Core 2 Quad Q9100 vs Athlon 5350
Core 2 Quad Q9100
Athlon 5350
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 Q9100 is positioned at rank 69 and the Athlon 5350 is on rank 564, so the Core 2 Quad Q9100 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 Q9100
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 5350
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Athlon 5350 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($14) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Athlon 5350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($14) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Q9100 and Athlon 5350
Core 2 Quad Q9100
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.26 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,806 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon 5350
The Athlon 5350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.05 GHz, with boost up to 2.05 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,796 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q9100 and Athlon 5350 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.26 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 versus 2.05 GHz on the Athlon 5350 — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q9100 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.05 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon 5350 uses Kabini (2013−2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9100 scores 1,806 against the Athlon 5350's 1,796 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9100.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Athlon 5350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.26 GHz+10% | 2.05 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz+10% | 2.05 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2048 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Kabini (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,806 | 1,796 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 223 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 708 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 5350 uses AM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 versus 1600 on the Athlon 5350 — the Athlon 5350 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 5350 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core 2 Quad Q9100) vs 1 (Athlon 5350). PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Quad Q9100) vs 8 (Athlon 5350) — the Athlon 5350 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Athlon 5350 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+52428700% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9100) vs true (Athlon 5350). The Athlon 5350 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3 Graphics), while the Core 2 Quad Q9100 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9100 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon 5350 rivals Pentium J2900.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Athlon 5350 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R3 Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 launched at $14 MSRP, while the Athlon 5350 debuted at $55. At current prices ($14 vs $15), the Core 2 Quad Q9100 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Quad Q9100 delivers 129.0 pts/$ vs 119.7 pts/$ for the Athlon 5350 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9100 the 7.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Athlon 5350 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $14-75% | $55 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $14-7% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 129.0+8% | 119.7 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2014 |
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