AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Comparative analysis of AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Virtualization, Memory, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies. Benchmark processor performance analysis: 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), PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 12% higher clock speed: 2.8 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
4.5x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1554 vs 348
2.5x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2668 vs 1074
3.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.611 vs 0.473

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	April 2009 vs March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	2.8 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1554 vs 348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2668 vs 1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.611 vs 0.473

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 65 nm
6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
6.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.465 vs 3.841

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 65 nm
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 512 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.465 vs 3.841

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1554

348

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2668

1074

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.611

0.473

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.841

24.465

Name	AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1554	348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2668	1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.611	0.473
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	3.841	24.465
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.159
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.833
PassMark - Single thread mark		1081
PassMark - CPU mark		1984

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
Essentials
Architecture codename	Kuma	Yorkfield
Launch date	April 2009	March 2008
Place in performance rating	2880	2869
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$49.99
Processor Number		Q9300
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		18.63
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	285 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB (per core)	6144 KB
L3 cache	2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	65 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	2.8 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Transistor count	450 million	456 million
Unlocked
Base frequency		2.50 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
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM2+	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 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)
Memory
Supported memory types		DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
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