Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs FirePro A320

Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs FirePro A320 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Quad Q9400

4 / 4

2,160

+0.3%

2,153

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs FirePro A320 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs FirePro A320: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Quad Q9400

2008

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 95W instead of 100W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $229 MSRP, while FirePro A320 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

FirePro A320

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,153 vs 2,160).

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Quad Q9400 better than FirePro A320?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, FirePro A320 is ahead with a 2.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Quad Q9400 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Quad Q9400 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 2 Quad Q9400 is the better buy right now. Core 2 Quad Q9400 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $229 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. The compromise is that FirePro A320 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (9.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

FirePro A320 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs FirePro A320 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

FirePro A320

The FirePro A320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,153 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Quad Q9400 and FirePro A320 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9400 versus 4.2 GHz on the FirePro A320 — a 44.5% clock advantage for the FirePro A320 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9400 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the FirePro A320 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9400 scores 2,160 against the FirePro A320's 2,153 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9400.

Feature	Core 2 Quad Q9400	FirePro A320
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.67 GHz	4.2 GHz+57%
Base Clock	2.66 GHz	3.8 GHz+43%
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	6 MB (total)+50%	4 MB (total)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Yorkfield (2007−2009)	Trinity (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,160	2,153

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Quad Q9400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the FirePro A320 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.