AMD Athlon II X4 651 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

Comparative analysis of AMD Athlon II X4 651 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 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 - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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).

AMD Athlon II X4 651

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 651

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Around 12% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
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 12% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1271 vs 1139
Around 14% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2443 vs 2150
Around 5% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 396 vs 376
Around 16% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1335 vs 1151
5.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.042 vs 0.574

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2011 vs August 2008
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1271 vs 1139
PassMark - CPU mark	2443 vs 2150
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	396 vs 376
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1335 vs 1151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.042 vs 0.574

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 5% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 100 Watt
Around 14% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.189 vs 3.69

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 1024 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 100 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.189 vs 3.69

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Athlon II X4 651
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1271

1139

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2443

2150

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

396

376

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1335

1151

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.042

0.574

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.69

4.189

Name	AMD Athlon II X4 651	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1271	1139
PassMark - CPU mark	2443	2150
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	396	376
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1335	1151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.042	0.574
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.69	4.189
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		26.509
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.136
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.094

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Athlon II X4 651	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Llano	Yorkfield
Launch date	November 2011	August 2008
Place in performance rating	2736	3130
Price now	$178.04	$33.98
Value for money (0-100)	5.93	28.99
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q9400
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	228 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core)	6144 KB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	1178 million	456 million
Base frequency		2.66 GHz
Bus Speed		1333 MHz FSB
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °C
Maximum core temperature		71.4°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	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)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
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