Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Athlon 64 FX-72
Core 2 Extreme QX9300
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 64 FX-72 is positioned at rank 1100 and the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is on rank 924, so the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-72
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 64 FX-72 and Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Athlon 64 FX-72
The Athlon 64 FX-72 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,794 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.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 FX-72 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-72 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 — a 10.1% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-72. The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-72 scores 1,794 against the Core 2 Extreme QX9300's 1,805 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Extreme QX9300. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+11% | 2.53 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 12 MB+1100% |
| Process | 90 nm | 45 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,794 | 1,805 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the F socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Extreme QX9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | F | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
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