Athlon 5350 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300

Athlon 5350 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 5350

4 / 4

1,796

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Extreme QX9300

4 / 4

1,805

+0.5%

Pentium 2117U

Pentium N3540

Celeron 1020E

Pentium Dual Core T2370

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon 5350 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 5350 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 5350

2014

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R3 Graphics, while Core 2 Extreme QX9300 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Core 2 Extreme QX9300.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,796 vs 1,805).
❌Launch MSRP is still $55 MSRP, while Core 2 Extreme QX9300 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌108.3% higher power demand at 25W vs 12W.

Core 2 Extreme QX9300

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 12W instead of 25W, a 13W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon 5350 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 5350.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Extreme QX9300 better than Athlon 5350?

Yes. Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core 2 Extreme QX9300 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $55 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 5350 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2014 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (32.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM1.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon 5350 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 5350 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 5350

The Athlon 5350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.05 GHz, with boost up to 2.05 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,796 points. Launch price was $149.

Core 2 Extreme QX9300

The Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,805 points. Launch price was $249.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon 5350 and Core 2 Extreme QX9300 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.05 GHz on the Athlon 5350 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 — a 21% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 (base: 2.05 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Athlon 5350 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (28 nm), while the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 5350 scores 1,796 against the Core 2 Extreme QX9300's 1,805 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Extreme QX9300.

Feature	Athlon 5350	Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.05 GHz	2.53 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.05 GHz	2.53 GHz+23%
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	2048 kB	12 MB+500%
Process	28 nm-38%	45 nm
Architecture	Kabini (2013−2014)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	1,796	1,805
Geekbench 6 Single	223	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	708	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 5350 uses the AM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon 5350	Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Socket	AM1	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	1	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Athlon 5350) / not specified (Core 2 Extreme QX9300). The Athlon 5350 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3 Graphics), while the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon 5350 rivals Pentium J2900.