- Jul 7, 2017
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When I think about getting a new computer and the amount of CPU cores I would like, I look at what I do, that actually fully loads my current quad core CPU.
It's really only two things for me:
1: Video Encoding
2: Gaming
Video encoding is fully parallel, it will use all the cores you can throw at it (within reason). But it isn't a real time activity. You fire it up and ignore until it's done. It would be nice if it went faster, but unless you are doing production volumes for a deadline, it really isn't critical that it goes faster.
Gaming OTOH, has a mix serial and parallel code (and always will IMO), so it's use of cores is variable, but these days games regular make full use quad cores, and some have some diminishing returns going up to 8 cores, and extremely diminishing returns after that. BUT gaming is very much real time, instant response is a must.
This leads me to wonder, despite all the complaints that games don't benefit enough from more cores, are games really the most critical task driving more cores for more people on home computers?
What do you need more cores for?
I added a poll, but it will likely be missing many options. I allowed 2 selections, to capture you top use cases, but not enough to just have everyone select everything.
It's really only two things for me:
1: Video Encoding
2: Gaming
Video encoding is fully parallel, it will use all the cores you can throw at it (within reason). But it isn't a real time activity. You fire it up and ignore until it's done. It would be nice if it went faster, but unless you are doing production volumes for a deadline, it really isn't critical that it goes faster.
Gaming OTOH, has a mix serial and parallel code (and always will IMO), so it's use of cores is variable, but these days games regular make full use quad cores, and some have some diminishing returns going up to 8 cores, and extremely diminishing returns after that. BUT gaming is very much real time, instant response is a must.
This leads me to wonder, despite all the complaints that games don't benefit enough from more cores, are games really the most critical task driving more cores for more people on home computers?
What do you need more cores for?
I added a poll, but it will likely be missing many options. I allowed 2 selections, to capture you top use cases, but not enough to just have everyone select everything.