Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Opteron 3320 EE

Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Opteron 3320 EE Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Quad Q8300

4 / 4

1,917

0.0%

Pentium 3556U

Pentium Dual Core T4400

1,918

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Opteron 3320 EE 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.

Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Opteron 3320 EE: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Quad Q8300

2008

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,917 vs 1,918).
❌Launch MSRP is still $179 MSRP, while Opteron 3320 EE mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌280% higher power demand at 95W vs 25W.

Opteron 3320 EE

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 25W instead of 95W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Opteron 3320 EE better than Core 2 Quad Q8300?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 3320 EE makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core 2 Quad Q8300 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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, Opteron 3320 EE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Opteron 3320 EE is still the much better call for a fresh build. Opteron 3320 EE comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $179 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core 2 Quad Q8300 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2008 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (10.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Opteron 3320 EE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 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.

Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Opteron 3320 EE Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Quad Q8300

The Core 2 Quad Q8300 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: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.

Opteron 3320 EE

The Opteron 3320 EE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Delhi (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,918 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Quad Q8300 and Opteron 3320 EE share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 versus 2.5 GHz on the Opteron 3320 EE — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Opteron 3320 EE uses Delhi (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q8300 scores 1,917 against the Opteron 3320 EE's 1,918 — a 0.1% lead for the Opteron 3320 EE. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Opteron 3320 EE.

Feature	Core 2 Quad Q8300	Opteron 3320 EE
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz	2.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+32%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB (total)	4096 kB
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Yorkfield (2007−2009)	Delhi (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,917	1,918

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Opteron 3320 EE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.