A multi-core processor configured to improve processing performance in certain computing contexts is provided. The multi-core processor includes multiple processing cores that implement barrel threading to execute multiple instruction threads in parallel while ensuring that the effects of an idle instruction or thread upon the performance of the processor is minimized. The multiple cores can alsoshare a common data cache, thereby minimizing the need for expensive and complex mechanisms to mitigate inter-cache coherency issues. The barrel-threading can minimize the latency impacts associated with a shared data cache. In some examples, the multi-core processor can also include a serial processor configured to execute single threaded programming code that may not yield satisfactory performance in a processing environment that employs barrel threading.