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???
10/24/05 23:49
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#102870 - Hardware multitasking
Responding to: ???'s previous message
Jeff Corr said:
A "true" multitasking cpu, one that can execute more than one instruction at once.

Jeff Corr said:
If the 8051 is not a 'true multitasking controller' then what is??

Craig Steiner said:
I don't think so. Multitasking is the capability of executing more than one process at once. Some processors may be better prepared to do that than others, but any conventional processor still is only executing one instruction at a time--at least that was still the case last time I paid attention to the latest innovations in CPUs. :)

The 8051 has no hardware notion of multitasking. Note however that a lot of modern microprocessors do support some notion of hardware multitasking.

A great example of hardware multitasking support is Intel's hyperthreading technology. The Pentium 4 processor, which has a very deep pipeline and plethora of hardware resources, improves its performance using this technique. The fundamental idea behind hyperthreading is to duplicate enough hardware required to make maintaining state for two active threads of execution in hardware physically possible. Then, on-chip logic can schedule execution from the two threads to be largely concurrent, except in situations where there is contention for a particular resource (e.g., memory access). The interface to the hyperthreading technology implemented by the Pentium 4 is that of two logical processors. Thus, software targeting the Pentium 4 need not take into account the existence of this functionality. Any application which is written to use multiple processors can benefit from it. Even applications written for a single processor can benefit, as the second thread of control can be used for a process belonging to the operating system or another application, thus improving the overall performance of the system.

--Sasha Jevtic

List of 67 messages in thread
TopicAuthorDate
8051 8-bit computer            01/01/70 00:00      
   (or z80)            01/01/70 00:00      
   8051 computer            01/01/70 00:00      
      I never cringe on a "fun exercise" I do,            01/01/70 00:00      
         awesome?            01/01/70 00:00      
            Computer            01/01/70 00:00      
               8051 Computer.            01/01/70 00:00      
               Minor corrections            01/01/70 00:00      
                  11MHz?            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Not sure            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Congratulations            01/01/70 00:00      
                           Actually it's teh same            01/01/70 00:00      
                        11MHz            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Re: 8051 computer            01/01/70 00:00      
                           Just us            01/01/70 00:00      
                              Project Team            01/01/70 00:00      
                                 me tried            01/01/70 00:00      
                                    thoughts on project            01/01/70 00:00      
                                       What is a true multitasking controller?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          multitasking controller            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             video            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             continued..            01/01/70 00:00      
                                          continued..            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             I don't think so            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                color display?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   Predko Video            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      yes            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      video, timing, speeds etc.            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         Video Timing.            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                            6.2MHz pixel clock?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                               Pixel Clock            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                  pix clock            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                  overclocking            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                     pad pixels            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                just a suggestion            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   Speed            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      DS'4x0            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      DIP / surface mount            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         a 100MHz chip in a perf board? methinks            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Hardware multitasking            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Multitasking redefined            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             Misplaced self belief...            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Daunting?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                breadboarded            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   TRS-80            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      TRS80?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         in the beginning there was ..            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         TRS-80 Info            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                            Man those were the days.            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                               That fast?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                  More retroinfo            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                  TRS-80 forward speed.            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                  Like I said, It was a long time ago            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                               hrm            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                                  TRS80 model 1 speed...            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         TRS80            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                            You think?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                               OK so both            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   No pictures yet            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      Video Capture Card?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                         Nope            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                      video output            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Qui?            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                Multitasking            01/01/70 00:00      
                                                   Real Time and Multi Tasking            01/01/70 00:00      
                                             Maybe whomever has "no idea what I'm tal            01/01/70 00:00      
      It's probably at least fast enough ...            01/01/70 00:00      

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