AMD Phenom II X4 840 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 840 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 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 - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD Phenom II X4 840

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 840

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 10 month(s) later
Around 28% higher clock speed: 3.2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 20% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1297 vs 1081
Around 21% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2401 vs 1984
Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 391 vs 348
Around 23% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1325 vs 1074
6.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.92 vs 0.473

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2011 vs March 2008
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
L1 cache	512 KB vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1297 vs 1081
PassMark - CPU mark	2401 vs 1984
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	391 vs 348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1325 vs 1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.92 vs 0.473

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Around 1% higher maximum core temperature: 71.4°C vs 71°C
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.465 vs 8.884

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C vs 71°C
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 2 MB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.465 vs 8.884

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 840
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1297

1081

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2401

1984

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

391

348

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1325

1074

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.92

0.473

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

8.884

24.465

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 840	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
PassMark - Single thread mark	1297	1081
PassMark - CPU mark	2401	1984
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	391	348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1325	1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.92	0.473
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	8.884	24.465
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.159
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.91

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 840	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
Essentials
Architecture codename	Propus	Yorkfield
Family	AMD Phenom
Launch date	January 2011	March 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$90
OPN PIB	HDX840WFGMBOX
OPN Tray	HDX840WFK42GM
Place in performance rating	2862	2869
Price now	$89.95	$49.99
Series	AMD Phenom II X4	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	11.50	18.63
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		Q9300
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.2 GHz	2.50 GHz
Die size	169 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	512 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	2 MB	6144 KB
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	71°C	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	300 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	AM3	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 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)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)