Athlon II N330 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300

Athlon II N330 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N330

2 / 2

1,999

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Quad Q9300

4 / 4

2,011

+0.6%

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 II N330 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300 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 II N330 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II N330

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $166 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $266 MSRP).
✅Delivers 164.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.0 vs 7.6 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $266 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 95W, a 94W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,999 vs 2,011).

Core 2 Quad Q9300

2008

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.6 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($266 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
❌9400% higher power demand at 95W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Quad Q9300 better than Athlon II N330?

Yes. Core 2 Quad Q9300 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% 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 Quad Q9300 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% 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 Quad Q9300 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core 2 Quad Q9300 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core 2 Quad Q9300 comes in 166.0% more expensive on MSRP at $266 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II N330 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 164.4% better value on paper (20.0 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1.

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

Athlon II N330 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II N330 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N330

The Athlon II N330 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,999 points. Launch price was $149.

Core 2 Quad Q9300

The Core 2 Quad Q9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,011 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q9300. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core 2 Quad Q9300's 2,011 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9300.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core 2 Quad Q9300
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	2.5 GHz+9%
Base Clock	—	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	6 MB (total)+500%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Yorkfield (2007−2009)
PassMark	1,999	2,011

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 1066 memory speed. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N330) vs 16 (Core 2 Quad Q9300) — the Core 2 Quad Q9300 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and P35,P45,X38,X48 (Core 2 Quad Q9300).

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core 2 Quad Q9300
Socket	S1	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	1066	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Athlon II N330) / not specified (Core 2 Quad Q9300). Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core 2 Quad Q9300
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II N330 was priced at $100, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 came in at $266. On launch pricing ($100 vs $266), Athlon II N330 was $166 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N330 delivers 20.0 pts/$ vs 7.6 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — making the Athlon II N330 the 90.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core 2 Quad Q9300
MSRP	$100-62%	$266
Performance per Dollar	20.0+163%	7.6
Release Date	2010	2008

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