Athlon X2 QL-66 vs Athlon II M300
Athlon X2 QL-66
Athlon II M300
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-66 is positioned at rank 1048 and the Athlon II M300 is on rank 940, so the Athlon II M300 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-66
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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-66 and Athlon II M300
Athlon X2 QL-66
The Athlon X2 QL-66 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: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,695 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II M300
The Athlon II M300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,700 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X2 QL-66 and Athlon II M300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-66 versus 2 GHz on the Athlon II M300 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 QL-66. The Athlon X2 QL-66 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II M300 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-66 scores 1,695 against the Athlon II M300's 1,700 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II M300.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+10% | 2 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Lion (2008−2009) | Caspian (2009) |
| PassMark | 1,695 | 1,700 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 QL-66 uses the S1g2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II M300 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-66 versus 800 on the Athlon II M300 — the Athlon II M300 supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-66) and S1g3 (Athlon II M300).
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g2 | S1g3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 800+39900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+104857500% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 QL-66) / true (Athlon II M300). Direct competitor: Athlon II M300 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X2 QL-66 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Athlon II M300 debuted at $100. At current prices ($5 vs $10), the Athlon X2 QL-66 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 QL-66 delivers 339.0 pts/$ vs 170.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II M300 — making the Athlon X2 QL-66 the 66.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $100-33% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-50% | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 339.0+99% | 170.0 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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