Athlon II X4 615e vs Core 2 Quad Q9300

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core 2 Quad Q9300 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 615e

4 / 4

2,018

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Quad Q9300

4 / 4

2,011

0.0%

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 X4 615e 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 X4 615e 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 X4 615e

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($186 MSRP vs $266 MSRP).
✅Delivers 43.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 7.6 PassMark/$ ($186 MSRP vs $266 MSRP).
✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core 2 Quad Q9300.

Trade-offs

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

Core 2 Quad Q9300

2008

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,011 vs 2,018).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.6 vs 10.8 PassMark/$ ($266 MSRP vs $186 MSRP).
❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 615e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 615e better than Core 2 Quad Q9300?

Yes. Athlon II X4 615e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 615e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 615e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 615e comes in $80 cheaper on MSRP at $186 MSRP versus $266 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 43.5% better value on MSRP (10.8 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), 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 X4 615e 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 4 cores / 4 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 X4 615e vs Core 2 Quad Q9300 Technical Specifications

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

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. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 615e versus DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — the Athlon II X4 615e supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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

At launch, the Athlon II X4 615e was priced at $186, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 came in at $266. On launch pricing ($186 vs $266), Athlon II X4 615e was $80 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 10.8 pts/$ vs 7.6 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — making the Athlon II X4 615e the 35.7% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core 2 Quad Q9300
MSRP	$186-30%	$266
Performance per Dollar	10.8+42%	7.6
Release Date	2010	2008

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