Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs AMD Phenom II X2 550

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 and AMD Phenom II X2 550 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 Phenom II X2 550

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2349 vs 1155

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2349 vs 1155

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X2 550

Around 19% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1226 vs 1216

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1226 vs 1216

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X2 550

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1216

1226

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2349

1155

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	AMD Phenom II X2 550
PassMark - Single thread mark	1216	1226
PassMark - CPU mark	2349	1155
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	412
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1299
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.612
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	30.904
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.175
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.258
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.476

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	AMD Phenom II X2 550
Essentials
Architecture codename	Yorkfield	Callisto
Launch date	Q1'08	November 2009
Place in performance rating	3027	2040
Processor Number	Q9550
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$133
Price now		$49.99
Value for money (0-100)		11.92
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.83 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	214 mm2	258 mm
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C
Number of cores	4	2
Transistor count	820 million	758 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.3625V
L1 cache		128 KB (per core)
L2 cache		512 KB (per core)
L3 cache		6144 KB (shared)
Maximum frequency		3.1 GHz
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA775	AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	80 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