Core 2 Quad Q8400 vs Phenom II X4 830
Core 2 Quad Q8400
Phenom II X4 830
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 Core 2 Quad Q8400 is positioned at rank 975 and the Phenom II X4 830 is on rank 307, so the Phenom II X4 830 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q8400
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 830
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q8400 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($128) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q8400 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($128) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Phenom II X4 830
Core 2 Quad Q8400
The Core 2 Quad Q8400 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 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 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: 2,076 points. Launch price was $249.
Phenom II X4 830
The Phenom II X4 830 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (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: 4 MB (total). 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: 2,072 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q8400 and Phenom II X4 830 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8400 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 830 — a 122.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 830 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q8400 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 830 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q8400 scores 2,076 against the Phenom II X4 830's 2,072 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q8400. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8400 vs 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 830.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8400 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 2.8 GHz+318% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.8 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total)+700% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,076 | 2,072 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 852 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 369 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,155 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q8400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 830 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8400 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3 1333 MHz | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core 2 Quad Q8400) / not specified (Phenom II X4 830). Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q8400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8400 | Phenom II X4 830 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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