AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner: the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX takes 13 of the 17 recorded tests, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins 4. The AMD part's average benchmark score of 76212 positions it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, compared to Intel's 66099 average and 93rd percentile placement.

In Cinebench testing, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins every single test by exactly 9%. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD scores 42713 against Intel's 39190. The single-core R23 result shows 6030 versus 5532, again a 9% advantage for AMD. This pattern repeats across Cinebench R15 and R20, with both multicore and single-core variants showing the same 9% delta. The consistency suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Passmark suite reveals where each processor excels. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX dominates in random string sorting with a 48.2% lead, scoring 78781 against 53167. Data encryption shows a 37.8% gap, with AMD at 40836 versus Intel's 29636. Find prime numbers favors AMD by 32.3% (262 versus 198), and extended instructions go AMD's way by 28.6% (49823 versus 38743). Integer math sees AMD ahead by 18.6% (195180 versus 164629), and data compression shows a 15.7% advantage (677755 versus 585752). The multithread test gives AMD an 11.5% win, scoring 51405 against 46107.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE claims its wins in specific workloads. Floating point math goes to Intel by 6.4%, with a score of 125546 versus AMD's 117453. The physics test shows Intel ahead by 21.3%, scoring 2754 against 2168. Single-thread tests give Intel a 14.6% advantage, with 4573 against AMD's 3907. These wins point to strengths in lightly threaded and physics-heavy scenarios, but they do not offset the breadth of AMD's victories.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses Zen 4 architecture on the Dragon Range codename, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses Bartlett Lake, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with 12 cores and 24 threads.

The Intel part runs at higher clocks: a 3.40 GHz base and 5.90 GHz boost, compared to AMD's 2.50 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost. Despite the clock disadvantage, AMD still wins most single-core Cinebench tests, which indicates the Zen 4 cores deliver more instructions per clock in those workloads.

Cache configurations differ substantially. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. Intel offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. AMD's larger L3 pool likely helps in the multithread and data-heavy workloads where it dominates.

The AMD chip uses an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. AMD supports 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, Intel provides 16. Memory support also differs: AMD uses DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Intel claims a slightly higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s versus AMD's 83.2 GB/s, though this does not translate into benchmark victories in most tests. Intel supports ECC memory, AMD does not.

The TDP figures show a major divergence. AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 125 W. This is notable given that AMD still wins most performance tests despite the much lower power envelope. The market segments also differ: AMD is listed as Mobile, Intel as Desktop. The AMD part uses Socket FL1, Intel uses Socket 1700.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212, which is about 15.3% higher than the Intel Core 9 273PQE's 66099. The AMD part sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 93rd.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins the Passmark floating point math test by 6.4%, the physics test by 21.3%, and the single-thread test by 14.6%. It also wins the duplicate Passmark single-thread entry by the same margin.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE boosts to 5.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz. Intel's higher boost clock contributes to its single-thread wins in Passmark, though AMD still wins Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core 9 273PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Intel also supports ECC memory, which AMD does not.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX as the stronger overall performer. It wins 13 of 17 tests and holds a decisive average benchmark score advantage of roughly 15.3%. The largest margins come in workloads that benefit from many cores and large cache: random string sorting (48.2% ahead), data encryption (37.8%), find prime numbers (32.3%), and extended instructions (28.6%). For multithreaded rendering, compression, encryption, or sorting workloads, the AMD part is the clear choice based on the benchmark results.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE has a narrower but real set of advantages. Its 14.6% single-thread lead in Passmark, 21.3% physics win, and 6.4% floating point win indicate strengths in specific scenarios. The higher boost clock of 5.90 GHz and larger L2 cache per core (2 MB versus 1 MB) likely contribute to these results. Users running physics simulations or single-threaded applications that resemble the Passmark single-thread test would see better performance from Intel.

The power data adds another dimension. AMD achieves its benchmark dominance with a 55 W TDP, while Intel requires 125 W. The efficiency gap is substantial, though the Intel part does support ECC memory and both DDR4 and DDR5, which may matter for specific system requirements. The Intel launch MSRP is $589.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Intel Core 9 273PQE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 12 |

| Threads | 32 | 24 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 5.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-03-08 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in almost every category that matters for heavy parallel workloads. Data compression shows a 15.7% edge, data encryption a 37.8% edge, and multithread performance an 11.5% edge. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 64 MB of L3 cache drives these results. All Cinebench tests, whether single-core or multicore, go to AMD by 9%. The AMD part also wins integer math (18.6%), extended instructions (28.6%), find prime numbers (32.3%), and random string sorting (48.2%). For rendering, encoding, compression, encryption, and general productivity, the data points firmly to AMD.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins in four specific areas. Passmark physics shows a 21.3% advantage, making it the strongest Intel result. The single-thread Passmark test gives Intel a 14.6% lead, which reflects the higher 5.90 GHz boost clock. Floating point math goes to Intel by 6.4%. These wins suggest Intel is better suited for physics simulation workloads, floating-point-heavy calculations, and applications that depend on raw single-thread speed as measured by Passmark. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration with 2 MB of L2 per core and a 5.90 GHz boost clock supports this profile. Users prioritizing those specific workloads would prefer the Intel part, though the overall benchmark record favors AMD.