AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX and the Intel Core 9 273PQE shows a decisive pattern: the AMD part dominates in eight of the eleven recorded PassMark tests, while Intel claims three wins, two of which are essentially statistical ties. The most lopsided result comes in the prime number search test, where the Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 323 against Intel's 198, a 63.1% advantage. This is not a marginal gap; it is the kind of delta that indicates a fundamentally stronger integer execution pipeline for this particular workload.

The AMD processor also shows a 38.9% lead in extended instructions, scoring 53,817 versus 38,743. This is the second-largest margin in the dataset and points to a clear edge in workloads that leverage newer instruction sets. Random string sorting also favors the Ryzen 9 9850HX by 32%, with scores of 70,175 and 53,167 respectively. Data compression follows at 13.1% (662,381 vs. 585,752), and multithread performance is 12.2% higher on the AMD chip (51,722 vs. 46,107). The physics test shows a 10.9% win for AMD (3,054 vs. 2,754), while data encryption is 8.4% ahead (32,139 vs. 29,636). Integer math rounds out the AMD wins with a 5.1% margin (172,943 vs. 164,629).

Intel's three victories are narrower. Floating point math gives Intel an 8.4% edge (125,546 vs. 115,062), which is a notable reversal given AMD's lead in most other compute-bound tests. The single-thread scores are very close: Intel posts 4,573 against AMD's 4,461, a 2.4% advantage. The same delta appears in the duplicate singlethread result, confirming the consistency of that measurement. These two single-thread wins are the only places where Intel's higher boost clock appears to translate directly into benchmark superiority.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is 106,413, placing it at the 97th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 9 273PQE averages 66,099, which puts it at the 93rd percentile. That difference in average score is substantial, but the percentile gap is smaller because the Intel part still sits well above the median CPU. In the nearest rival comparisons, the Ryzen 9 9850HX sits within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon w7-3555 (106,192) and 0.5% above the Intel Xeon 6521P (105,845). It trails the Intel Xeon w7-2595X by 2.1% (108,663) and leads the AMD EPYC 8324P by 3% (103,329). The Intel Core 9 273PQE, by contrast, is nearly tied with the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (66,159, a 0.1% deficit) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (65,914, a 0.3% lead). It also lags the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus by 1.1% (66,855) and the AMD EPYC 4465P by 1.2% (66,925).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins eight of the eleven recorded tests. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins three, which are floating point math and two single-thread tests.

Q: How large is AMD's biggest single-test advantage?

A: The largest margin is in the prime number search test. The Ryzen 9 9850HX scores 323 versus Intel's 198, a 63.1% difference.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any test by a wide margin?

A: No. Intel's largest win is in floating point math, where it scores 125,546 against AMD's 115,062, an 8.4% lead. The single-thread wins are only 2.4% each.

Q: How do the two processors compare on average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has an average benchmark score of 106,413. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has an average of 66,099.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is at the 97th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is at the 93rd percentile.

Q: Are there any tests where the two processors are nearly tied?

A: Yes. The single-thread tests show Intel ahead by only 2.4% (4,573 vs. 4,461). The integer math test is closer, with AMD ahead by 5.1%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Fire Range, and uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. It is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP, designed for Socket FL1. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, and is a desktop part with a 125 W TDP on Socket 1700. The process node gap alone explains some of the performance-per-watt differences, though the database does not record direct power efficiency measurements.

Both processors have 12 cores and 24 threads, so the core count is identical. The L1 cache is also the same at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs: AMD provides 1 MB per core, while Intel provides 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is where AMD takes a clear lead with 64 MB shared, versus Intel's 36 MB shared. The larger L3 on the AMD part likely contributes to its strong showing in data compression and random string sorting, where cache capacity directly influences throughput.

Memory support also differs. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses and both show the same memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on both. PCI Express connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different as well, with AMD using the Radeon 610M and Intel using the UHD Graphics 770.

The production status for both is listed as active. The AMD release date is 2025-01-05, and the Intel release date is 2026-03-08. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part number is 100-000001366, and the Intel part number is SA4Q9. The die size for AMD is recorded as 2x 70.6 mm², with a transistor count of 16,630 million. No transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel part.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical on both processors: 12 cores and 24 threads. The base clock differs, with AMD at 3.00 GHz and Intel at 3.40 GHz. The boost clock also differs, with AMD at 5.20 GHz and Intel at 5.90 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: AMD is rated at 55 W, while Intel is rated at 125 W.

The process node is 4 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The foundry is TSMC for AMD and Intel for Intel. The L2 cache is 1 MB per core on AMD and 2 MB per core on Intel. The L3 cache is 64 MB on AMD and 36 MB on Intel. Memory support is DDR5-only for AMD and DDR4 plus DDR5 for Intel. PCIe lanes are 28 for AMD and 16 for Intel, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on AMD and UHD Graphics 770 on Intel.

The market segment is mobile for AMD and desktop for Intel. The socket is FL1 for AMD and 1700 for Intel. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD and locked on Intel. The release date is 2025-01-05 for AMD and 2026-03-08 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $589, which is stated here once. No launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner in raw benchmark performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins eight of eleven head-to-head tests, including all of the multithread-heavy workloads and the majority of the single-thread tests. Its 63.1% lead in prime number search and 38.9% lead in extended instructions are the kind of margins that show a generational architectural advantage. The 97th percentile ranking, combined with an average benchmark score of 106,413, places this chip among the top of the database.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE does have specific strengths. Its floating point math score is 8.4% higher than AMD's, and its single-thread score is 2.4% higher. These wins are real but narrow. The 93rd percentile ranking and average score of 66,099 put it in a lower performance tier overall. The Intel part is also a desktop chip with a 125 W TDP, while the AMD part is a mobile chip at 55 W, which makes the AMD performance advantage even more notable given the lower power envelope.

For workloads that emphasize floating point math, such as certain scientific simulations or rendering tasks, the Intel part holds a measurable edge. For everything else, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX delivers higher scores across integer math, encryption, compression, sorting, physics, and extended instructions. The database also shows that the AMD chip competes with workstation-class Xeon parts, sitting within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon w7-3555 and 0.5% above the Intel Xeon 6521P. The Intel Core 9 273PQE, meanwhile, trades blows with mid-range desktop parts like the Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus and Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

The choice depends on the target platform and workload. The AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is the stronger performer in the majority of recorded benchmarks and does so as a mobile part with a much lower TDP. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is a desktop processor with higher clocks in both base and boost, a larger L2 cache per core, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. It also carries a locked multiplier, whereas the AMD part is unlocked. The benchmark results, however, consistently favor the AMD chip in all but three tests. For users who prioritize multithread throughput, encryption, compression, and extended instruction performance, the Ryzen 9 9850HX is the better choice according to the recorded data. For those who need the best possible floating point math score or the slightly higher single-thread result, the Intel Core 9 273PQE offers those specific advantages.