Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 vs AMD FX-6300

The AMD FX-6300 is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 21%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.

AMD FX-6300 wins — about 21% faster for gaming
Specification Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 AMD FX-6300
Gaming score 14/100 17/100
Tier F F
Manufacturer Intel AMD
Cores 4 6
Threads 4 6
Base clock 2.4 GHz 3.5 GHz
Boost clock 2.4 GHz 4.1 GHz
Power draw (TDP) 105 W 95 W
Release year 2007 2012

Which should you buy?

For gaming specifically, the AMD FX-6300 is the better buy — it holds a 21% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The AMD FX-6300 has more cores (6 vs 4), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The AMD FX-6300 runs 10W cooler, meaning a cheaper cooler and less case heat. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.