Core 2 Quad Q9550s vs Core i7-4790

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1288not rated
Place by popularity71not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.82no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency5.16no data
Architecture codenameHaswell (2013−2015)Yorkfield (2007−2009)
Release date1 May 2014 (10 years ago)27 January 2009 (15 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$303no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s 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 speed3.6 GHz2.83 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz0.83 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s1333 MHz
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)12 MB (shared)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)0 KB
Chip lithography22 nm45 nm
Die size177 mm22x 107 mm2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C76 °C
Number of transistors1,400 million820 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
VID voltage rangeno data0.85V-1.3625V

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s 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
SocketFCLGA1150LGA775
Power consumption (TDP)84 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2no data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP+-
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDI+no data
FSB parityno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection+-
OS Guard+no data
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4600On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)
Max video memory2 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.2 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data
VGA+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP3840x2160@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort3840x2160@60Hzno data
Max resolution over VGA1920x1200@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/12no data
OpenGL4.3no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s.

PCIe versionUp to 3.02.0
PCI Express lanes16no data

Pros & cons summary


Recency 1 May 2014 27 January 2009
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 22 nm 45 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 84 Watt 65 Watt

i7-4790 has an age advantage of 5 years, 100% more threads, and a 104.5% more advanced lithography process.

Core 2 Quad Q9550s, on the other hand, has 29.2% lower power consumption.

We couldn't decide between Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s. We've got no test results to judge.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4790 and Core 2 Quad Q9550s, 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 i7-4790
Core i7-4790
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550s
Core 2 Quad Q9550s

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.


4.1 3476 votes

Rate Core i7-4790 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.7 20 votes

Rate Core 2 Quad Q9550s on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-4790 or Core 2 Quad Q9550s, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.