Athlon 5350 vs Core 2 Quad Q9100
Athlon 5350
Core 2 Quad Q9100
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 5350 is positioned at rank 564 and the Core 2 Quad Q9100 is on rank 69, so the Core 2 Quad Q9100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 5350
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q9100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 5350 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($14) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 5350 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($14) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 5350 and Core 2 Quad Q9100
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 Quad Q9100
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 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 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.26 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,806 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 5350 and Core 2 Quad Q9100 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.05 GHz on the Athlon 5350 versus 2.26 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q9100 (base: 2.05 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Athlon 5350 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (28 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 5350 scores 1,796 against the Core 2 Quad Q9100's 1,806 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9100.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.05 GHz | 2.26 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 2.05 GHz | 2.26 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Kabini (2013−2014) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,796 | 1,806 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 223 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 708 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 5350 uses the AM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Athlon 5350 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 — the Athlon 5350 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 5350 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Athlon 5350) vs 2 (Core 2 Quad Q9100). PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 5350) vs 0 (Core 2 Quad Q9100) — the Athlon 5350 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM1 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+53233% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 8 GB+52428700% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon 5350) vs VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9100). The Athlon 5350 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3 Graphics), while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9100 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon 5350 rivals Pentium J2900.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R3 Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 5350 launched at $55 MSRP, while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 debuted at $14. At current prices ($15 vs $14), the Core 2 Quad Q9100 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 5350 delivers 119.7 pts/$ vs 129.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9100 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9100 the 7.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 5350 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $55 | $14-75% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $14-7% |
| Performance per Dollar | 119.7 | 129.0+8% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2008 |
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