Performance comparison: which is faster?
Core 2 Quad Q9450 (Intel, 2008) and Celeron G4930 (Intel, 2019) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: 2 Quad Q9450 is about 7.1% faster
The sockets differ (LGA775 / LGA1151), so switching requires a motherboard replacement. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | 2 Quad Q9450 | Celeron G4930 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 3,000 | 2,800 |
| Generation | Core 2 | Celeron |
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA1151 |
| Release Year | 2008 | 2019 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon R7 360 | GeForce GTX 1030 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | 2 Quad Q9450 |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Choose the CPU matching your motherboard socket |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | Celeron G4930 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
2 Quad Q9450 is about 7.1% higher by score (2 Quad Q9450: 3000 points / Celeron G4930: 2800 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
2 Quad Q9450 is Core 2, while Celeron G4930 is Celeron.The sockets differ (LGA775 / LGA1151), so switching requires a motherboard replacement.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon R7 360 pairs well with 2 Quad Q9450 and GeForce GTX 1030 pairs well with Celeron G4930. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
