AMD Ryzen 9 3900 vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE reaches 5.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 tops out at 4.30 GHz. This difference directly supports the Intel part’s single-thread dominance in the recorded benchmarks.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core 9 273PE and the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 feature 12 cores and 24 threads, so the benchmark deltas are not explained by core count alone.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 has 64 MB of L3 cache, compared to 36 MB on the Intel Core 9 273PE. Despite that cache advantage, the Intel part wins the majority of the head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE uses Intel’s 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 uses TSMC’s 7 nm process. The AMD chip also integrates 7,600 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 74 mm².

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core 9 273PE supports DDR5 (alongside DDR4). The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 is limited to DDR4. The Intel part also has higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s for the AMD chip.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each CPU claim in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 10 of the 13 recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 takes 3. The Intel part’s wins include all Cinebench tests and most PassMark workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE is the clear choice for single-threaded and latency-sensitive workloads. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 445 versus 197 for the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 represents a 125.9% advantage, which is the largest single-test delta in the entire comparison. This translates directly into snappier responses in everyday applications, older software that relies on one or two cores, and any workload where per-core speed is the bottleneck. The PassMark single-thread score of 3650 versus 2604 (a 40.2% lead) reinforces this pattern.

The Intel part also dominates in physics simulation and floating-point math. The PassMark physics score of 3120 versus 1617 is a 92.9% lead, and the floating-point math score of 107884 versus 56730 is a 90.2% advantage. These results indicate that the Intel architecture handles iteration-heavy and scientific calculations with far greater efficiency. Integer math also favors Intel heavily, with 139410 versus 97698, a 42.7% edge. Multithreaded performance, as measured by PassMark multithread, shows Intel ahead by 20.3% (36810 versus 30586), even though both CPUs have identical core and thread counts.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 wins in three specific PassMark workloads: data compression, data encryption, and extended instructions. Data compression scores 413887 versus 405885, a 1.9% edge. Data encryption shows a more substantial lead at 26657 versus 22719, a 14.8% advantage. Extended instructions score 26073 versus 24630, a 5.5% lead. These wins suggest that AMD’s Zen 2 architecture retains a niche advantage in cryptography and certain vectorized instruction sets. However, these are narrow or moderate wins, and the overall average benchmark score still favors Intel (49845 versus 47918).

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 9 273PE is built on the Bartlett Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Matisse codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 7 nm process. The AMD chip is a dual-chiplet design with 7,600 million transistors and a die size of 2x 74 mm², while the Intel part’s transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with 36 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 64 MB L3 pool. The larger L3 on AMD may help in certain data-heavy workloads, but the benchmark data shows that Intel’s higher clock speeds and per-core cache configuration are more effective overall.

Memory support differs as well. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. AMD supports only DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Intel also enables ECC memory, whereas AMD does not. PCIe capabilities differ: Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while AMD offers Gen 4 with 24 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel part, with UHD Graphics 730. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. Intel’s part is multiplier-locked, while AMD’s is multiplier-unlocked, allowing overclocking on the Ryzen chip. The Intel CPU uses Socket 1700, and the AMD CPU uses Socket AM4.

Specification Differences

| Feature | Intel Core 9 273PE | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 7,600 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 2x 74 mm² |

| 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) | 64 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 24 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2019-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $549 | $499 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins decisively in Cinebench R15 multicore, scoring 3153 against 2804 for the AMD Ryzen 9 3900, a 12.4% advantage. The single-core Cinebench R15 result is even more lopsided: 445 versus 197, a 125.9% lead. This single-core margin is the standout figure in the entire comparison, indicating a generational leap in per-thread performance.

PassMark multithread shows Intel ahead at 36810 versus 30586, a 20.3% win. This is notable because both CPUs have the same 12-core, 24-thread configuration, so the gap comes from architectural efficiency and clock speed rather than core count. The PassMark physics test amplifies this, with Intel scoring 3120 versus 1617, a 92.9% advantage. Floating-point math follows with 107884 versus 56730, a 90.2% lead.

Integer math is also heavily Intel-favored: 139410 versus 97698, a 42.7% delta. Single-thread PassMark results show 3650 versus 2604, a 40.2% lead. Random string sorting is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 0.4% (45098 versus 44902). The find prime numbers test is an exact tie at 203 for both CPUs.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 claims three wins. Data compression shows 413887 versus 405885, a 1.9% margin. Data encryption is the strongest AMD result at 26657 versus 22719, a 14.8% advantage. Extended instructions score 26073 versus 24630, a 5.5% lead. These wins demonstrate that AMD’s Zen 2 chip retains competence in specific cryptographic and compression routines, but they do not offset the broader performance gap.

The overall average benchmark score for the Intel part is 49845, placing it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD part averages 47918, also at the 90th percentile. Among nearest rivals, the Intel Core 9 273PE sits within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and within 0.9% of the Intel Core i5-14600KF, while trailing the Intel Core i9-13980HX by 1.1% and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 by 1.2%. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D (0% delta), ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265T by 0.5%, and behind the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235A by 0.5% and 0.6%, respectively.

In summary, the Intel Core 9 273PE is the stronger overall processor, with a clear edge in single-thread, physics, and arithmetic workloads. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900 remains competitive in data compression, encryption, and extended instructions, but its wins are narrower and fewer. The data indicates that for most users, the Intel part offers superior performance per core and per thread, despite the AMD chip’s larger L3 cache and higher base clock.