Pentium G3420 vs Core 2 Quad Q9300
Pentium G3420
Core 2 Quad Q9300
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 Pentium G3420 is positioned at rank 714 and the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is on rank 1039, so the Pentium G3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+47%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
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 Pentium G3420 and Core 2 Quad Q9300
Pentium G3420
The Pentium G3420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 2,022 points. Launch price was $252.
Core 2 Quad Q9300
The Core 2 Quad Q9300 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: 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: 2,011 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q9300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3420 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — a 24.6% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Pentium G3420 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420 scores 2,022 against the Core 2 Quad Q9300's 2,011 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium G3420. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q9300.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+28% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+28% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+2300% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Yorkfield (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 2,022 | 2,011 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3420 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3420 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 debuted at $266. At current prices ($40 vs $27), the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is $13 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G3420 delivers 50.5 pts/$ vs 74.5 pts/$ for the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — making the Core 2 Quad Q9300 the 38.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-68% | $266 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $27-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.5 | 74.5+48% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2008 |
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