AMD Athlon II X4 631 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Comparative analysis of AMD Athlon II X4 631 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Virtualization, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD Athlon II X4 631

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 631

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 4 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 3% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2122 vs 2068
5.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.611 vs 0.609
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.196 vs 0.171

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	August 2011 vs April 2009
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	512 KB vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2122 vs 2068
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.611 vs 0.609
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.196 vs 0.171

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Around 3% higher clock speed: 2.67 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 71.4°C vs 70.10°C
Around 5% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 100 Watt
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1142 vs 1115
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 362 vs 342
Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1139 vs 1125
Around 98% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 20.494 vs 10.376
3.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.4 vs 0.401
Around 22% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.93 vs 4.046

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	2.67 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C vs 70.10°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 100 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1142 vs 1115
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	362 vs 342
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1139 vs 1125
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	20.494 vs 10.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.4 vs 0.401
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.93 vs 4.046

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Athlon II X4 631
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1115

1142

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2122

2068

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

342

362

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1125

1139

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.611

0.609

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.376

20.494

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.196

0.171

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.401

1.4

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.046

4.93

Name	AMD Athlon II X4 631	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1115	1142
PassMark - CPU mark	2122	2068
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	342	362
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1125	1139
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.611	0.609
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	10.376	20.494
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.196	0.171
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.401	1.4
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.046	4.93

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Athlon II X4 631	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Llano	Yorkfield
Family	AMD Athlon Processors
Launch date	August 2011	April 2009
OPN PIB	AD631XWNGXBOX
OPN Tray	AD631XWNZ43GX
Place in performance rating	3020	3008
Price now	$80	$99.50
Series	AMD Athlon II X4	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	11.61	9.38
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q8400
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.6 GHz	2.66 GHz
Die size	228 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	512 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	4 MB	4096 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	70.10°C	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	2.6 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	1178 million	456 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		1333 MHz FSB
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FM1 uPGA	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	100 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring