Athlon II N330 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300
Athlon II N330
Core 2 Quad Q9300
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 N330 is positioned at rank 884 and the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is on rank 1039, so the Athlon II N330 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 N330
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II N330 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II N330 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+86%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
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 N330 and Core 2 Quad Q9300
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. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II N330 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — the Athlon II N330 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% 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+35433% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 16 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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
The Athlon II N330 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 debuted at $266. At current prices ($50 vs $27), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is $23 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N330 delivers 40.0 pts/$ vs 74.5 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9300 the 60.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-62% | $266 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $27-46% |
| Performance per Dollar | 40.0 | 74.5+86% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2008 |
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