AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split in workload character between these two processors. The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins 11 of the 17 direct benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U takes 6. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Intel's strongest showing comes in prime number finding, where it scores 142 against AMD's 78, a massive 82.1% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. Physics simulation also heavily favors Intel, with a score of 1917 versus 1154, a 66.1% lead. Floating point math follows the same pattern: Intel scores 60673 against AMD's 45265, a 34% advantage. Integer math is closer but still Intel's, 82411 to 74875, a 10.1% win.

In multithreaded PassMark, Intel leads 24054 to 22795, a 5.5% margin. The Cinebench suite shows consistent, if modest, Intel superiority across every iteration. In R15 multicore, Intel scores 2060 against AMD's 2014, a 2.3% lead. R15 singlecore is 290 to 284, a 2.1% margin. R20 multicore shows 8586 versus 8392, again 2.3%. R20 singlecore is 1212 to 1184, a 2.4% lead. R23 multicore delivers 20445 against 19982, a 2.3% edge, and R23 singlecore is 2886 to 2821, also 2.3%.

AMD's victories are concentrated in specific instruction and encryption workloads. Data encryption shows AMD at 15843 versus Intel's 14253, a 10% advantage. Extended instructions are AMD's biggest win: 19130 to 15952, a 16.6% margin. Random string sorting favors AMD, 32114 to 28973, a 9.8% lead. Data compression is nearly even, with AMD at 260925 versus Intel's 258704, a 0.9% edge. Single-thread performance in PassMark goes to AMD, 3732 to 3433, an 8% difference.

The average benchmark score places Intel at 31143, which sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. AMD's average is 30254, placing it in the 81st percentile. These are adjacent performance tiers, with Intel's nearest rivals including the Intel Core i7-12700F at a 0.2% delta and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS also at 0.2%. AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X at a 0.1% delta and the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U at a negative 0.4% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. Intel uses a 12-core, 24-thread configuration built on the Bartlett Lake architecture, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The base clock is 1.40 GHz with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The thermal design power is rated at 45 watts, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics come as UHD Graphics 730, positioned for the desktop market segment. The release date is recorded as March 2026.

AMD's Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U is a 6-core, 12-thread part built on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The base clock is 3.50 GHz, boosting to 4.90 GHz. The thermal design power is 28 watts, significantly lower than Intel's. It uses the AMD Socket FP7 and supports only DDR5 memory, dual-channel, with the same 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are the Radeon 760M, and the market segment is mobile. The release date is April 2024.

Cache layouts differ substantially. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel's L3 is more than double AMD's, which contributes to its multicore advantages. The process node gap is significant: 10 nm versus 4 nm, with AMD's smaller node enabling higher base clocks and lower power draw.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench tests, Intel wins all single-core rounds: R15 at 290 versus 284, R20 at 1212 versus 1184, and R23 at 2886 versus 2821, each with a 2.1% to 2.4% margin. However, in PassMark single-thread testing, AMD wins 3732 to 3433, an 8% advantage.

Q: How do the multicore scores compare?

A: Intel leads in every Cinebench multicore test: R15 at 2060 versus 2014, R20 at 8586 versus 8392, and R23 at 20445 versus 19982, all with a 2.3% margin. PassMark multithread also favors Intel, 24054 to 22795, a 5.5% lead.

Q: Which chip is better for encryption and compression workloads?

A: AMD wins data encryption, 15843 to 14253, a 10% margin. Data compression is nearly tied, with AMD at 260925 versus Intel's 258704, a 0.9% edge. AMD also wins extended instructions, 19130 to 15952, a 16.6% lead.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: Intel is rated at 45 watts TDP, while AMD is rated at 28 watts TDP. This reflects AMD's mobile-oriented design and smaller 4 nm process node versus Intel's 10 nm node.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 9 273PTE and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U support ECC memory. Both also use dual-channel memory configurations with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, though Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 while AMD supports only DDR5.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: AMD provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. AMD has more lanes, but Intel's are a newer generation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. Intel has 12 cores and 24 threads, AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel's base clock is 1.40 GHz, AMD's is 3.50 GHz. Intel's boost clock is 5.50 GHz, AMD's is 4.90 GHz. Intel's TDP is 45 watts, AMD's is 28 watts. Intel uses Socket 1700, AMD uses Socket FP7. Intel's architecture is Bartlett Lake, AMD's is Zen 4 with the Hawk Point codename. Intel is on a 10 nm process from its own foundry, AMD is on a 4 nm process from TSMC. AMD has 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die; Intel does not report transistor count or die size.

Cache configurations differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, AMD supports only DDR5. PCIe differs: Intel is Gen 5 with 16 lanes, AMD is Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 730, AMD uses Radeon 760M. Intel is a desktop part, AMD is a mobile part. Intel's release date is March 2026, AMD's is April 2024. Intel has a launch MSRP of $549, AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to a desktop processor with a clear multicore and math-heavy workload advantage. The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins the majority of benchmarks, particularly in physics, floating point, and prime number calculations. Its 24 threads and 36 MB of L3 cache provide structural superiority in parallel tasks. The average benchmark score of 31143 places it in the 82nd percentile, slightly ahead of AMD's 30254 in the 81st percentile.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U is not a weak competitor. It wins in encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, and single-thread PassMark. Its lower 28 watt TDP and 4 nm process make it a more efficient mobile part. The AMD chip is also newer by nearly two years in release date.

The choice depends on workload. For users prioritizing Cinebench rendering, physics simulation, and integer-heavy tasks, Intel is the clear pick. For users focused on encryption, instruction-heavy code, and single-thread PassMark performance, AMD offers advantages. The overall average scores are close, with a delta of less than 3% between them, so the decision should be driven by specific application needs rather than general performance.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core 9 273PTE wins in:

• All Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multicore), with margins from 2.1% to 2.4%
• PassMark multithread, 5.5% ahead
• PassMark integer math, 10.1% ahead
• PassMark floating point math, 34% ahead
• PassMark physics, 66.1% ahead
• PassMark find prime numbers, 82.1% ahead

This chip is the choice for rendering, simulation, scientific computing, and any workload that scales with thread count and large L3 cache. Its 45 watt TDP is acceptable for desktop use where power draw is less constrained.

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U wins in:

• PassMark single thread, 8% ahead
• PassMark data encryption, 10% ahead
• PassMark random string sorting, 9.8% ahead
• PassMark extended instructions, 16.6% ahead
• PassMark data compression, 0.9% ahead

This chip suits mobile or power-sensitive environments where the 28 watt TDP matters. It also handles encryption, compression, and string manipulation workloads with better efficiency. The Radeon 760M integrated graphics may offer different multimedia capabilities than Intel's UHD Graphics 730, though no benchmark data is recorded for either iGPU.

The overall win count stands at 11 for Intel and 6 for AMD. The largest single margin belongs to Intel in prime number finding. The most consistent AMD advantage appears in instruction-heavy and encryption workloads. For a desktop build targeting maximum threaded performance, Intel is the data-backed recommendation. For a mobile system prioritizing efficiency and specific instruction workloads, AMD is the better fit.