Core 2 Quad Q9550 vs Core i7-2860QM

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2860QM
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 45 Watt
2.96
+93.5%

Core i7-2860QM outperforms Core 2 Quad Q9550 by an impressive 93% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16632150
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7Core 2 Quad (Desktop)
Power efficiency6.001.47
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Yorkfield (2007−2009)
Release date4 September 2011 (13 years ago)no data (2024 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$568no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 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)
Threads84
Base clock speed2.5 GHzno data
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz2.83 GHz
Bus typeDMI 2.0no data
Bus rate4 × 5 GT/s1333 MHz
Multiplier25no data
L1 cache256 KBno data
L2 cache1 MB12288 KB
L3 cache8 MB (shared)no data
Chip lithography32 nm45 nm
Die size216 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Number of transistors1160 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)no data
SocketFCBGA1224,FCPGA988LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)45 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXno data
AES-NI+-
FMA+-
AVX+-
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB+no data
Identity Protection+-
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600DDR1,DDR2,DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth25.598 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.3 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad (Desktop) Q9550.

PCIe version2.0no data
PCI Express lanes16no data

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.

i7-2860QM 2.96
+93.5%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 1.53

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.

i7-2860QM 4523
+92.8%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2346

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.

i7-2860QM 563
+52.2%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 370

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.

i7-2860QM 1669
+60.6%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 1039

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.

i7-2860QM 4576
+47.3%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 3106

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.

i7-2860QM 16810
+55.3%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 10825

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.

i7-2860QM 6323
+49.5%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 4230

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.

i7-2860QM 6
+73.5%
Core 2 Quad Q9550 3

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.96 1.53
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 45 Watt 95 Watt

i7-2860QM has a 93.5% higher aggregate performance score, 100% more threads, a 40.6% more advanced lithography process, and 111.1% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-2860QM is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Quad Q9550 in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i7-2860QM is a notebook processor while Core 2 Quad Q9550 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2860QM and Core 2 Quad Q9550, 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 i7-2860QM
Core i7-2860QM
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Core 2 Quad Q9550

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

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


4.6 210 votes

Rate Core i7-2860QM on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 1861 vote

Rate Core 2 Quad Q9550 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2860QM or Core 2 Quad Q9550, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.