Most run infrequently or quickly, waiting for specific events to occur.

Threads are only allowed so much time running on a core before they have to let another thread a chance to run. If there isn't anyone else, they get another turn.

This game has two threads that would each like to use a lot of time running on a core.

An i7-8xx and i7-9xx have four cores but each core could run two threads at the same time at slightly better than half speed. This should only happen if there are a lot of threads that are waiting for a core to become available.

The i7 and i5 (i5-7xx has four cores but only one thread per core) also have a built in overclocking mode that during times when not a lot of threads are waiting to run, it can shut off cores but overclock the remaining. With few enough threads waiting to run, the overclock can be over 20% on a single core.

Woo! Thanks! That cleared everything up!

Thanks for the help!

Short answer for Multi-core and hyperthreading with an analogy.

Multiple cores allows you to work on multiple tasks simultaneously.

Hyperthreading is a technology that allows you to keep individual cores busy by interleaving multiple processes in the execution pipeline, instead of merely completing one task at a time in a serial fashion.

These technologies don't make your processes run FASTER than a single core processor of the same clock speed.

What they do is prevent the programs from slowing down due to a very resource-intensive process hogging the processor.



Think about a fast food restaurant with only one checkout lane. It goes along as fast as the cashier can take care of his customers. Now what happens when one of the customers has a difficult order or decides to be a bipedal donkey? The line slows down.

This is a single core, non-hyperthreading machine.

Now imagine if that register had TWO cashiers there. So one cashier takes an order and goes to run and fulfill it while the second casheir deals with the next guy in line. And if you get a difficult customer, the person taking care of him steps to the side and lets the next person get waiting on by the co-worker.

This is a single core, hyperthreading machine.

Now think about a restaurant with 4 checkout lanes. Each processes customers as fast as their respective cashiers can run them down.

This is a multi-core non-hyperthreading machine.

Now think about a restaurant with 4 checkout lanes and two cashiers at each register.

This is a multi-core, hyperthreading machine.

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I love you, Xmas. You explain things better than I can hope to.