Core 2 Quad Q9650 vs Phenom II X4 N950
Core 2 Quad Q9650
Phenom II X4 N950
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 Phenom II X4 N950 is on rank 180, so the Phenom II X4 N950 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 Phenom II X4 N950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Phenom II X4 N950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Phenom II X4 N950 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom II X4 N950
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.
Phenom II X4 N950
The Phenom II X4 N950 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,485 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q9650 and Phenom II X4 N950 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9650 versus 2.1 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N950 — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q9650. The Core 2 Quad Q9650 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 N950 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q9650 scores 2,508 against the Phenom II X4 N950's 2,485 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q9650.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Phenom II X4 N950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+43% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,508 | 2,485 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q9650 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 N950 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q9650 | Phenom II X4 N950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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