[wppick]

Don't most computer have separate processors for network, hard drive, etc. So, even if you have a single core processor, you are still running a multi-processor environment? Can anyone give me details on this? Someone told me something like this once and it has confused me ever since...

[irascible]

Yes. There are 100s of sub units that are complete processors on your motherboard. DSP, Ethernet controllers, Disk IO controllers, sound controllers, memory controllers.. and thats not counting the programmable controllers in every disk drive, sd card, reader, USB hub, peripheral, etc.

[wppick]

Does this have an impact on writing concurrent software?