Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 vs AMD Athlon 64 FX-55

Comparative analysis of Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 and AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 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, 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 Q9650

AMD Athlon 64 FX-55

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 10 month(s) later
3 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 1
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 90 nm
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 9% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 104 Watt
2.5x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1283 vs 505
6.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2479 vs 404

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	August 2008 vs October 2004
Number of cores	4 vs 1
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 90 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 128 KB
L2 cache	6144 KB (per die) vs 1024 KB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 104 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1283 vs 505
PassMark - CPU mark	2479 vs 404

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650
CPU 2: AMD Athlon 64 FX-55

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1283

505

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2479

404

Name	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650	AMD Athlon 64 FX-55
PassMark - Single thread mark	1283	505
PassMark - CPU mark	2479	404
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	444
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1400
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.587
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	30.945
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.162
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.175
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.276

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650	AMD Athlon 64 FX-55
Essentials
Architecture codename	Yorkfield	San Diego
Launch date	August 2008	October 2004
Place in performance rating	2987	2995
Price now	$54.49	$179.95
Processor Number	Q9650
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	22.69	1.18
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$180
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	214 mm2	115 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	6144 KB (per die)	1024 KB
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	90 nm
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	2.6 GHz
Number of cores	4	1
Transistor count	820 million	114 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	939
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	104 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)