AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 9 273PTE, which wins 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 secures only 2 wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. The scale of Intel's dominance varies widely, from a narrow single-thread edge for AMD to a crushing 61.7% deficit for AMD in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

The largest single gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 20445 against AMD's 7840, a delta of -61.7% for the AMD part. This result aligns with the core-count disparity: Intel fields 12 cores and 24 threads, while AMD provides 4 cores and 8 threads. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test tells a similar story, with Intel at 2060 versus AMD at 1191, a 42.2% difference.

Intel's advantage extends across nearly all PassMark workloads. In floating-point math, Intel delivers 60673 against AMD's 26196, a 56.8% gap. Integer math shows Intel at 82411 versus 37771, a 54.2% deficit for AMD. The physics workload favors Intel heavily: 1917 versus 705, a 63.2% difference. Data compression and encryption also lean strongly toward Intel, with deltas of -41.2% and -49.1% respectively.

The most extreme delta occurs in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 142 versus AMD's 42, a 70.4% shortfall for AMD. Extended instructions see a smaller but still substantial gap of 30.3% (15952 versus 11124). Random string sorting shows Intel ahead by 44.1% (28973 versus 16188), and multithread performance favors Intel by 46.8% (24054 versus 12797).

Single-core Cinebench results also favor Intel, but less dramatically. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel posts 2886 versus AMD's 1812, a 37.2% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 290 versus 199.9, a 31.1% gap. These differences confirm that Intel's architecture advantage is not limited to multi-threaded workloads; its single-thread throughput is also higher.

The sole bright spot for AMD appears in PassMark single-thread tests, where AMD scores 3515 versus Intel's 3433, a 2.4% margin. This result appears twice in the data (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread), both recording identical scores. It is a narrow win, but it demonstrates that AMD's Zen 5 core can match or slightly exceed Intel's single-thread performance in at least one synthetic workload.

Overall, the average benchmark score confirms the hierarchy: Intel sits at 31143, while AMD averages 18811. Intel's percentile ranking of 82 versus AMD's 73 further contextualizes the gap. The nearest rivals for Intel include the Core i7-12700F (0.2% lower) and Ryzen 9 8945HS (0.2% lower), while AMD's closest competitors are the Core i7-1355U (0.4% higher) and EPYC 7643 (0.6% higher).

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in design philosophy. AMD uses a 4 nm TSMC process with Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Krackan Point 2, part of the Ryzen AI 300 generation. Intel relies on a 10 nm Intel foundry process with Bartlett Lake codename, belonging to the Core 9 generation. The process node difference alone explains part of the efficiency and thermal characteristics, though raw performance comparisons favor Intel in most measured tests.

Core configuration is the most striking divergence. AMD provides 4 cores and 8 threads, while Intel provides 12 cores and 24 threads. This 3x core advantage for Intel translates directly into the multi-threaded benchmark gaps observed above. Base clocks differ as well: AMD starts at 2.00 GHz, Intel at 1.40 GHz. Boost clocks reverse the order: AMD reaches 4.50 GHz, Intel reaches 5.50 GHz. Intel's higher boost ceiling contributes to its single-core wins in Cinebench.

Cache hierarchies are not comparable in scale. AMD uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a modest 4 MB L3 cache. Intel matches the 80 KB L1 per core but doubles L2 to 2 MB per core and provides a shared 36 MB L3 cache. The 9x difference in L3 capacity likely influences workloads with large working sets, such as data compression and physics simulations, where Intel's advantage is pronounced.

Memory support differs in type but not bandwidth. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical 89.6 GB/s peak bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on Intel but not on AMD, which may matter for reliability-sensitive deployments.

PCIe connectivity also differs. AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The newer PCIe generation on Intel allows for higher bandwidth to discrete devices, though the lane count difference is modest.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 820M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison is possible from the recorded data. The market segments also differ: AMD targets mobile, Intel targets desktop, which affects socket compatibility and system form factors.

