Core i3-N305 vs Core 2 Quad Q9550

Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Quad Q9550
2008
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
1.47
Core i3-N305
2023
8 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
6.28
+327%

Core i3-N305 outperforms Core 2 Quad Q9550 by a whopping 327% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking21701074
Place by popularitynot in top-10078
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesCore 2 Quad (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency1.4639.60
Architecture codenameYorkfield (2007−2009)Alder Lake-N (2023)
Release dateno data3 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$309

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speedno data0.1 GHz
Boost clock speed2.83 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus rate1333 MHzno data
L1 cache64K (per core)96 KB (per core)
L2 cache12288 KB2 MB (per module)
L3 cache0 KB6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size2x 107 mm2no data
Maximum core temperatureno data105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)71 °Cno data
Number of transistors820 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 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
SocketLGA775FCBGA1264
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305. 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-+
FMA-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data-
Thermal Monitoring-+
GPIOno data+

Security technologies

Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 are enumerated here.

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-N305. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR1,DDR2,DDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory sizeno data16 GB
Max memory channelsno data1

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics
Quick Sync Video-+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.25 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2160@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12.1
OpenGLno data4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 and Core i3-N305.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data9
USB revisionno data2.0/3.2

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-N305 6.28
+327%

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-N305 9980
+327%

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-N305 5651
+81.9%

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
i3-N305 26169
+142%

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
i3-N305 9081
+115%

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
i3-N305 11
+234%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.47 6.28
Physical cores 4 8
Threads 4 8
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 15 Watt

i3-N305 has a 327.2% higher aggregate performance score, 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and 533.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-N305 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-N305 is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Quad Q9550 and Core i3-N305, 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-N305
Core i3-N305

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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