AMD Phenom II X2 550 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X2 550 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. 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 - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s).

AMD Phenom II X2 550

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X2 550

CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
Around 16% higher clock speed: 3.1 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Around 19% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 7% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1226 vs 1141

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	November 2009 vs April 2009
Maximum frequency	3.1 GHz vs 2.67 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1226 vs 1141

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 79% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2068 vs 1155

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
L2 cache	4096 KB vs 512 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2068 vs 1155

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X2 550
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1226

1141

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1155

2068

Name	AMD Phenom II X2 550	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1226	1141
PassMark - CPU mark	1155	2068
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		362
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		1139
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		0.609
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		20.494
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.4
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		4.93
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.171

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X2 550	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Callisto	Yorkfield
Launch date	November 2009	April 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$133
Place in performance rating	2040	3019
Price now	$49.99	$99.50
Value for money (0-100)	11.92	9.38
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q8400
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	258 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB (per core)	4096 KB
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	3.1 GHz	2.67 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Transistor count	758 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	AM3	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	95 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
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
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)