AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has an average benchmark score of 81,103, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 49,845 on average, which lands in the 90th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark tests. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 3 tests.

Q: What are the biggest performance deltas in either direction?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX leads by 94.1% in Passmark extended instructions (47,802 vs 24,630). The Intel Core 9 273PE leads by 56.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (4,417 vs 1,917).

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX boosts to 5.30 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, part of the 8000 series. It is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die layout of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 9 273PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename in the Core 9 generation, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. The database does not record transistor counts or die sizes for the Intel part.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD processor provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has more total L3, while the Intel part has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 9 273PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is available on the Intel chip, not on the AMD chip.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD part provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes. The Intel part provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both: the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Radeon 610M, while the Intel Core 9 273PE uses the UHD Graphics 730.

Market positioning separates the two clearly. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FL1, released on April 22, 2025, with an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core 9 273PE is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700, released on March 8, 2026, with a locked multiplier. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $549.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, while the Intel Core 9 273PE takes two single-core tests and one physics test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 5,355 against Intel's 3,153, a 69.8% advantage. The gap narrows considerably in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD scores 32,521 and Intel scores 31,288, a 3.9% lead for AMD. The R15 result suggests the older test scales more aggressively with the AMD's 16 cores versus the Intel's 12 cores.

The Intel Core 9 273PE posts decisive wins in single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 445 versus AMD's 292, a 34.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 4,417 against AMD's 1,917, a 56.6% lead. Notably, the Passmark single-thread test tells a different story: AMD scores 3,874 and Intel scores 3,650, giving AMD a 6.1% win. The divergence between Cinebench and Passmark single-thread results indicates workload-specific behavior.

In Passmark data compression, AMD scores 650,984 versus Intel's 405,885, a 60.4% margin. Data encryption shows AMD at 39,318 and Intel at 22,719, a 73.1% advantage. Extended instructions deliver the largest delta: AMD scores 47,802 against Intel's 24,630, a 94.1% lead. Find prime numbers shows AMD at 251 versus Intel's 203, a 23.6% win.

Floating-point math is close: AMD scores 113,921 and Intel scores 107,884, a 5.6% margin. Integer math favors AMD more clearly, 189,221 versus 139,410, a 35.7% lead. Passmark multithread shows AMD at 49,731 and Intel at 36,810, a 35.1% advantage. Random string sorting goes to AMD, 75,381 versus 45,098, a 67.1% win.

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins Passmark physics, scoring 3,120 against AMD's 2,104, a 32.6% advantage. This result indicates that the physics workload responds to the Intel part's per-core characteristics rather than raw thread count.

Overall, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 12 of 15 comparisons. The three Intel wins are Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, and Passmark physics. The AMD part's wins range from 3.9% in Cinebench R23 multi-core to 94.1% in extended instructions.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. Core counts: AMD has 16 cores, Intel has 12. Threads: AMD has 32, Intel has 24. Base clock: AMD runs at 2.40 GHz, Intel at 2.30 GHz. Boost clock: AMD reaches 5.30 GHz, Intel reaches 5.70 GHz. TDP: AMD is rated at 55 watts, Intel at 65 watts.

Process node: AMD uses 5 nm from TSMC, Intel uses 10 nm from its own foundry. Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FL1, Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. Market segment: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. Release date: AMD launched April 22, 2025, Intel launched March 8, 2026. Multiplier: AMD is unlocked, Intel is locked.

Cache: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, 64 MB L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, 36 MB shared L3. Memory support: AMD is DDR5 only, Intel is DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth: AMD at 83.2 GB/s, Intel at 89.6 GB/s. ECC: AMD does not support it, Intel does. PCIe lanes: AMD has 28 Gen 5 lanes, Intel has 16 Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $549. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct profiles. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the stronger multi-threaded processor, winning 12 of 15 benchmark comparisons and posting its largest margins in extended instructions (94.1%), data encryption (73.1%), Cinebench R15 multi-core (69.8%), and random string sorting (67.1%). Its 16 cores and 32 threads give it a structural advantage in parallel workloads, and its average benchmark score of 81,103 sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon w5-3535X at 81,115 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i9-14900KS at 81,127 (0% delta), placing it in strong company.

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins the single-core tests that matter most in Cinebench: 445 versus 292 in R15 (34.4% ahead) and 4,417 versus 1,917 in R23 (56.6% ahead). It also wins Passmark physics by 32.6%. Those results indicate that the Intel part handles latency-sensitive, lightly threaded workloads better. However, its average benchmark score of 49,845 at the 90th percentile trails the AMD part significantly, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (49,796, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-14600KF (49,394, 0.9% delta).

For workloads that scale with core count, such as data compression, encryption, integer math, and multithreaded rendering, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For single-threaded tests like Cinebench R23 single-core and physics simulations, the Intel Core 9 273PE delivers higher scores. The choice depends on whether the workload prioritizes parallel throughput or single-core responsiveness. The AMD part offers more cores, more threads, and a substantially higher average benchmark score. The Intel part offers a higher boost clock, ECC memory support, and wins in specific single-thread scenarios. Both remain active production parts in the database.