Intel Core i7-860 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-860 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, 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 i7-860

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-860

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.46 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 72.7°C vs 71.4°C
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1331 vs 1282
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3022 vs 2484
Around 14% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 507 vs 444
Around 35% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1890 vs 1400
Around 62% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.949 vs 0.587
Around 61% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 49.877 vs 30.945
Around 93% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.312 vs 0.162
Around 26% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.485 vs 1.175

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2009 vs August 2008
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz vs 3 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.7°C vs 71.4°C
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1331 vs 1282
PassMark - CPU mark	3022 vs 2484
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	507 vs 444
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1890 vs 1400
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.949 vs 0.587
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.877 vs 30.945
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.312 vs 0.162
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.485 vs 1.175

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.276 vs 4.161

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	6144 KB (per die) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.276 vs 4.161

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-860
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1331

1282

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3022

2484

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

507

444

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1890

1400

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.949

0.587

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

49.877

30.945

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.312

0.162

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.485

1.175

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.161

4.276

Name	Intel Core i7-860	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650
PassMark - Single thread mark	1331	1282
PassMark - CPU mark	3022	2484
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	507	444
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1890	1400
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2296	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.949	0.587
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	49.877	30.945
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.312	0.162
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.485	1.175
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.161	4.276

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-860	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650
Essentials
Architecture codename	Lynnfield	Yorkfield
Launch date	September 2009	August 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$229
Place in performance rating	2740	2998
Price now	$289.95	$54.49
Processor Number	i7-860	Q9650
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	5.09	22.69
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.80 GHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	2.5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	296 mm2	214 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	6144 KB (per die)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	72.7°C	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.46 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	8
Transistor count	774 million	820 million
VID voltage range	0.6500V-1.4000V	0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	LGA1156	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
FSB parity
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)