Core 2 Quad Q9300 vs Phenom II X4 905e
Core 2 Quad Q9300
Phenom II X4 905e
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 Phenom II X4 905e is on rank 316, so the Phenom II X4 905e 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 Phenom II X4 905e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) | ✅ 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 Q9300 and Phenom II X4 905e
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.
Phenom II X4 905e
The Phenom II X4 905e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (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: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,014 points. Launch price was $212.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q9300 and Phenom II X4 905e 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 Phenom II X4 905e — 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 Phenom II X4 905e uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 scores 2,011 against the Phenom II X4 905e's 2,014 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X4 905e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 905e.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,011 | 2,014 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 905e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9300 | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
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