Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs AMD Athlon II X4 631

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 and AMD Athlon II X4 631 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Memory. 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).

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

AMD Athlon II X4 631

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 71.4°C vs 70.10°C
Around 5% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 100 Watt
Around 9% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1216 vs 1115
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2338 vs 2122
Around 20% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 412 vs 342
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1299 vs 1125
3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 30.904 vs 10.376
3.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.258 vs 0.401
Around 11% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.476 vs 4.046

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C vs 70.10°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 100 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1216 vs 1115
PassMark - CPU mark	2338 vs 2122
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	412 vs 342
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1299 vs 1125
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	30.904 vs 10.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.258 vs 0.401
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.476 vs 4.046

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 631

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
5.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.611 vs 0.612
Around 12% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.196 vs 0.175

Specifications (specs)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.611 vs 0.612
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.196 vs 0.175

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X4 631

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1216

1115

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2338

2122

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

412

342

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1299

1125

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.612

3.611

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

30.904

10.376

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.175

0.196

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.258

0.401

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.476

4.046

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	AMD Athlon II X4 631
PassMark - Single thread mark	1216	1115
PassMark - CPU mark	2338	2122
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	412	342
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1299	1125
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.612	3.611
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	30.904	10.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.175	0.196
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.258	0.401
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.476	4.046

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	AMD Athlon II X4 631
Essentials
Architecture codename	Yorkfield	Llano
Launch date	Q1'08	August 2011
Place in performance rating	3016	3020
Processor Number	Q9550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	AMD Athlon II X4
Status	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Family		AMD Athlon Processors
OPN PIB		AD631XWNGXBOX
OPN Tray		AD631XWNZ43GX
Price now		$80
Value for money (0-100)		11.61
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.83 GHz	2.6 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	214 mm2	228 mm
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C	70.10°C
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	820 million	1178 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.3625V
L1 cache		512 KB
L2 cache		4 MB
Maximum frequency		2.6 GHz
Number of threads		4
Unlocked
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA775	FM1 uPGA
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	100 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
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)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Memory
Supported memory types		DDR3