Core i3-6100U vs Core 2 Quad Q9550

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Quad Q9550
2008
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
1.47
Core i3-6100U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.66
+12.9%

Core i3-6100U outperforms Core 2 Quad Q9550 by a moderate 13% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking21702078
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesCore 2 Quad (Desktop)Intel Core i3
Power efficiency1.4610.47
Architecture codenameYorkfield (2007−2009)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release dateno data1 September 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$281

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speedno data2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed2.83 GHz2.3 GHz
Bus typeno dataOPI
Bus rate1333 MHz4 GT/s
Multiplierno data23
L1 cache64K (per core)128 KB
L2 cache12288 KB512 KB
L3 cache0 KB3 MB
Chip lithography45 nm14 nm
Die size2x 107 mm298.57 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)71 °Cno data
Number of transistors820 million1750 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketLGA775FCBGA1356
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data-
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Smart Responseno data+

Security technologies

Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR1,DDR2,DDR3DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data34.134 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 520
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-6100U.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data12

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 1.47
i3-6100U 1.66
+12.9%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 2338
i3-6100U 2635
+12.7%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 370
i3-6100U 758
+105%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 1038
i3-6100U 1549
+49.2%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 3106
i3-6100U 3714
+19.6%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 10825
+28.5%
i3-6100U 8426

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 4230
+30.5%
i3-6100U 3242

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

Core 2 Quad Q9550 3
+23.3%
i3-6100U 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.47 1.66
Physical cores 4 2
Chip lithography 45 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 15 Watt

Core 2 Quad Q9550 has 100% more physical cores.

i3-6100U, on the other hand, has a 12.9% higher aggregate performance score, a 221.4% more advanced lithography process, and 533.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-6100U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Quad Q9550 in performance tests.

Note that Core 2 Quad Q9550 is a desktop processor while Core i3-6100U is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Quad Q9550 and Core i3-6100U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Core 2 Quad Q9550
Intel Core i3-6100U
Core i3-6100U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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