Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs AMD Athlon II X4 640

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 and AMD Athlon II X4 640 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 640

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1221 vs 1212
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2346 vs 2245
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 412 vs 358
Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1299 vs 1191
4.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 30.904 vs 7.618
Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.175 vs 0.17
Around 10% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.476 vs 4.052

Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1221 vs 1212
PassMark - CPU mark	2346 vs 2245
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	412 vs 358
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1299 vs 1191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	30.904 vs 7.618
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.175 vs 0.17
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.476 vs 4.052

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X4 640

4.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.776 vs 0.612

Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.776 vs 0.612

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
CPU 2: AMD Athlon II X4 640

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1221

1212

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2346

2245

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

412

358

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1299

1191

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.612

2.776

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

30.904

7.618

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.175

0.17

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.476

4.052

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	AMD Athlon II X4 640
PassMark - Single thread mark	1221	1212
PassMark - CPU mark	2346	2245
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	412	358
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1299	1191
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.612	2.776
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	30.904	7.618
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.175	0.17
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.476	4.052

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	AMD Athlon II X4 640
Essentials
Architecture codename	Yorkfield	Propus
Launch date	Q1'08	May 2010
Place in performance rating	3013	3020
Processor Number	Q9550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$80
Price now		$239.95
Value for money (0-100)		4.07
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.83 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	214 mm2	169 mm
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	820 million	300 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.3625V
L1 cache		128 KB (per core)
L2 cache		512 KB (per core)
Maximum frequency		3 GHz
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA775	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 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)
Memory
Supported memory types		DDR3