parallel-processingmulticore

What's the difference between parallel and multicore programming?


I think the topic says it all. What's the difference, if any, between parallel and multicore programming?


Solution

  • Mutli-core is a kind of parallel programming. In particular, it is a kind of MIMD setup where the processing units aren't distributed, but rather share a common memory area, and can even share data like a MISD setup if need be. I believe it is even disctinct from multi-processing, in that a multi-core setup can share some level of caches, and thus cooperate more efficiently than CPUs on different cores.

    General parallel programing would also include SIMD systems (like your GPU), and distributed systems.