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

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and Intel Core 9 273PTE are two processors with very different design goals, confirmed by a 14-to-1 win margin in the recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD part, a 16-core mobile flagship, dominates almost every workload category, while the Intel part, a 12-core desktop chip, secures a single but significant victory in single-core rendering.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins 14 of the 15 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its largest advantages come in heavily parallel workloads, where the extra four cores and eight threads produce massive deltas. The data shows the AMD chip leading by 160% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 59.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 106.7% in PassMark multi-thread. Encryption and extended instruction workloads show even larger gaps, with the AMD part ahead by 175.9% and 199.7% respectively. Integer math, data compression, and random string sorting also favor the AMD chip by margins between 129.6% and 160.2%.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins exactly one test: Cinebench R23 single-core. The Intel processor scores 2886 against the AMD's 1917, a delta of 33.6% in Intel's favor. This is not a small edge; it is a dominant single-thread win in a modern rendering benchmark. The Intel part also edges out the AMD chip in Cinebench R15 single-core by a razor-thin 0.7% margin, though the database still records that test as an AMD win. For users running lightly threaded applications that rely on the Cinebench R23 engine, the Intel processor is clearly the better choice.

The practical split is straightforward. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the pick for threaded productivity, content creation, and heavy computation. The Intel Core 9 273PTE is the pick for single-thread-bound workloads, specifically those that scale with the Cinebench R23 single-core score.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel. These process differences partially explain the power and efficiency profiles, but the core configurations differ more significantly.

The AMD part has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel part has 12 cores and 24 threads. Cache layouts also diverge. The AMD chip carries 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a 64 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a 36 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD processor therefore has substantially more total L3, while Intel allocates more L2 per core.

Clock speeds and power targets differ. The AMD chip has a 2.40 GHz base clock and a 5.30 GHz boost clock, with a 55 W TDP. The Intel chip has a 1.40 GHz base clock and a 5.50 GHz boost clock, with a 45 W TDP. Despite the lower base clock, the Intel part boosts higher and draws less rated power.

Platform support also differs. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FL1 and is marked for the mobile market segment. The Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700 and is marked for the desktop market segment. Memory support splits further: the AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, while the AMD part does not. PCIe connectivity is not equal either: the AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the AMD chip using Radeon 610M and the Intel chip using UHD Graphics 730.

The multiplier on the AMD chip is unlocked. The Intel chip is locked. The AMD part launched on 2025-04-22, while the Intel part has a later recorded release date of 2026-03-08. The Intel processor carries a launch MSRP of $549. The AMD processor has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD chip is built from 13,140 million transistors across a 2x 71 mm² die. The Intel chip has no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple selection rule. Choose the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX for multi-threaded performance. It wins 14 of 15 head-to-head tests, with margins that exceed 100% in several workloads. Its 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to the Intel part's 82nd percentile, reinforces its position in the overall performance distribution. The AMD chip's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i9-14900KS and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395, both with average scores within 0.5% of the AMD part. That is the company it keeps.

Choose the Intel Core 9 273PTE only when single-thread performance in the Cinebench R23 benchmark is the priority. The 33.6% lead over the AMD chip in that specific test is the largest single-thread advantage in the entire comparison. The Intel part also runs on a desktop socket, supports DDR4 and DDR5, and includes ECC memory support, which matters for certain workstation configurations. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-12700F and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, with average scores within 0.5% of the Intel part.

For a mobile 16-core machine, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is the clear performance leader. For a desktop build where single-core rendering speed is the only metric that matters, the Intel Core 9 273PTE has a defensible case. The database does not suggest the Intel part competes with the AMD part in overall average score: 81103 for AMD versus 31143 for Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

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

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins all recorded multi-core tests. It leads by 160% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 59.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 106.7% in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: Where does the Intel Core 9 273PTE beat the AMD processor?

A: The Intel part wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2886 against 1917, a 33.6% advantage. It also comes within 0.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core, though that test is still recorded as an AMD win.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 9 273PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 9 273PTE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest AMD wins are in instruction-heavy and parallel workloads. PassMark extended instructions shows the AMD chip scoring 47802 against 15952, a 199.7% lead. Data encryption shows 39318 against 14253, a 175.9% lead. Data compression shows 650984 against 258704, a 151.6% lead. Random string sorting shows 75381 against 28973, a 160.2% lead. Integer math shows 189221 against 82411, a 129.6% lead. These are not marginal differences; they are generational gaps in throughput.

The Cinebench multi-core results follow the same pattern. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 5355 against 2060, a 160% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 32521 against 20445, a 59.1% lead. PassMark multi-thread shows 49731 against 24054, a 106.7% lead. Floating point math favors the AMD part by 87.8%, with a score of 113921 against 60673. Find prime numbers favors the AMD part by 76.8%, with 251 against 142. Physics favors the AMD part by 9.8%, with 2104 against 1917. Even PassMark single-thread favors the AMD part, with 3874 against 3433, a 12.8% lead.

The single Intel win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel part scores 2886 against 1917, a 33.6% advantage. This is the only test in the head-to-head set where the Intel processor leads by a meaningful margin. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is nearly tied, with the AMD part at 292 and the Intel part at 290, a 0.7% difference recorded in favor of AMD.

The overall pattern is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX dominates the Intel Core 9 273PTE in almost every measurable category, with the Intel part's single-core Cinebench R23 result serving as its only standout. The database records 14 wins for AMD and 1 win for Intel across the head-to-head benchmark set.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for AMD and 1.40 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.30 GHz for AMD and 5.50 GHz for Intel. TDP is 55 W for AMD and 45 W for Intel.

Cache configurations differ by level. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has more total L3, while the Intel chip has more L2 per core.

Memory support splits. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5, with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the Intel chip but not on the AMD chip. PCIe lanes differ: the AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on the AMD chip and UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel chip.

Socket and market segment differ. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FL1 and is a mobile part. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700 and is a desktop part. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip is locked. The AMD chip is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 13,140 million transistors and a 2x 71 mm² die. The Intel chip is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with no transistor count or die size recorded. Release dates are 2025-04-22 for AMD and 2026-03-08 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $549; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.