c# - Volatile keyword usage vs lock

Question

I\'ve used volatile where I\'m not sure it is necessary. I was pretty sure a lock would be overkill in my situation. Reading this thread (Eric Lippert comment) make me anxio

Answer 1

Regarding to your statement whether a variable could be split in two 32 bit fetches when using volatile, this could be a possibility if you were using something bigger than Int32.

So as long as you are using Int32 you do not have an issue with what you are stating.

However, as you have read in the suggested link volatile gives you only weak guarantees and I would prefer locks so as to be on the safe side as today's machines have more than one CPU and volatile does not guarantee that another CPU won't sweep in and do something unexpected.

EDIT

Have you considered using Interlocked.Increment?