What is a multicore processor? What are its advantages compared withmultiple-processor architecture? ...

A multicore processor is a single microchip containing two or more fully functional CPUs.The main advantage of multicore architecture compared with multi-CPU architecture with CPUs of equivalent number and power is more efficient inter-CPU communication, which increases total computational power when multiple CPUs cooperate on the same task.Multicore processors didn't become available until the mid-2000sbecause that's when the capabilities of modernsemiconductor manufacturing methods evolved to the point thatenough transistors couldbe placed on a single chip to implement multiple CPUs and their memory caches.