Athlon II X4 615e vs Core 2 Quad Q9300
Athlon II X4 615e
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 X4 615e is positioned at rank 983 and the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is on rank 1039, so the Athlon II X4 615e 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 X4 615e
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+11%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 X4 615e and Core 2 Quad Q9300
Athlon II X4 615e
The Athlon II X4 615e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) 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: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,018 points. Launch price was $59.
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
Both the Athlon II X4 615e and Core 2 Quad Q9300 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core 2 Quad Q9300's 2,011 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 615e. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+1100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Yorkfield (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 2,018 | 2,011 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,161 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 331 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,161 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 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 DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e) and P35,P45,X38,X48 (Core 2 Quad Q9300).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) / not specified (Core 2 Quad Q9300). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 615e launched at $186 MSRP, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 debuted at $266. At current prices ($30 vs $27), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is $3 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 67.3 pts/$ vs 74.5 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9300 the 10.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $186-30% | $266 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $27-10% |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.3 | 74.5+11% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2008 |
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 X4 615e and Core 2 Quad Q9300
