Core i3-4158U vs Core 2 Quad Q8300
Core i3-4158U
Core 2 Quad Q8300
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 i3-4158U is positioned at rank 576 and the Core 2 Quad Q8300 is on rank 985, so the Core i3-4158U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4158U
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q8300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4158U | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4158U | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 i3-4158U and Core 2 Quad Q8300
Core i3-4158U
The Core i3-4158U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,921 points. Launch price was $315.
Core 2 Quad Q8300
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4158U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q8300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core i3-4158U versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q8300 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-4158U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4158U scores 1,921 against the Core 2 Quad Q8300's 1,917 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-4158U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4158U vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Core i3-4158U | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB (total)+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Yorkfield (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,921 | 1,917 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 457 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4158U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-4158U | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i3-4158U) / not specified (Core 2 Quad Q8300). The Core i3-4158U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Graphics 5100), while the Core 2 Quad Q8300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4158U targets Multimedia.
| Feature | Core i3-4158U | Core 2 Quad Q8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Graphics 5100 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x / VT-d / EPT | — |
| Target Use | Multimedia | — |
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