AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins all 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 260. The Intel processor posts an average benchmark score of 66,099, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip averages 43,717 and sits in the 88th percentile. The Intel part also sits in stronger company among its nearest rivals, trading blows with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (0.3% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (1.1% behind), whereas the AMD Ryzen 7 260 is essentially tied with the Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 (0% delta) and sits just ahead of the Ryzen AI 9 465 (0.7% ahead).

For multi-threaded productivity workloads, the Core 9 273PQE is the clear choice. Its 12-core, 24-thread configuration delivers 39,190 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 56.1% ahead of the Ryzen 7 260's 17,211.5. The Intel chip's 125W TDP compared to the AMD's 45W TDP reflects the performance trade-off, but the data shows no scenario in which the AMD part wins any measured test.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is a mobile processor on Socket FP8 with a 45W TDP, designed for power-conscious laptops. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is a desktop part on Socket 1700 with a 125W TDP, priced at a $589 launch MSRP. The AMD chip's only real advantage is its lower power envelope and smaller physical footprint, but in every benchmark category, from single-thread to multi-thread, from integer math to data compression, the Intel part leads by a wide margin. The only users who should pick the AMD Ryzen 7 260 are those who require a mobile form factor or a 45W power ceiling; everyone else should choose the Intel Core 9 273PQE based on the recorded performance data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4nm TSMC process with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The cache layout spans 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 780M, and the chip does not support ECC memory.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10nm Intel process. It is a larger configuration with 12 cores and 24 threads, running at a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 5.90 GHz boost clock. The cache hierarchy is more generous: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, also at 89.6 GB/s, and moves to PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 770, and the chip does support ECC memory.

The transistor count and die size for the Intel part are not recorded in the database, but the architectural differences are clear. The AMD chip uses a more advanced 4nm process versus Intel's 10nm node, which helps explain its much lower 45W TDP while still delivering a competitive boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part compensates with more cores, more threads, a higher 5.90 GHz boost, and a significantly larger L3 cache at 36 MB versus 16 MB. The Intel chip also supports a wider range of memory types (DDR4 and DDR5) and adds ECC support, which the AMD part lacks. The PCIe generation is also newer on the Intel side (Gen 5 versus Gen 4), though the AMD chip offers more CPU lanes at 20 versus 16.

Where Each One Wins

Across all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every single test. There are no wins recorded for the AMD Ryzen 7 260 in any category, which makes the use-case split one-sided in the data.

The Intel part's biggest advantages come in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it leads by 56.1%, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the margin is 30.4%. The passmark physics test shows a 55.8% lead, and floating-point math is 52.6% ahead. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and cache size, all of which favor the Intel chip's 12 cores, 24 threads, and 36 MB of L3.

The Intel part also dominates in single-thread performance, which is important for lightly-threaded applications like older games or office productivity. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip scores 5,532 versus 1,770.5, a 68% lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core margin is 50.4%, and the passmark single-thread test shows an 18.3% advantage. The higher 5.90 GHz boost clock on the Intel part drives these results, despite the AMD chip's more advanced 4nm process.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260 does not win any recorded benchmark, so there is no workload category where the data supports choosing it on performance. Its only advantages are qualitative: the 45W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, and the Radeon 780M integrated graphics are likely more capable than the UHD Graphics 770 for casual gaming without a discrete GPU, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the database. The AMD part also has four more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), which could matter for storage or expansion in a mobile platform, but this does not translate into any recorded performance win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 39,190, which is 56.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 260's 17,211.5.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 260 win any benchmark against the Intel Core 9 273PQE?

A: No. The database records 15 head-to-head comparisons, and the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins all 15, with no wins for the AMD part.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 260 uses AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE uses Intel Socket 1700. The Intel part is a desktop processor, while the AMD part is a mobile processor.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 does not.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has a boost clock of 5.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 boosts to 5.10 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of both processors?

A: Both processors feature dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip supports DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 9 273PQE demonstrates its dominance across every recorded test, with the largest margins appearing in multi-threaded and single-threaded render workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the Intel chip scoring 39,190 against the AMD's 17,211.5, a 56.1% advantage. This is the single largest margin in the dataset and reflects the Intel chip's 12 cores and 24 threads versus the AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with the Intel's larger 36 MB L3 cache.

The single-core Cinebench R23 result is even more lopsided in percentage terms: Intel scores 5,532 versus 1,770.5, a 68% lead. The 5.90 GHz boost clock on the Intel chip clearly outpaces the 5.10 GHz on the AMD part. The older Cinebench R15 tests show similar patterns, with Intel leading 3,950 to 2,747.5 in multi-core (30.4% ahead) and 557 to 276.5 in single-core (50.4% ahead).

In the Passmark suite, the Intel chip wins every category. The closest margin is in random string sorting, where Intel scores 53,167 versus 42,383, a 20.3% lead. The single-thread test also shows a relatively modest 18.3% advantage (4,573 versus 3,736), which is notable because it suggests the AMD chip's Zen 4 architecture at 4nm is competitive per-clock, but the Intel chip's higher boost clock and larger cache still win out.

The compute-heavy Passmark tests show substantial Intel leads. Floating-point math: Intel 125,546 versus AMD 59,462, a 52.6% margin. Integer math: 164,629 versus 96,737, a 41.2% lead. Find prime numbers: 198 versus 77, a 61.1% advantage. Extended instructions: 38,743 versus 26,544, a 31.5% lead. Data encryption: 29,636 versus 20,267, a 31.6% margin. Data compression: 585,752 versus 351,517, a 40% lead. Multithread: 46,107 versus 28,078, a 39.1% advantage. Physics: 2,754 versus 1,218, a 55.8% lead.

The overall average benchmark scores reinforce the picture: the Intel Core 9 273PQE averages 66,099 across all recorded tests, compared to 43,717 for the AMD Ryzen 7 260. The Intel part's nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, sits at 66,159, a 0.1% difference, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260's closest competitor is the Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43,704, a 0% delta. The Intel chip ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip ranks in the 88th percentile. All recorded data points to the same conclusion: the Intel Core 9 273PQE is the substantially faster processor in every measured dimension.