AMD FX-4100 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-4100 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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 FX-4100

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-4100

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 7 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 42% higher clock speed: 3.8 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm SOI vs 45 nm
Around 14% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1288 vs 1128
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2617 vs 2186
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 463 vs 403
7.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.203 vs 0.573
Around 32% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.234 vs 0.177

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2011 vs March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.8 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm SOI vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1288 vs 1128
PassMark - CPU mark	2617 vs 2186
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	463 vs 403
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.203 vs 0.573
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.234 vs 0.177

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

Around 1% higher maximum core temperature: 71.4°C vs 70.50°C
Around 33% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1322 vs 1286
3.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 31.997 vs 10.462
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.154 vs 0.51
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.249 vs 2.939

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C vs 70.50°C
L1 cache	256 KB vs 192 KB
L2 cache	12288 KB vs 4 MB
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1322 vs 1286
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	31.997 vs 10.462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.154 vs 0.51
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.249 vs 2.939

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-4100
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1288

1128

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2617

2186

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

463

403

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1286

1322

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.203

0.573

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.462

31.997

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.234

0.177

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.51

1.154

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.939

4.249

Name	AMD FX-4100	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
PassMark - Single thread mark	1288	1128
PassMark - CPU mark	2617	2186
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	463	403
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1286	1322
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.203	0.573
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	10.462	31.997
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.234	0.177
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.51	1.154
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.939	4.249

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-4100	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Yorkfield
Family	AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date	October 2011	March 2008
OPN PIB	FD4100WMGUSBX
OPN Tray	FD4100WMW4KGU
Place in performance rating	2960	2972
Price now	$129.99	$335
Series	AMD FX 4-Core Black Edition Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	9.22	3.31
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q9450
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	2.66 GHz
Die size	315 mm	214 mm2
L1 cache	192 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	4 MB	12288 KB
L3 cache	8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm SOI	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	70.50°C	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.8 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4
P0 Vcore voltage	Min: 1.1 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count	1200 million	820 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		1333 MHz FSB
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Supported memory frequency	1866 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	n / a
Advanced Technologies
Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
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)