AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE 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 940 BE

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 20% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
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: 1212 vs 1081
Around 18% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2345 vs 1984
Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 397 vs 348
Around 24% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1331 vs 1074
8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.763 vs 0.473

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2009 vs March 2008
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 256 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1212 vs 1081
PassMark - CPU mark	2345 vs 1984
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	397 vs 348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1331 vs 1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.763 vs 0.473

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 32% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 125 Watt
2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 24.465 vs 11.035

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 512 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	24.465 vs 11.035

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1212

1081

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2345

1984

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

397

348

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1331

1074

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.763

0.473

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

11.035

24.465

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
PassMark - Single thread mark	1212	1081
PassMark - CPU mark	2345	1984
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	397	348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1331	1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.763	0.473
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	11.035	24.465
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.856

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
Essentials
Architecture codename	Deneb	Yorkfield
Launch date	January 2009	March 2008
Place in performance rating	2868	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	258 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB (per core)	6144 KB
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	758 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
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)	125 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)