Core 2 Quad Q9100 vs Pentium G3250T
Core 2 Quad Q9100
Pentium G3250T
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 Pentium G3250T is on rank 617, 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 Pentium G3250T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Pentium G3250T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($14) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Pentium G3250T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+113%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($14) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 Pentium G3250T
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.
Pentium G3250T
The Pentium G3250T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,818 points. Launch price was $46.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G3250T offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9100 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.26 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G3250T — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Pentium G3250T (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G3250T uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9100 scores 1,806 against the Pentium G3250T's 1,818 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium G3250T. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q9100 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3250T.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Pentium G3250T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.26 GHz | 2.8 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 2.8 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,806 | 1,818 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium G3250T uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Pentium G3250T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9100) / not specified (Pentium G3250T). Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9100 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Pentium G3250T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q9100 launched at $14 MSRP, while the Pentium G3250T debuted at $64. At current prices ($14 vs $30), the Core 2 Quad Q9100 is $16 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Quad Q9100 delivers 129.0 pts/$ vs 60.6 pts/$ for the Pentium G3250T — making the Core 2 Quad Q9100 the 72.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9100 | Pentium G3250T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $14-78% | $64 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $14-53% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 129.0+113% | 60.6 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2014 |
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