Core 2 Quad Q9300 vs Athlon II X4 615e
Core 2 Quad Q9300
Athlon II X4 615e
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 X4 615e is on rank 983, so the Athlon II X4 615e 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 X4 615e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($27) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+11%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($27) | ⚠️ 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 Q9300 and Athlon II X4 615e
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 X4 615e
The Athlon II X4 615e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) 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: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,018 points. Launch price was $59.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q9300 and Athlon II X4 615e share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 versus 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 615e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 scores 2,011 against the Athlon II X4 615e's 2,018 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 615e. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,011 | 2,018 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,161 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 331 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,161 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X4 615e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: P35,P45,X38,X48 (Core 2 Quad Q9300) and AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e).
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Quad Q9300) / AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 launched at $266 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 615e debuted at $186. At current prices ($27 vs $30), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is $3 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 delivers 74.5 pts/$ vs 67.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 615e — making the Core 2 Quad Q9300 the 10.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Athlon II X4 615e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $266 | $186-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $27-10% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.5+11% | 67.3 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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