Athlon II X4 630 vs Core 2 Quad Q9505

AMD

Athlon II X4 630

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core 2 Quad Q9505

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 0.83 GHz2009
Similar parts
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Athlon II X4 630 vs Core 2 Quad Q9505 Performance Spectrum

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 630 vs Core 2 Quad Q9505 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 630 vs Core 2 Quad Q9505: 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 630

2009

Why buy it

  • Costs $84 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $213 MSRP).
  • Delivers 65.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 16.9 vs 10.2 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $213 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core 2 Quad Q9505.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,175 vs 2,176).

Core 2 Quad Q9505

2009

Why buy it

  • +0% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.2 vs 16.9 PassMark/$ ($213 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 630.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Quad Q9505 better than Athlon II X4 630?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 630 is ahead with a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Quad Q9505 pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Quad Q9505 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core 2 Quad Q9505 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core 2 Quad Q9505 comes in 65.1% more expensive on MSRP at $213 MSRP versus $129 MSRP, and it still gives you 0% better PassMark. Athlon II X4 630 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 65.0% better value on paper (16.9 vs 10.2 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core 2 Quad Q9505 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 630 vs Core 2 Quad Q9505 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X4 630

The Athlon II X4 630 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 2,175 points. Launch price was $63.

Intel

Core 2 Quad Q9505

The Core 2 Quad Q9505 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 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 0.83 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. 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: 2,176 points. Launch price was $249.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 630 and Core 2 Quad Q9505 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X4 630 versus 0.83 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9505 — a 108.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 630 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.83 GHz). The Athlon II X4 630 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9505 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 630 scores 2,175 against the Core 2 Quad Q9505's 2,176 — a 0% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9505. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 630 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Quad Q9505.

FeatureAthlon II X4 630Core 2 Quad Q9505
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
4 / 4
Boost Clock
2.8 GHz+237%
0.83 GHz
Base Clock
2.8 GHz
2.83 GHz+1%
L3 Cache
0 kB
6 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
6 MB (total)+1100%
Process
45 nm
45 nm
Architecture
Propus (2009−2011)
Yorkfield (2007−2009)
PassMark
2,175
2,176
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 630 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q9505 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 630) vs 0 (Core 2 Quad Q9505) — the Athlon II X4 630 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureAthlon II X4 630Core 2 Quad Q9505
Socket
AM3
LGA775
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0+82%
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon II X4 630 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 630) vs VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9505). Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9505 targets Desktop.

FeatureAthlon II X4 630Core 2 Quad Q9505
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x
Target Use
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 630 was priced at $129, while the Core 2 Quad Q9505 came in at $213. On launch pricing ($129 vs $213), Athlon II X4 630 was $84 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 630 delivers 16.9 pts/$ vs 10.2 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9505 — making the Athlon II X4 630 the 49.1% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X4 630Core 2 Quad Q9505
MSRP
$129-39%
$213
Performance per Dollar
16.9+66%
10.2
Release Date
2009
2009

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