What aspects do (and do not) effect the speed at which a computer can read files? Say for example, Python reading a CSV.
I am guessing cores do not matter. I am guessing even threads don't matter. But perhaps the ghz matter?
Maybe?
We are missing too much information to reach a conclusion. For a large file, you will likely be constrained by the slowest step in the parsing process. That could be reading from the disk, accessing RAM, parsing the raw data on the CPU or a large number of other things. The number of cores might matter. Without knowing how the CSV parser is implemented, we can't be sure though. Maybe it breaks the CSV into chunks so it can be parsed by multiple cores.
The bottom line is if you want a definite answer you need to profile the application you have questions about. We can make as many guesses as we want, but at the end of the day profiling the program is the only way to know for sure.
Does a more powerful CPU read files faster (ex: a CSV?)