CPU Core Affinity

CPU Core Affinity is a technique used to bind a specific software process or thread to a particular CPU core. By preventing the operating system from moving a process between different cores, it reduces cache misses and improves the performance of time-sensitive applications.

In trading systems, pinning the order processing thread to a dedicated, isolated core ensures that the thread has consistent access to CPU resources, minimizing latency spikes caused by context switching. This is a common optimization for low-latency trading applications where every microsecond counts.

It provides a more predictable execution environment by reducing interference from other system processes. CPU core affinity is a powerful tool for squeezing maximum performance out of trading hardware.