Which type of processor configuration includes multiple cores within a single CPU?

The correct choice pertains to the concept of multi-core processors, which are designed with multiple processing units, or "cores," integrated into a single CPU package. Each core can execute its own thread of instructions independently, allowing for multiple tasks or processes to be handled simultaneously. This enhances performance and efficiency, particularly in multi-threaded applications where resource-intensive tasks can be distributed across the available cores.

The multi-core configuration allows software that is optimized for parallel processing to take full advantage of the hardware, leading to improved overall system responsiveness and faster processing speeds without the need for multiple physical CPU units.

In contrast, multithreading refers to the ability of a single core to manage multiple threads at once, which can improve performance but does not involve additional cores. Symmetric multiprocessing describes a system where two or more identical processors are connected to a single shared main memory, allowing for tasks to be distributed among them, but it does not specifically relate to the single-CPU multi-core architecture. CPU architecture broadly encompasses the design and operational principles of a CPU, including but not limited to multi-core features, making it a more general term compared to multi-core processors.