Multicore vs. multiprocessor

While we're on the topic, let's talk about multicore vs. multiprocessor. For performance purposes, is a machine with a single dual-core processor basically equivalent to a machine with two processors with one core each? Yes. Roughly. There are lots of subtleties here concerning amount of cache, frequency of process hand-offs between processors, etc. Despite those finer points, for the purposes of sizing up the CPU load value, the total number of cores is what matters, regardless of how many physical processors those cores are spread across.

Which leads us to a two new Rules of Thumb:

* The "number of cores = max load" Rule of Thumb: on a multicore system, your load should not exceed the number of cores available.
* The "cores is cores" Rule of Thumb: How the cores are spread out over CPUs doesn't matter. Two quad-cores == four dual-cores == eight single-cores. It's all eight cores for these purposes.

Original English Version:
Understanding Linux CPU Load - when should you be worried?

Chinese Version: Gracecode.com 理解 Linux 的处理器负载均值（翻译）