Phenom II X4 905e vs Core 2 Quad Q9300
Phenom II X4 905e
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 Phenom II X4 905e is positioned at rank 316 and the Core 2 Quad Q9300 is on rank 1039, so the Phenom II X4 905e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 905e
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q9300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 905e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 905e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 Phenom II X4 905e and Core 2 Quad Q9300
Phenom II X4 905e
The Phenom II X4 905e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,014 points. Launch price was $212.
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
Both the Phenom II X4 905e and Core 2 Quad Q9300 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Phenom II X4 905e versus 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q9300 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Phenom II X4 905e uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses Yorkfield (2007−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 905e scores 2,014 against the Core 2 Quad Q9300's 2,011 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X4 905e. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 905e vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q9300.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 905e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+1100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Yorkfield (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 2,014 | 2,011 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 905e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q9300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 905e | Core 2 Quad Q9300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
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