Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs Athlon II X4 630
Core 2 Quad Q9400
Athlon II X4 630
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 Q9400 is positioned at rank 1003 and the Athlon II X4 630 is on rank 868, so the Athlon II X4 630 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 Q9400
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 630
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+68%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Q9400 and Athlon II X4 630
Core 2 Quad Q9400
The Core 2 Quad Q9400 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 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 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: 2,160 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X4 630
The Athlon II X4 630 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,175 points. Launch price was $63.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q9400 and Athlon II X4 630 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9400 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X4 630 — a 4.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 630 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9400 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 630 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9400 scores 2,160 against the Athlon II X4 630's 2,175 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X4 630. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz | 2.8 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.8 GHz+5% |
| 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 | 2,160 | 2,175 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X4 630 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 630 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Quad Q9400) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 630) — the Athlon II X4 630 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon II X4 630 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9400) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 630). Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q9400 launched at $229 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 630 debuted at $129. At current prices ($25 vs $15), the Athlon II X4 630 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Quad Q9400 delivers 86.4 pts/$ vs 145.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 630 — making the Athlon II X4 630 the 50.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $229 | $129-44% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $15-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.4 | 145.0+68% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2009 |
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