References http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd460705.aspx (added 20121023 good comprehensive resource with illustrative examples) http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/362996/Multi-core-programming-using-Task-Parallel-Library http://www.codeproject.com/KB/threads/ParallelTasks.aspx Optimize Managed Code For Multi-Core Machines http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163340.aspx good blog http://www.codethinked.com/net-40-and-systemthreadingtasks queueuserworkitem http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/4yd16hza.aspx threadpool class http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/y5htx827.aspx task class http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.threading.tasks.task.aspx task parrallelism http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd537609.aspx How to: Use Parallel.Invoke to Execute Parallel Operations http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd460705.aspx