A lot of components have to work together to get the best performance out of a computer, but the most important is usually its processor. Intel's processor chips are in most of the computers you'll ...

Though the use of multiple processors has grown in recent years, multiprocessor computers are more than 30 years old. Since this time, their capabilities have evolved as much as their implementation.

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Robert Kelly is managing director of XTS ...