Core 2 Quad Q9550

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.


Overall Score

Overall score for Core 2 Quad Q9550 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,279 Rank: 1550
Rank Name Score Visual
1546 A10-6700T 4,282
+0.1%
1547 Athlon II X2 255 4,281
+0%
1548 A4-5300B 4,281
+0%
1549 Phenom II X4 830 4,279
+0%
1550 Core 2 Quad Q9550 4,279
1551 Celeron 3955U 4,278
+-0%
1552 Core i3-2328M 4,277
+-0%
1553 A8-3850 4,277
+-0%
1554 Core i5-540M 4,276
-0.1%
1555 Phenom II X4 B95 4,276
-0.1%

View full ranking →


Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core 2 Quad Q9550 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,228 Rank: 1967
Rank Name Score Visual
1963 Core i3-4005U 4,229
+0%
1964 Core 2 Duo T6670 4,229
+0%
1965 Turion X2 Ultra Mobile ZM-82 4,229
+0%
1966 Core 2 Duo P9300 4,228
+0%
1967 Core 2 Quad Q9550 4,228
1968 Athlon II P340 4,227
+-0%
1969 Pentium T4500 4,226
+-0%
1970 Sempron 140 4,226
+-0%
1971 Core 2 Duo T5850 4,225
-0.1%
1972 Core 2 Duo E4400 4,225
-0.1%

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Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core 2 Quad Q9550 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,313 Rank: 1475
Rank Name Score Visual
1471 Phenom II X6 1045T 4,321
+0.2%
1472 Core i7-620M 4,321
+0.2%
1473 Pentium 4 3.80GHz 4,320
+0.2%
1474 Pentium G2020T 4,314
+0%
1475 Core 2 Quad Q9550 4,313
1476 Intel Core i7-620LM 4,312
+-0%
1477 A8-6500B 4,311
+-0%
1478 Xeon E5530 4,309
-0.1%
1479 A6-5400K 4,309
-0.1%
1480 A6-5400B 4,309
-0.1%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.


Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core 2 Quad Q9550 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

-- Rank: --

Number Crunching score not yet available.

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Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core 2 Quad Q9550 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

-- Rank: --

Data Processing score not yet available.

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Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core 2 Quad Q9550 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

-- Rank: --

Physics & Compute score not yet available.

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Core 2 Quad Q9550 Details

The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 stands as a notable example of early quad-core desktop computing, released in March 2008 during a pivotal shift toward multi-core performance. Built on the Yorkfield architecture and fabricated on a 45 nm process, this processor marked a significant leap in performance over its predecessors, though it now represents a generation of hardware that is over 15 years old. Despite its age, the Q9550 remains relevant in historical discussions of desktop CPU evolution, particularly for its role in establishing quad-core capabilities in mainstream consumer platforms.

Featuring four cores and a base clock of 2.833 GHz, the Q9550 operates at a multiplier of 8.5x and is socketed on LGA 775, a widely adopted platform at the time. It includes 12 MB of L2 cache, distributed across the four cores, and supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 memory through a dual-channel interface. The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 95 W, which was substantial for its era and required robust cooling solutions. While lacking integrated graphics, it benefits from chipset-based graphics support on certain motherboards, allowing for basic visual output without a discrete GPU.

In terms of features, the Q9550 supports a range of instruction sets including MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4.1, and virtualization technologies such as VT-x and TXT. It also includes EIST for power management, making it more efficient than earlier models. However, the locked clock multiplier limits overclocking potential, a design choice common in Intel’s mainstream offerings of that period.

Benchmarking data places the Q9550 with an overall score of 4279, ranking it #1549 out of 2060 processors in the dataset. Its single-core performance scores 4313, placing it at #1475, while its multicore score of 4228 ranks it #1966. These results position it below most modern processors, with even entry-level current-generation CPUs outperforming it in both single- and multi-threaded workloads. In the top 50 rankings, the Q9550 falls far behind leaders like the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX and Core Ultra 9 285K, which achieve over 9,000 points in overall performance.

Despite its outdated architecture and limited capabilities by today’s standards, the Q9550 was a high-end processor in its time, capable of handling demanding tasks for office productivity, multimedia editing, and early gaming workloads. Its performance is now comparable to low-end modern mobile processors, but it remains a benchmark for understanding the trajectory of CPU development. As of March 2026, the Q9550 serves primarily as a historical reference point, with little practical use in contemporary computing environments.
Frequently Compared

AMD Athlon II X2 265 3 views


AMD Ryzen 5 3600 2 views


AMD Phenom 9650 2 views


Intel Core i3-4030U 2 views


AMD A10-4600M 2 views


AMD A10-7400P 2 views


AMD A6-5400K 2 views


AMD Phenom II X2 560 2 views


AMD Ryzen 7 2700E 2 views


AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 1 view


Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core 2 Quad Q9550
Cores: 4
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 2833 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 8.5xx (locked)
Core Name: Yorkfield
Socket: Socket 775
Package: FC-LGA6
Target Segment: Desktop
TDP: 95 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 62.464 KiB
L2 Cache: 11.444 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3

Physical Specifications

Process: 45 nm
Die Area: 107 mm²
Transistor Count: 0.00 billion
Manufacturer: Intel

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4.1 EIST TXT VT-x

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