
Core 2 Quad Q9650 vs Pentium Gold 4415Y

Core 2 Quad Q9650

Pentium Gold 4415Y
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 Q9650 is positioned at rank 244 and the Pentium Gold 4415Y is on rank 908, so the Core 2 Quad Q9650 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 Q9650
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Gold 4415Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Pentium Gold 4415Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Pentium Gold 4415Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| 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 Q9650 and Pentium Gold 4415Y

Core 2 Quad Q9650
The Core 2 Quad Q9650 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 2,508 points. Launch price was $249.

Pentium Gold 4415Y
The Pentium Gold 4415Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,521 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Quad Q9650 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium Gold 4415Y offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9650 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9650 versus 1.6 GHz on the Pentium Gold 4415Y — a 60.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q9650 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q9650 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Gold 4415Y uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9650 scores 2,508 against the Pentium Gold 4415Y's 2,521 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium Gold 4415Y. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q9650 vs 2 MB on the Pentium Gold 4415Y.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Pentium Gold 4415Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+87% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+87% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,508 | 2,521 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9650 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium Gold 4415Y uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Pentium Gold 4415Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1515 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
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