AMD Ryzen 7 9700F vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive split between these two desktop processors. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F takes only 2. The margin of victory for Intel is often substantial, particularly in multi-threaded workloads.

The largest gap appears in floating-point math. Intel scores 125,546 against AMD's 77,955, a delta of -37.9% from AMD's perspective. That means Intel delivers roughly 61% more floating-point throughput, which is a major advantage for scientific computing, simulations, and any workload that relies heavily on non-integer arithmetic. The integer math test also favors Intel heavily: 164,629 versus 120,788, a -26.6% delta. This translates to about 36% more integer performance.

Data compression shows a similar pattern. Intel's score of 585,752 beats AMD's 421,988 by 28%. Data encryption also goes to Intel with 29,636 versus 21,488, a 27.5% delta. These are both memory-heavy, parallel-friendly tasks, and Intel's additional cores and threads appear to pay off directly.

The multithread score is one of the more telling results. Intel posts 46,107 while AMD manages 36,470, a -20.9% delta. That is roughly 26% more multi-threaded performance for the Intel part. Physics simulation follows the same trend: Intel scores 2,754 versus AMD's 2,122, a 22.9% delta. Random string sorting also favors Intel, 53,167 versus 45,890, a 13.7% delta. Extended instructions go Intel's way as well, 38,743 versus 33,688, a 13% delta. Even the prime number finding test, which often favors higher single-core clocks, goes to Intel by a narrow margin: 198 versus 183, a 7.6% delta.

The only wins for AMD come in the single-thread tests. Both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread record identical scores: AMD at 4,691 and Intel at 4,573. That gives AMD a 2.6% delta advantage. This is a real but modest edge. It suggests AMD's Zen 5 architecture extracts slightly more performance per thread, even though Intel's maximum boost clock is higher on paper.

Looking at percentile rankings, AMD sits at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 93rd. The average benchmark score tells a slightly different story than the head-to-head wins: AMD averages 69,996 across its recorded tests, while Intel averages 66,099. This discrepancy comes from the test sets. Intel's benchmarks include Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 scores, which are not recorded for AMD. Those Cinebench results are strong for Intel: R23 multi-core at 39,190 and single-core at 5,532. AMD's average is computed from a different mix of PassMark tests. The head-to-head comparisons are the cleaner apples-to-apples view, and they favor Intel consistently.

The nearest rival data places AMD in very tight competition with the Intel Core i7-14700KF (delta of -0.2%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (delta of 0.7%), and the Intel Core i7-14700K (delta of 0.9%). Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (delta of -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (delta of 0.3%), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus (delta of -1.1%). These figures show that both processors sit in the upper tier of desktop silicon, but Intel's head-to-head dominance against AMD is the standout result.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every parallel workload tested, with deltas ranging from 7.6% in prime number finding to 37.9% in floating-point math. Anyone running rendering, data compression, encryption, or physics simulations should favor Intel based on these measurements. The 12 cores and 24 threads versus AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads explain most of this gap, and the benchmark results confirm that Intel puts that extra hardware to work.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is the pick for single-thread-sensitive tasks. Its 2.6% edge in single-thread scores is small but consistent across both recorded single-thread tests. For lightly threaded applications, or for users who prioritize maximum responsiveness in everyday tasks, AMD's advantage is real. The lower power draw also matters: AMD's TDP is 65 watts versus Intel's 125 watts. The database shows AMD achieving near-parity in average benchmark score (69,996 versus 66,099) while consuming less power, which is a meaningful efficiency signal.

Neither processor is a weak choice. Both sit above the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. But the head-to-head count is lopsided: 9 wins for Intel, 2 for AMD. The magnitude of Intel's wins is also larger than AMD's single-thread margin. A 37.9% lead in floating-point math outweighs a 2.6% lead in single-thread. The verdict from the recorded data is that Intel is the stronger overall processor, with AMD holding a narrow but genuine single-thread advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and process nodes. AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process for the Ryzen 7 9700F, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. Intel uses its own 10 nm process for the Core 9 273PQE, under the Bartlett Lake codename. The process node difference is significant: 4 nm versus 10 nm, which helps explain AMD's lower TDP of 65 watts versus Intel's 125 watts. AMD's design is more power-efficient per unit of work, while Intel uses more power to drive more cores and a higher boost clock.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel offers 12 cores and 24 threads. That is 50% more cores and 50% more threads for Intel. Base clocks are close: AMD at 3.80 GHz and Intel at 3.40 GHz. Boost clocks favor Intel: 5.90 GHz versus AMD's 5.50 GHz. Despite Intel's higher boost clock, AMD wins the single-thread tests, which indicates that architectural efficiency matters more than raw frequency in this comparison.

Cache layouts show different philosophies. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. AMD uses 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel uses 2 MB per core. Intel also has a larger shared L3 cache: 36 MB versus AMD's 32 MB. The larger L2 per core and bigger L3 give Intel more on-die data capacity, which likely contributes to its strong showing in data compression and encryption.

Memory support differs. AMD supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel access and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel with the same 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The socket is another major difference: AMD uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 1700. PCIe lanes also differ: AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Intel includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while AMD has no integrated graphics. Intel's multiplier is locked, while AMD's is unlocked. AMD's launch MSRP is $289, while Intel's is $589.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel has 50% more of each.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: AMD wins both recorded single-thread tests with a score of 4,691 versus Intel's 4,573. That is a 2.6% delta in AMD's favor.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: AMD has a TDP of 65 watts, while Intel has a TDP of 125 watts. AMD also achieves a higher average benchmark score (69,996 versus 66,099) in the database, indicating better performance per watt in the recorded tests.

Q: Does Intel support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in floating-point math. Intel scores 125,546 compared to AMD's 77,955, a delta of -37.9% from AMD's perspective.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. Intel includes UHD Graphics 770, while AMD has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A). The AMD processor requires a discrete GPU.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins in every multi-threaded workload category recorded. Data compression shows a 28% lead. Data encryption shows a 27.5% lead. Floating-point math shows the largest margin at 37.9%. Integer math follows at 26.6%. Multithread score comes in at 20.9% ahead. Physics simulation is 22.9% ahead. Random string sorting is 13.7% ahead. Extended instructions are 13% ahead. Even prime number finding, which is often sensitive to single-core speed, goes to Intel by 7.6%.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F wins exclusively in single-thread performance. Both single-thread tests record a 2.6% delta over Intel. This is a narrow win, but it is consistent across two separate recorded measurements.

The use-case split is straightforward from the data. Intel is the choice for any workload that scales with cores and threads: rendering, video encoding, data processing, compression, encryption, scientific computation. AMD is the choice for lightly threaded applications where single-core speed matters most, such as older games, certain legacy software, or tasks that cannot parallelize effectively. The 65-watt TDP also makes AMD the more sensible pick for compact builds or systems where power draw is a constraint. Intel's 125-watt TDP demands more robust cooling and power delivery, but the benchmark data shows that extra power buys substantial performance in parallel tasks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9700F | Intel Core 9 273PQE |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 24 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 36 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 5, 24 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

| Launch MSRP | $289 | $589 |