A single-core processor is a microprocessor with a single core on its die.[1] It performs the fetch-decode-execute cycle once per clock-cycle, as it only runs on one thread. A computer using a single core CPU is generally slower than a multi-core system.
Single core processors used to be widespread in desktop computers, but as applications demanded more processing power, the slower speed of single core systems became a detriment to performance. Windows supported single-core processors up until the release of Windows 11, where a dual-core processor is required. [2]
Single core processors are still in use in some niche circumstances. Some older legacy systems like those running antiquated operating systems (e.g. Windows 98) cannot gain any benefit from multi-core processors. Single core processors are also used in hobbyist computers like the Raspberry Pi and Single-board microcontrollers. The production of single-core desktop processors ended in 2013 with the Celeron G470.[3]
The first single core processor was the Intel 4004, which was commercially released on November 15, 1971 by Intel. [4] Since then many improvements have been made to single core processors, going from the 740 KHz of the Intel 4004 to the 2 GHz Celeron G470. [5]