CPU
GPU
Athlon X2 QL-65
Pentium 967
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 X2 QL-65 is positioned at rank 1056 and the Pentium 967 is on rank 1031, so the Pentium 967 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-65
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 967
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 QL-65 | Pentium 967 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 QL-65 | Pentium 967 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+121%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 X2 QL-65 and Pentium 967
Athlon X2 QL-65
The Athlon X2 QL-65 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,630 points. Launch price was $149.
Pentium 967
The Pentium 967 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,640 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X2 QL-65 and Pentium 967 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-65 versus 1.3 GHz on the Pentium 967 — a 47.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 QL-65. The Athlon X2 QL-65 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium 967 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-65 scores 1,630 against the Pentium 967's 1,640 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium 967. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-65 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 967.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-65 | Pentium 967 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz+62% | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Lion (2008−2009) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,630 | 1,640 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 QL-65 uses the S1g2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium 967 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-65 | Pentium 967 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g2 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X2 QL-65 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Pentium 967 debuted at $134. At current prices ($22 vs $10), the Pentium 967 is $12 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 QL-65 delivers 74.1 pts/$ vs 164.0 pts/$ for the Pentium 967 — making the Pentium 967 the 75.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-65 | Pentium 967 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $134-11% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $22 | $10-55% |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.1 | 164.0+121% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon X2 QL-65 and Pentium 967
