Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 vs AMD Athlon 64 2800+

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 and AMD Athlon 64 2800+ 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 - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

AMD Athlon 64 2800+

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 10 month(s) later
3 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 1
Around 48% higher clock speed: 2.67 GHz vs 1.8 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 130 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
24x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.2x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1128 vs 511
5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2189 vs 438

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	March 2008 vs April 2004
Number of cores	4 vs 1
Maximum frequency	2.67 GHz vs 1.8 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 130 nm
L1 cache	256 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache	12288 KB vs 512 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1128 vs 511
PassMark - CPU mark	2189 vs 438

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon 64 2800+

Around 7% lower typical power consumption: 89 Watt vs 95 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	89 Watt vs 95 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
CPU 2: AMD Athlon 64 2800+

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1128

511

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2189

438

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450	AMD Athlon 64 2800+
PassMark - Single thread mark	1128	511
PassMark - CPU mark	2189	438
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	403
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1322
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.573
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	31.997
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.177
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.154
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.249

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450	AMD Athlon 64 2800+
Essentials
Architecture codename	Yorkfield	NewCastle
Launch date	March 2008	April 2004
Place in performance rating	2970	2973
Price now	$335	$99.99
Processor Number	Q9450
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	3.31	1.29
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$100
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.66 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	214 mm2	144 mm
L1 cache	256 KB	128 KB
L2 cache	12288 KB	512 KB
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	130 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	71 °C
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	2.67 GHz	1.8 GHz
Number of cores	4	1
Transistor count	820 million	69 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA775	754
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	89 Watt
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)