Athlon II X3 445 vs Core 2 Quad Q9100
Athlon II X3 445
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 II X3 445 is positioned at rank 781 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 II X3 445
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q9100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 445 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($14) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 445 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+7%) |
| 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 II X3 445 and Core 2 Quad Q9100
Athlon II X3 445
The Athlon II X3 445 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,807 points. Launch price was $91.
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
The Athlon II X3 445 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9100 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X3 445 versus 2.26 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 — a 31.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 445 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Athlon II X3 445 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 445 scores 1,807 against the Core 2 Quad Q9100's 1,806 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X3 445. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+37% | 2.26 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+37% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+1100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,807 | 1,806 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 445 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 445 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+300% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 445) / VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9100). Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9100 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 445 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 debuted at $14. At current prices ($15 vs $14), the Core 2 Quad Q9100 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 445 delivers 120.5 pts/$ vs 129.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9100 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9100 the 6.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | Core 2 Quad Q9100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87 | $14-84% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $14-7% |
| Performance per Dollar | 120.5 | 129.0+7% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2008 |
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