Athlon II M300 vs Athlon X2 QL-66
Athlon II M300
Athlon X2 QL-66
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 II M300 is positioned at rank 940 and the Athlon X2 QL-66 is on rank 1048, so the Athlon II M300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-66
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II M300 | Athlon X2 QL-66 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II M300 | Athlon X2 QL-66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 II M300 and Athlon X2 QL-66
Athlon II M300
The Athlon II M300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,700 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon X2 QL-66
The Athlon X2 QL-66 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,695 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II M300 and Athlon X2 QL-66 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon II M300 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-66 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 QL-66. The Athlon II M300 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X2 QL-66 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M300 scores 1,700 against the Athlon X2 QL-66's 1,695 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II M300.
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | Athlon X2 QL-66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.2 GHz+10% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Caspian (2009) | Lion (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,700 | 1,695 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II M300 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 QL-66 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 800 on the Athlon II M300 versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-66 — the Athlon II M300 supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: S1g3 (Athlon II M300) and AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-66).
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | Athlon X2 QL-66 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g3 | S1g2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 800+39900% | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 8 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Athlon II M300) / not specified (Athlon X2 QL-66). Direct competitor: Athlon II M300 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | Athlon X2 QL-66 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II M300 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Athlon X2 QL-66 debuted at $150. At current prices ($10 vs $5), the Athlon X2 QL-66 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M300 delivers 170.0 pts/$ vs 339.0 pts/$ for the Athlon X2 QL-66 — making the Athlon X2 QL-66 the 66.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | Athlon X2 QL-66 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-33% | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $5-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 170.0 | 339.0+99% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II M300 and Athlon X2 QL-66
