Core 2 Quad Q9300 vs Athlon II N330
Core 2 Quad Q9300
Athlon II N330
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 Q9300 is positioned at rank 1039 and the Athlon II N330 is on rank 884, so the Athlon II N330 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 Q9300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II N330
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($27) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+86%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($27) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 Q9300 and Athlon II N330
Core 2 Quad Q9300
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 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: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,011 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II N330
The Athlon II N330 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,999 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II N330 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q9300. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II N330 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 scores 2,011 against the Athlon II N330's 1,999 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9300.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+9% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+500% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,011 | 1,999 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II N330 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 versus 1066 on the Athlon II N330 — the Athlon II N330 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Quad Q9300) vs 0 (Athlon II N330) — the Core 2 Quad Q9300 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P35,P45,X38,X48 (Core 2 Quad Q9300) and S1g4 (Athlon II N330).
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1066+35433% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+209715100% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Quad Q9300) / true (Athlon II N330). Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 launched at $266 MSRP, while the Athlon II N330 debuted at $100. At current prices ($27 vs $50), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is $23 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 delivers 74.5 pts/$ vs 40.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II N330 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9300 the 60.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $266 | $100-62% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $27-46% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.5+86% | 40.0 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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