AMD EPYC 7343 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins decisively. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4573 versus 2740 for the AMD EPYC 7343, a 66.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core also favors Intel, 5532 to 5237, a 5.6% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE takes every Cinebench multi-core test. It leads by 5.6% in R15 (3950 vs 3739), R20 (16459 vs 15580), and R23 (39190 vs 37097). PassMark multithread also goes to Intel, 46107 vs 43644, a 5.6% margin.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7343 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 5 of 17 head-to-head tests. Its biggest wins are in PassMark find prime numbers (382 vs 198, a 48.2% lead), PassMark physics (4774 vs 2754, a 42.3% lead), and PassMark data encryption (37454 vs 29636, a 20.9% lead). It also wins random string sorting and data compression.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD EPYC 7343 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The AMD part uses more cores, while the Intel part relies on higher clocks.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7343 has eight-channel memory with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses dual-channel memory at 89.6 GB/s. The EPYC offers over twice the raw memory bandwidth, which matters for server-style workloads.

Q: Which CPU is more recent?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE is newer, with a release date of March 2026. The AMD EPYC 7343 launched in March 2021. Both are still listed as active production parts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is built on an Intel 10 nm node and carries the Bartlett Lake codename, belonging to the Core 9 generation. It is a desktop part with a 125 W TDP and uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD EPYC 7343 is a server/workstation chip based on Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Milan, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. It has a 190 W TDP and fits AMD Socket SP3.

Core count is the first major split. The EPYC 7343 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel packs 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite fewer cores, the Intel has a much higher boost clock at 5.90 GHz versus 3.90 GHz for the EPYC. Base clocks are closer: 3.40 GHz for Intel, 3.20 GHz for AMD.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Intel part provides 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and a 36 MB shared L3. The EPYC has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB shared L3. The EPYC's larger L3 is typical of server-focused silicon, but the Intel per-core L2 is bigger.

Memory support splits them further. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, yielding a theoretical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. AMD supports only DDR4 but runs eight-channel memory, reaching 204.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity is also lopsided. The Intel provides 16 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. The EPYC provides 128 Gen 4 lanes. That is a huge difference for expansion, storage, and networking in server environments. Intel's part includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, while the EPYC has no integrated graphics at all.

Manufacturing details show the EPYC as a chiplet design with 4x 81 mm² dies and 16,600 million transistors. The Intel database entry does not list transistor count or die size. Process nodes are 10 nm (Intel) and 7 nm (TSMC).

The EPYC belongs to the EPYC 7003 series, while the Intel does not list a series. The Intel part number is SA4Q9, the EPYC part number is 100-000000338100-100000338WOF. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

For desktop and single-thread-heavy use, the Intel Core 9 273PQE is the clear choice. It wins every Cinebench test, single-core PassMark by 66.9%, floating-point math by 45.5%, and extended instructions by 8.7%. Its 5.90 GHz boost clock and dual-channel DDR5 support deliver the responsiveness expected from a desktop flagship. The database records a launch MSRP of $589.

For server or workstation workloads tied to massive memory bandwidth, the AMD EPYC 7343 is stronger. It wins data encryption, prime finding, physics simulation, random string sorting, and data compression. Its 128 MB L3 and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth serve workloads that scale with memory and cache. The launch MSRP is $1565.

The EPYC also offers more cores and threads, 16/32 versus 12/24. If your software scales linearly with core count and favors memory bandwidth, the EPYC's 5-head-to-head wins matter despite the lower average benchmark score. The Intel wins 12 of 17 tests, but its losses are concentrated in server-specific tasks.

Both parts sit at the same 93rd percentile among all CPUs. The Intel's average benchmark score is 66099, the EPYC's is 64202. The Intel leads the overall average by 2.8%, but the EPYC is not far behind.

Consider the Intel if you need peak single-core, fast floating-point, or the convenience of integrated graphics. Consider the EPYC if you need the 128 PCIe lanes, octa-channel memory, and the specific encryption or physics wins. The EPYC costs more at launch, but the database shows it delivers a different set of strengths.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core 9 273PQE | AMD EPYC 7343 |

|-------|---------------------|----------------|

| Cores | 12 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 32 |

| Base clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.90 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 190 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Process node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Milan |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 36 MB (shared) | 128 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes | Gen 4, 128 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | None |

| Market segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release date | March 2026 | March 2021 |

| Launch MSRP | $589 | $1565 |

| Transistors | Not listed | 16,600 million |

| Die size | Not listed | 4x 81 mm² |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins 12 of the 13 head-to-head tests. The largest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the Intel scores 4573 against the EPYC's 2740, a 66.9% advantage. That is a massive gap and reflects the difference in boost clocks: 5.90 GHz versus 3.90 GHz.

Floating point math also heavily favors the Intel. The Intel scores 125546, the EPYC 86311, a 45.5% lead. In integer math the Intel wins 164629 vs 156033, a 5.5% margin. Extended instructions go to the Intel, 38743 vs 35626, an 8.7% lead.

Cinebench results are consistent. The Intel wins every multi-core and single-core test by 5.6% or 5.7%. For example, R23 multi-core: 39190 vs 37097, a 5.6% lead. R23 single-core: 5532 vs 5237, a 5.6% lead. These are not huge gaps, but they are consistent across all rendering tests.

The AMD EPYC 7343 wins the remaining 5 tests, and some of its margins are dramatic. In PassMark find prime numbers, it scores 382 versus 198, a 48.2% lead. In physics, it scores 4774 vs 2754, a 42.3% lead. Data encryption went to the EPYC, 37454 vs 29636, a 20.9% margin. Random string sorting, 67576 vs 53167, a 21.3% win. Data compression is close, with the EPYC ahead, 589770 vs 585752, a 0.7% win.

The pattern is clear: the Intel wins on raw throughput, single-thread, and math, while the EPYC wins on specific data-handling tasks, physics, and prime number generation.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core 9 273PQE wins:

• Any workload that is single-threaded or lightly threaded. The 66.9% PassMark single-thread lead gives it a major edge in everyday responsiveness, legacy software, and games.
• Floating-point math. The 45.5% lead in PassMark floating point makes this the pick for scientific and engineering code that relies on FPU performance.
• Extended instructions (AVX/SSE style workloads). An 8.7% lead.
• Integer math. A 5.5% lead, good for general computation.
• Cinebench rendering, both single and multi-core, with a consistent 5.6% margin. This helps in 3D rendering and video encoding that scale to 12-24 threads.
• PassMark multithread, 5.6% ahead, so also for general multi-core apps.
• Desktop users, since it has integrated graphics (UHD 770) and supports DDR5 memory.

AMD EPYC 7343 wins:

• Data encryption. A 20.9% lead makes this better for VPN, secure storage, and crypto workloads.
• Prime number search. The EPYC is 48.2% faster, which indicates a strong integer or math primitive for heavy compute.
• Physics simulations. A 42.3% lead, useful for certain engine workloads.
• Random string sorting, 21.3% ahead, which helps in database sorting and text processing.
• Data compression, a slight 0.7% win, but a win nonetheless.
• Server environments that need 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes and eight-channel memory. The 204.8 GB/s bandwidth is a structural advantage for multi-socket or I/O-heavy systems.
• Workloads that scale to 16 cores and 32 threads. A core count advantage means it can feed many parallel tasks.

The Intel is a desktop processor with a high boost clock. The EPYC is a server processor with massive bandwidth and core count. The benchmark data aligns exactly with those designs.