AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

The Intel Core 9 273PE and AMD Ryzen 9 7900 are both 12-core, 24-thread desktop processors, yet benchmark results show they are optimized for entirely different workloads. The Intel part wins the modern Cinebench suite decisively, while the AMD part dominates legacy rendering and a broad range of PassMark subtests. With the Intel chip holding a marginal 1.3% lead in average benchmark score (49,845 vs 49,228), the choice between these two hinges entirely on which specific applications matter most to the user.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in single-core performance, where the Intel Core 9 273PE's results are staggering. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 4,417 versus AMD's 1,966, a 124.7% advantage. The Cinebench R15 single-core test tells a similar story, with Intel leading 445 to 315, a 41.3% margin. These are not incremental differences; they represent a generational gap in per-thread throughput. The Intel chip's 5.70 GHz boost clock, compared to AMD's 5.40 GHz, partially explains this, but the sheer scale of the delta suggests architectural efficiency differences beyond raw frequency.

However, the multi-core picture is more complex. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel wins again, scoring 31,288 versus 24,776 for AMD, a 26.3% lead. This is a significant victory for Intel, showing that its 36 MB of shared L3 cache and higher boost clocks translate into sustained all-core performance in modern rendering workloads. Yet in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, AMD flips the script completely, winning 4,020 to 3,153, a 21.6% margin for AMD. The reversal suggests that workload scaling characteristics have shifted between benchmark versions, with Intel's architecture favoring the newer instruction paths and memory access patterns.

The PassMark suite reveals AMD's dominance in data-centric tasks. AMD wins data compression 577,847 to 405,885, a 29.8% lead, and data encryption 34,708 to 22,719, a 34.5% margin. The extended instructions test shows AMD ahead by 41.7% (42,253 vs 24,630), and prime number finding sees AMD nearly double Intel's score, 380 to 203, a 46.6% advantage. Integer math also favors AMD, 164,075 to 139,410, a 15% lead. AMD's 64 MB of shared L3 cache, versus Intel's 36 MB, likely drives these wins, as larger caches reduce memory latency for repetitive data operations.

Intel does secure wins in other PassMark subtests. Floating point math goes to Intel, 107,884 to 97,943, a 10.1% advantage, showing that Intel's FPU pipelines handle complex mathematical operations more efficiently. Physics simulation also narrowly favors Intel, 3,120 to 3,059, a 2% margin. However, AMD takes the overall PassMark multithread score, 48,347 to 36,810, a 23.9% lead, and also wins PassMark single-thread, 4,130 to 3,650, an 11.6% margin. The single-thread PassMark result is particularly notable because it contradicts the Cinebench single-core results, suggesting that PassMark's single-thread test stresses different aspects of the pipeline than Cinebench's rendering workload.

Random string sorting goes decisively to AMD, 68,474 to 45,098, a 34.1% lead, further reinforcing the cache-heavy advantage. Overall, AMD wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, but Intel's victories in the modern Cinebench tests are often by larger margins. The data paints a picture of two processors that are nearly equal in aggregate performance but polar opposites in workload-specific execution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE edges out the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, with an average benchmark score of 49,845 compared to AMD's 49,228. This 1.3% difference places both at the 90th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How do the processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: Intel wins decisively, scoring 31,288 against AMD's 24,776, a 26.3% advantage. This is one of Intel's largest wins in the head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What explains AMD's strong showing in PassMark data compression?

A: AMD scores 577,847 versus Intel's 405,885, a 29.8% lead. The AMD processor's 64 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to Intel's 36 MB, provides a substantial buffer for compression algorithms that repeatedly access the same data blocks.

Q: Is the Intel processor's single-core advantage consistent across all tests?

A: No. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 124.7% (4,417 vs 1,966) and R15 single-core by 41.3% (445 vs 315), but AMD wins PassMark single-thread by 11.6% (4,130 vs 3,650). The results depend heavily on the specific workload characteristics.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: Intel has the higher boost clock at 5.70 GHz, while AMD boosts to 5.40 GHz. Intel also has a lower base clock at 2.30 GHz versus AMD's 3.70 GHz, meaning AMD maintains higher frequency at idle and lightly threaded loads.

Q: How do the processors compare in PassMark physics simulation?

A: Intel wins narrowly, scoring 3,120 versus AMD's 3,059, a 2% margin. This is the closest head-to-head result in the entire benchmark suite.

The Verdict

The data supports distinct use cases for each processor. The Intel Core 9 273PE is the clear choice for users running modern rendering workloads, as evidenced by its 26.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 124.7% lead in R23 single-core. Its 10.1% advantage in floating point math also suggests strength in scientific computing and simulation tasks that rely on FPU throughput. The Intel part's 5.70 GHz boost clock makes it particularly suited for single-threaded applications that respond to raw frequency.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 is the better option for data-intensive workloads. Its 29.8% lead in data compression, 34.5% lead in encryption, and 41.7% lead in extended instructions make it the superior choice for database operations, file archiving, and cryptographic processing. The 23.9% advantage in PassMark multithread and 15% lead in integer math indicate strong general-purpose computing performance across diverse tasks. AMD's 64 MB L3 cache provides a clear benefit for workloads with large working sets that repeatedly access the same memory regions.

For users who cannot predict their workload mix, the near-identical average benchmark scores (49,845 vs 49,228) mean either processor will deliver competitive overall performance. However, the 90th percentile ranking for both parts indicates that either represents a high-performance desktop solution. The decision should be driven by the specific application suite rather than aggregate scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications beyond their benchmark results. Intel uses Socket 1700, while AMD uses Socket AM5, making them incompatible with the same motherboards. Intel's process node is 10 nm, compared to AMD's 5 nm, which contributes to differences in power efficiency and thermal characteristics. AMD's architecture is explicitly listed as Zen 4, while Intel's is identified only by the Bartlett Lake codename. The Intel processor has a locked multiplier, whereas AMD's multiplier is unlocked, enabling overclocking on compatible boards.

Memory support differs significantly: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but Intel's memory bandwidth is rated at 89.6 GB/s versus AMD's 83.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also varies, with AMD offering 24 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) compared to Intel's 16 Gen 5 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with Intel featuring UHD Graphics 730 and AMD featuring Radeon Graphics. Intel's launch MSRP is $549, while AMD's is $429. AMD's release date is earlier, and its part number is 100-000000590, while Intel's is SA4QD.

Architecture Differences

The architectural distinctions are substantial and directly explain the benchmark outcomes. AMD's Ryzen 9 7900 is built on the Zen 4 architecture using a 5 nm process from TSMC, with 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die configuration. Intel's Core 9 273PE uses a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry, though its transistor count and die size are not specified. The process node difference alone—5 nm versus 10 nm—suggests AMD has a transistor density advantage, which typically translates to better power efficiency per operation.

Cache configurations differ markedly. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, totaling 36 MB of shared L3. AMD offers 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, but a much larger 64 MB of shared L3. This 28 MB L3 advantage for AMD is the single largest architectural differentiator, directly correlating with AMD's wins in data compression, encryption, and random string sorting—all workloads that benefit from larger cache residency.

The memory controllers also differ, with Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5 while AMD is DDR5-only. This gives Intel a flexibility advantage for users transitioning between memory generations, though AMD's higher base clock of 3.70 GHz versus Intel's 2.30 GHz suggests AMD maintains better performance at lower utilization levels. The combination of AMD's smaller process node and higher base clock, but lower boost clock, creates a distinctive performance profile: AMD excels at sustained moderate loads, while Intel's architecture is tuned for burst performance at maximum frequency.