Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs Intel Core i5-655K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 and Intel Core i5-655K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Peripherals. 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

Intel Core i5-655K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 16% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2349 vs 2017

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2349 vs 2017

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-655K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 71.4°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 30% lower typical power consumption: 73 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 19% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1446 vs 1216
6.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 2510 vs 412
3.7x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4869 vs 1299

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 71.4°C
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	73 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1446 vs 1216
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	2510 vs 412
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4869 vs 1299

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-655K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1216

1446

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2349

2017

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

412

2510

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1299

4869

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550	Intel Core i5-655K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1216	1446
PassMark - CPU mark	2349	2017
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	412	2510
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1299	4869
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	Intel Core i5-655K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Yorkfield	Clarkdale
Launch date	Q1'08	May 2010
Place in performance rating	3027	1216
Processor Number	Q9550	i5-655K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$59.99
Value for money (0-100)		16.69
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.83 GHz	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	214 mm2	81 mm2
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C	72.6°C
Number of cores	4	2
Transistor count	820 million	382 million
VID voltage range	0.8500V-1.3625V	0.6500V-1.4000V
L1 cache		64 KB (per core)
L2 cache		256 KB (per core)
L3 cache		4096 KB (shared)
Maximum frequency		3.46 GHz
Number of threads		4
Unlocked
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA775	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	73 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
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Memory
Max memory channels		2
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Maximum memory size		16.38 GB
Supported memory types		DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Graphics base frequency		733 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics		Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8