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Computer Science (c) Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT): A form of fine-grained multithreading
specifically designed for modern processors. It leverages additional hardware
resources within a single core, such as duplicate register files and execution
units, to efficiently execute instructions from multiple threads concurrently.

Simultaneous
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
multithreading
Superscalar
Course grained
Fine grained
Time(process cycle)

Thread 1 Thread 4
Thread 2 Thread 5
Thread 3 Thread 6

Figure 2.13: Hardware multithreading categories

Multithreading offers several advantages. while still being able to browse the
These advantages make multithreading web smoothly.
a valuable technique for a wide range (c) Processors often have idle cycles
of applications, including web servers, between instructions. Multithreading
multimedia players, game development, allows other threads to utilize these
and scientific computing. idle periods, maximizing the overall
(a) Multithreading allows multiple utilization of processing resources.
threads to execute concurrently This leads to better performance
hence improving the performance without requiring additional
of computer systems. hardware.

(b) Multithreaded applications can (d) Complex applications can be broken
remain responsive to user interactions down into smaller, more manageable
even when background tasks are tasks represented by individual
running. This is because threads threads. This can improve code
can be prioritised and scheduled readability, maintainability, and
efficiently by the operating system. modularity, making development
Imagine downloading a large file and debugging easier.

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for Advanced Secondary Schools

Computer Science Form 5.indd 112 23/07/2024 12:33