Athlon II X3 455 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 455

3 / 3

1,938

+1.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Quad Q8300

4 / 4

1,917

0.0%

Pentium 3556U

Pentium Dual Core T4400

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 X3 455 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300 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 X3 455 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300: 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 X3 455

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $91 less on MSRP ($88 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
✅Delivers 105.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 22.0 vs 10.7 PassMark/$ ($88 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core 2 Quad Q8300

2008

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,917 vs 1,938).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.7 vs 22.0 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $88 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 455 better than Core 2 Quad Q8300?

Yes. Athlon II X3 455 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X3 455 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.4% 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, Athlon II X3 455 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 455 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 455 comes in $91 cheaper on MSRP at $88 MSRP versus $179 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 105.6% better value on MSRP (22.0 vs 10.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X3 455 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core 2 Quad Q8300 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 455

The Athlon II X3 455 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 December 2010 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 1,938 points. Launch price was $88.

Core 2 Quad Q8300

The Core 2 Quad Q8300 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: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 455 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q8300 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 455 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 — a 27.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 455 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon II X3 455 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 455 scores 1,938 against the Core 2 Quad Q8300's 1,917 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon II X3 455. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core 2 Quad Q8300
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz+32%	2.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+32%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	4 MB (total)+700%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Yorkfield (2007−2009)
PassMark	1,938+1%	1,917

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 455 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core 2 Quad Q8300
Socket	AM3	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 455 was priced at $88, while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 came in at $179. On launch pricing ($88 vs $179), Athlon II X3 455 was $91 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 455 delivers 22.0 pts/$ vs 10.7 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q8300 — making the Athlon II X3 455 the 69.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core 2 Quad Q8300
MSRP	$88-51%	$179
Performance per Dollar	22.0+106%	10.7
Release Date	2010	2008

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