Core i7-920 vs Core 2 Extreme QX9300

Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Extreme QX9300
2008
4 cores / 4 threads, 45 Watt
1.16
Core i7-920
2008
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
1.82
+56.9%

Core i7-920 outperforms Core 2 Extreme QX9300 by an impressive 57% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking23762010
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data1.22
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesCore 2 ExtremeCore i7 (Desktop)
Power efficiency2.391.30
Architecture codenamePenryn (2008−2011)Bloomfield (2008−2010)
Release dateAugust 2008 (16 years ago)November 2008 (16 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$340

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.53 GHz2.66 GHz
Boost clock speed2.53 GHz2.93 GHz
Bus rate1066 MHz1333 MHz
L1 cache64 KB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache12 MB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache0 KB8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nm45 nm
Die size2x 107 mm2263 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C68 °C
Number of transistorsno data731 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-
VID voltage range1.05V-1.175Vno data

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920 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 configuration21
SocketPGA478FCLGA1366,PLGA1366
Power consumption (TDP)45 Watt130 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.2
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology-1.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle Statesno data+
Demand Based Switching--
PAEno data36 Bit
AMT+no data
FSB parity-no data

Security technologies

Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920 are enumerated here.

VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data24 GB
Max memory channelsno data3
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

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 Extreme QX9300 1.16
i7-920 1.82
+56.9%

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 Extreme QX9300 1805
i7-920 2841
+57.4%

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 Extreme QX9300 3114
i7-920 3874
+24.4%

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 Extreme QX9300 10882
i7-920 15576
+43.1%

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 Extreme QX9300 3780
i7-920 4728
+25.1%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

Core 2 Extreme QX9300 15.74
i7-920 9.57
+64.5%

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 Extreme QX9300 3
i7-920 5
+82.8%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.16 1.82
Threads 4 8
Power consumption (TDP) 45 Watt 130 Watt

Core 2 Extreme QX9300 has 188.9% lower power consumption.

i7-920, on the other hand, has a 56.9% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more threads.

The Core i7-920 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 in performance tests.

Be aware that Core 2 Extreme QX9300 is a notebook processor while Core i7-920 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core i7-920, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Core 2 Extreme QX9300
Intel Core i7-920
Core i7-920

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 91 vote

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core 2 Extreme QX9300 or Core i7-920, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.