AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data splits 15 head-to-head tests into 9 wins for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX and 6 wins for the Intel Core 9 273PQE, but the distribution of those wins is highly workload-dependent. The AMD part dominates the PassMark suite, while the Intel part takes the Cinebench single-core tests and edges ahead in one multi-core Cinebench run.

The single largest margin belongs to the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 5905 against the Intel part's 3950, a 49.5% advantage. That result reflects the AMD chip's 16 cores and 32 threads, which overwhelm the Intel part's 12 cores and 24 threads in heavily threaded rendering. PassMark extended instructions also show a 49.6% gap (57946 vs 38743), and random string sorting is 46.5% higher on the AMD side (77890 vs 53167). Data compression favors AMD by 25% (731998 vs 585752), data encryption by 26% (37330 vs 29636), and find prime numbers by 44.9% (287 vs 198). Integer math is 29.1% higher (212598 vs 164629), and multithread performance is 21.8% higher (56171 vs 46107). Floating point math is closer, but AMD still leads by 8.9% (136682 vs 125546).

The Intel Core 9 273PQE counters with an enormous single-core advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 5532 versus AMD's 2174, a 60.7% lead, the largest margin in either direction across the entire comparison. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 39.7% gap (557 vs 336). PassMark single-thread is tighter, with Intel ahead by 3.9% (4573 vs 4393, recorded identically as PassMark single_thread and singlethread). The Intel part also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a modest 5.2% (39190 vs 37159), a surprising result given the core count disadvantage, and takes PassMark physics by 1.2% (2754 vs 2720).

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the standout anomaly. Despite having 4 fewer cores and 8 fewer threads, the Intel part posts a higher multi-core score, which suggests its per-core efficiency and higher clock speeds compensate for the core deficit in that particular workload. The AMD part leads in aggregate PassMark tests, but the Intel part shows that single-thread dominance can still swing certain multi-core benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins 9 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins 6.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's multi-core lead in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 5905 versus 3950 for the Intel Core 9 273PQE, a 49.5% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the Intel processor in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 5532 against 2174 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, which is a 60.7% lead.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any multi-core tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 39190 versus 37159 for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, a 5.2% margin, despite having fewer cores.

Q: Which processor has the higher PassMark multithread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 56171 in PassMark multithread, which is 21.8% higher than the Intel Core 9 273PQE's 46107.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has an average benchmark score of 91199, placing it in the 96th percentile, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE has an average score of 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Fire Range codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The die is split into two chiplets, each 70.6 mm², with a combined transistor count of 16,630 million. Cache is organized as 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3. The multiplier is unlocked, and it uses AMD Socket FL1.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz. Cache is configured as 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The multiplier is locked, and it uses Intel Socket 1700. The Intel part belongs to the desktop market segment, while the AMD part is a mobile processor.

The process node difference is significant: 4 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel. That density advantage allows the AMD chip to fit more cores and more cache (64 MB L3 versus 36 MB L3) into its dual-chiplet design, though the Intel part counters with higher clocks (5.90 GHz boost versus 5.40 GHz) and double the L2 per core (2 MB versus 1 MB). The AMD chip also exposes more PCIe lanes: Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for Intel.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX carries a Radeon 610M, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE includes UHD Graphics 770. Both support ECC memory, and both use a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, but the AMD part only supports DDR5 while the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, thread count, clock speeds, TDP, socket, process node, cache layout, memory support, PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, market segment, release date, and multiplier lock state. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX offers 16 cores and 32 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, and a TDP of 55 W. The Intel Core 9 273PQE offers 12 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, a boost clock of 5.90 GHz, and a TDP of 125 W.

The AMD part is built on a 4 nm TSMC process, uses AMD Socket FL1, and has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part is built on a 10 nm Intel process, uses Intel Socket 1700, and has a locked multiplier. L2 cache is 1 MB per core on AMD versus 2 MB per core on Intel; L3 cache is 64 MB shared on AMD versus 36 MB shared on Intel. Memory support is DDR5 only on AMD versus DDR4 and DDR5 on Intel. PCIe is Gen 5 with 28 lanes on AMD versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes on Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on AMD versus UHD Graphics 770 on Intel. The AMD part is a mobile chip released on 2025-01-05, while the Intel part is a desktop chip released on 2026-03-08. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $589.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins in workloads that leverage its core count and thread count. Cinebench R15 multi-core (49.5% lead), PassMark extended instructions (49.6% lead), random string sorting (46.5% lead), and find prime numbers (44.9% lead) all show the AMD part's advantage in heavily parallel integer and sorting tasks. Data compression, data encryption, integer math, and multithread performance also go to AMD with margins between 21.8% and 29.1%. Floating point math is a narrower win at 8.9%. The 96th percentile ranking versus Intel's 93rd percentile, along with the higher average benchmark score (91199 versus 66099), reinforces the AMD part's overall throughput advantage. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon 654 (0.5% higher) and AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 (0.7% higher), placing it in strong company.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins in single-thread and lightly threaded scenarios. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a massive 60.7% lead, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 39.7% lead. PassMark single-thread is a smaller 3.9% win, but it is a win nonetheless. The Intel part also takes Cinebench R23 multi-core by 5.2% and PassMark physics by 1.2%, indicating that its higher clocks (5.90 GHz boost versus 5.40 GHz) and larger L2 per core can overcome its core deficit in certain mixed workloads. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (0.3% higher average score), which places it close to a high-end AMD desktop part.

For users running single-threaded applications, database lookups, or lightly threaded legacy code, the Intel Core 9 273PQE delivers the stronger raw per-core performance. For users running rendering, scientific computing, data compression, or other fully threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX delivers meaningfully higher throughput. The mobile vs desktop segment split also matters: the AMD part is designed for laptops with a 55 W TDP, while the Intel part is a desktop processor with a 125 W TDP, so the AMD part achieves its multi-core dominance at a fraction of the power envelope.