Why does a console need more than one core?

[giyad]

Well I guess my question doesn't go along exactly with the title. I know a console doesn't necessarily need more than one core, but what is the advantage of having multiple cores? For example I hear that the xbox 360 is gonna have 3 cores and the ps3 is gonna have 7 or 8. What exactly does the core do anyway?

 

[DelJo63]

It sounds like you're discussing CPU cores, which is a form of multiple processors.
Before dual/quad cores, multiple processor support used one chip per processor.
Dual cores is a less expensive solution.

 

[giyad]

so a core is just multiple chips, but why do you need two cores? or am i wrong about what a cores is?

 

[DelJo63]

cores are multiple CPUs inside ONE chip.

you don't 'need' dual cores, but some applications and systems can benefit
from the extra horsepower. The software has to be written to use the additional
processor, so don't assume you're going to get better without software upgrades.

btw: this is where Hyperthread technology starts to win.