Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs Pentium G3450
Core 2 Quad Q9400
Pentium G3450
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 Pentium G3450 is on rank 649, so the Pentium G3450 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 Pentium G3450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Pentium G3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Pentium G3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Pentium G3450
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.
Pentium G3450
The Pentium G3450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,182 points. Launch price was $175.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Quad Q9400 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G3450 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9400 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9400 versus 3.3 GHz on the Pentium G3450 — a 21.1% clock advantage for the Pentium G3450 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9400 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G3450 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9400 scores 2,160 against the Pentium G3450's 2,182 — a 1% lead for the Pentium G3450. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q9400 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3450.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Pentium G3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz | 3.3 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.4 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,160 | 2,182+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium G3450 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Pentium G3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Quad Q9400) / not specified (Pentium G3450). Primary use case: Core 2 Quad Q9400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Pentium G3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Quad Q9400 launched at $229 MSRP, while the Pentium G3450 debuted at $82. At current prices ($25 vs $25), the Pentium G3450 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Quad Q9400 delivers 86.4 pts/$ vs 87.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G3450 — making the Pentium G3450 the 1% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9400 | Pentium G3450 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $229 | $82-64% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.4 | 87.3+1% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2014 |
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