AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record shows a decisive overall advantage for the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, which claims 14 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. The only Intel victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core 9 273PTE scores 2886 against 2159.5 for AMD, a 25.2% margin. That single-thread result is the bright spot for Intel, but it stands alone against a sweeping AMD lead across both render tests and every Passmark workload.

The largest deltas appear in compute-heavy Passmark workloads. In extended instructions, AMD scores 62813 versus 15952 for Intel, a 293.8% advantage. Prime number finding shows a 269.7% gap (525 versus 142). Data compression delivers 785811 for AMD against 258704 for Intel, a 203.7% difference. Data encryption follows at 176.8% (39446 versus 14253). These are not marginal wins; the AMD part is operating in a different performance class for these tasks.

The Cinebench multi-core results reinforce the pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 6042.5 against Intel's 2060, a 193.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the gap narrows somewhat but remains substantial: 38161.5 versus 20445, a difference of 86.7%. The R15 single-core test also favors AMD, with 332 against 290, a 14.5% lead. That result is notable because the R23 single-core test goes the other way, suggesting the two processors respond differently to the specific workload characteristics of each benchmark version.

Passmark's general throughput metrics tell the same story. Multithread score: 62674 for AMD versus 24054 for Intel, a 160.6% lead. Integer math: 222503 versus 82411, a 170% gap. Floating point math: 144122 versus 60673, a 137.5% lead. Physics: 4687 versus 1917, a 144.5% advantage. Random string sorting: 83497 versus 28973, a 188.2% difference. Even the single-thread Passmark test favors AMD, with 4511 against 3433, a 31.4% lead.

The average benchmark score places AMD at 97453, which sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Intel's average is 31143, good for the 82nd percentile. AMD's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX (average 98504, delta of -1.1%), the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9945 (96083, delta 1.4%), the AMD EPYC 4565P (95764, delta 1.8%), and the AMD EPYC 9175F (95615, delta 1.9%). Intel's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-12700F (31081, delta 0.2%), the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (31074, delta 0.2%), the Intel Core i7-13700TE (31028, delta 0.4%), and the Intel Core i7-12650HX (31290, delta -0.5%). The Intel part sits in a much more crowded performance neighborhood, while the AMD part sits near the top of the entire database.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is the stronger processor across nearly every measured workload. It wins 14 of 15 head-to-head tests, often by margins exceeding 100%. Its percentile ranking (96th) versus Intel's (82nd) reflects a large gap in overall performance. The average benchmark score difference is roughly threefold, 97453 versus 31143.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE has one clear strength: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 25.2%. That result suggests the Intel part can outperform AMD in certain lightly threaded rendering tasks. But the Passmark single-thread test contradicts that, with AMD ahead by 31.4%. The two single-thread tests point in opposite directions, so the evidence for an Intel single-thread advantage is mixed rather than consistent.

For workloads that scale across cores, threads, and instruction-level parallelism, the AMD part is the clear choice. The multi-core Cinebench results, the Passmark multithread score, and the math-heavy workloads all favor AMD by wide margins. The Intel part may still be adequate for some desktop tasks, but the benchmark record does not show any category where it consistently outperforms AMD beyond that single Cinebench R23 result. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $549; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing nodes. AMD uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry. AMD's architecture is Zen 5 under the Fire Range codename, part of the 9000 series. Intel's architecture is not listed in the database, but its codename is Bartlett Lake.

The core counts differ significantly. AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads. Intel has 12 cores and 24 threads. That four-core, eight-thread difference helps explain the large multi-core margins. Cache configurations also differ. Both use 80 KB of L1 per core. AMD uses 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel uses 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is where the gap becomes extreme: AMD has 128 MB, Intel has 36 MB shared. That 92 MB difference in L3 capacity likely contributes to AMD's dominance in data-heavy workloads like compression, encryption, and random string sorting.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. AMD's base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 5.40 GHz. Intel's base clock is 1.40 GHz with a boost of 5.50 GHz. The Intel part has a higher boost ceiling, which may explain its Cinebench R23 single-core win, but the lower base clock and fewer cores cap its multi-threaded potential.

Memory support differs as well. AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both have dual-channel memory buses and the same listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ: AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. AMD's socket is AMD Socket FL1, Intel's is Intel Socket 1700. AMD's market segment is mobile, Intel's is desktop. AMD's release date is 2025-01-05, Intel's is 2026-03-08. Both are listed as active production. AMD's part number is 100-000001030, Intel's is SA4QJ. AMD lists 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm²; Intel does not have those figures in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core rendering benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins both Cinebench R15 multi-core (6042.5 versus 2060, a 193.3% lead) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (38161.5 versus 20445, a 86.7% lead).

Q: Does Intel win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2886 against AMD's 2159.5, a 25.2% margin. That is the only Intel win in the head-to-head comparisons.

Q: What is the L3 cache difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. However, AMD has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus Intel's 1.40 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for each processor?

A: Both processors list the same memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s, with dual-channel memory buses. AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: How do the two compare in overall benchmark percentile?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel Core 9 273PTE sits at the 82nd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D wins in every measured category except one. Its largest advantages appear in Passmark extended instructions (293.8% lead), prime number finding (269.7%), data compression (203.7%), random string sorting (188.2%), and data encryption (176.8%). These are workloads that benefit from large caches and many cores, and the AMD part has both. The 128 MB L3 cache versus Intel's 36 MB gives AMD a substantial edge in data reuse patterns common in compression and encryption. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration drives the multi-core Cinebench wins and the Passmark multithread score.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins in Cinebench R23 single-core, with a 25.2% margin over AMD. That result indicates the Intel part can deliver higher performance in a specific lightly threaded rendering workload. The higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.40 GHz may contribute to this outcome, though the Passmark single-thread test shows AMD ahead by 31.4%, so the Intel advantage does not generalize across all single-thread tests.

For desktop users running multi-threaded applications, the AMD part is the stronger option by a wide margin. For users who prioritize a specific single-thread rendering scenario similar to Cinebench R23, the Intel part has a measurable advantage. The two processors also differ in platform fit: AMD uses Socket FL1 and is a mobile part, while Intel uses Socket 1700 and is a desktop part. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the Intel part does not. AMD supports only DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, which may matter for users with existing DDR4 memory. PCIe lane count also differs, with AMD offering 28 Gen 5 lanes versus Intel's 16 Gen 5 lanes.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. AMD has 16 cores and 32 threads; Intel has 12 cores and 24 threads. AMD's base clock is 2.50 GHz; Intel's is 1.40 GHz. AMD's boost clock is 5.40 GHz; Intel's is 5.50 GHz. AMD's TDP is 55; Intel's is 45.

Socket and platform differ completely. AMD uses AMD Socket FL1 with the Zen 5 architecture under the Fire Range codename. Intel uses Intel Socket 1700 with the Bartlett Lake codename. AMD's process node is 4 nm from TSMC; Intel's is 10 nm from Intel. AMD lists 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm²; Intel has no transistor or die size figures listed.

Cache hierarchy differs in L2 and L3. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core. AMD has 1 MB of L2 per core; Intel has 2 MB per core. AMD has 128 MB of L3; Intel has 36 MB shared. Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR5 only, Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both have dual-channel buses and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe configuration differs: AMD has Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only); Intel has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. AMD has an unlocked multiplier; Intel does not. AMD's market segment is mobile; Intel's is desktop. AMD's release date is 2025-01-05; Intel's is 2026-03-08. AMD's part number is 100-000001030; Intel's is SA4QJ. Intel has a launch MSRP of $549; AMD has no listed launch MSRP.