quadcore

Quadcore refers to a computer processor or system-on-chip containing four independent processing cores on a single integrated circuit. Each core can execute instructions simultaneously, allowing true parallelism for multithreaded software. In practice, quad-core CPUs improve multitasking and performance in applications designed to use multiple threads, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and modern games. Some quad-core designs include simultaneous multithreading (SMT), which enables each core to handle two threads at once, effectively increasing logical cores to eight on some models, though this does not increase physical cores.

Quad-core processors may share caches and memory controllers, with variations in cache topology across generations. Power consumption and heat output typically scale with core count, so quad-core parts must balance clock speed, cache, and efficiency to achieve favorable performance per watt.

Historically, the first widely available quad-core desktop CPUs were Intel Core 2 Quad and AMD Phenom X4, released around 2006–2008. Over the following years, quad-core configurations became common in mainstream lines, including Intel Core i5 and i7 and various AMD Ryzen quad-core SKUs. Quad-core designs also appear in laptops and in many mobile system-on-chips marketed as quad-core devices, sometimes with heterogeneous cores while advertising four total cores.

Limitations: Realizable gains depend on software scalability; many applications do not effectively utilize all four cores. Performance also depends on memory bandwidth, cache size, clock speed, and thermal headroom. For simple tasks, a quad-core may offer little advantage over a capable dual-core.