AMD's TDP is 28 watts, while Intel's is 45 watts. This 17-watt difference indicates higher power draw for Intel, consistent with its larger core count and higher boost clock. The release dates are also distinct: AMD launched on 2025-07-15, Intel on 2026-03-08, making Intel the newer part by roughly eight months.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 9 273PTE dominates the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 across nearly every recorded workload. Intel wins 13 of 15 tests, with margins ranging from 30.3% to 70.4% in its favor. It holds advantages in multi-core throughput, single-core Cinebench performance, physics, encryption, compression, and extended instruction workloads. Its average benchmark score of 31143 exceeds AMD's 18811 by approximately 65%.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 does claim the PassMark single-thread crown, scoring 3515 versus Intel's 3433, a 2.4% edge. This result indicates that AMD's Zen 5 core is not inferior in all single-thread scenarios, and for workloads that rely on that specific PassMark metric, the AMD part performs slightly better. However, this single win does not offset the 13 Intel victories, several of which are by massive margins.

Intel's 12-core, 24-thread configuration provides a structural advantage that AMD cannot overcome with 4 cores and 8 threads. The 36 MB shared L3 cache versus AMD's 4 MB L3 further compounds the difference in data-intensive tasks. Intel's higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 4.50 GHz supports its single-core Cinebench wins, while its 45 W TDP versus AMD's 28 W indicates the power budget behind those results.

For users selecting between these two based solely on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core 9 273PTE is the superior performer in the vast majority of tests. The AMD part wins only the narrow PassMark single-thread test, and that by a small margin. The data does not suggest any workload category where AMD's multi-core performance can compete with Intel's. The Intel part also carries a launch MSRP of $549, which can be stated once as a reference point, but the database does not provide pricing for AMD.

The percentile rankings reinforce the verdict: Intel sits at 82nd percentile among all CPUs, AMD at 73rd. Intel's nearest rivals include the Core i7-12700F and Ryzen 9 8945HS, both within 0.2%, while AMD's nearest rivals are the Core i7-1355U and EPYC 7643, within 0.6%. These clusters suggest that the AMD part competes at a lower performance tier, while Intel competes at a higher one.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 wins 2 tests, both being the PassMark single-thread and single-thread variants with identical scores of 3515 versus 3433.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 142 versus AMD's 42, a 70.4% deficit for AMD. The second-largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel leads by 61.7%.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: Intel provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while AMD provides 4 cores and 8 threads. Intel has three times the cores and three times the threads of AMD.

Q: Does AMD win any single-threaded test?

A: Yes, AMD wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3515 versus Intel's 3433, a 2.4% margin. However, Intel wins both Cinebench single-core tests, including R23 (2886 versus 1812) and R15 (290 versus 199.9).

Q: What are the average benchmark scores?

A: Intel has an average benchmark score of 31143, while AMD has an average of 18811. Intel also ranks at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, compared to AMD's 73rd percentile.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: Intel has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD has 4 MB of L3 cache. Intel also has 2 MB of L2 per core versus AMD's 1 MB per core.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins in every multi-threaded workload recorded. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel at 20445 versus AMD's 7840. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 2060 versus 1191. PassMark multithread shows 24054 versus 12797. Physics scoring gives Intel 1917 against AMD's 705. Integer math gives Intel 82411 versus 37771. Floating-point math gives Intel 60673 versus 26196. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, and random string sorting all favor Intel by margins between 30.3% and 70.4%.

Intel also wins both Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2886 versus AMD's 1812, a 37.2% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 290 versus AMD's 199.9, a 31.1% lead. These results indicate that Intel's single-core throughput is higher in Cinebench's rendering workloads, despite AMD's lower base clock and higher boost clock.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, with a score of 3515 versus Intel's 3433, a 2.4% margin. This result appears twice in the database, confirming consistency. The workload measures single-thread performance in a PassMark-specific manner, and AMD's Zen 5 core demonstrates a slight edge in that particular metric. No other recorded test favors AMD.

For workloads that resemble Cinebench rendering, PassMark physics, integer or floating-point math, data compression, encryption, or prime number finding, the Intel Core 9 273PTE is the clear choice. For workloads that resemble the PassMark single-thread test, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 delivers a marginal advantage. The database provides no other areas where AMD leads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specifications. Core count: Intel has 12, AMD has 4. Thread count: Intel has 24, AMD has 8. Base clock: AMD starts at 2.00 GHz, Intel at 1.40 GHz. Boost clock: Intel reaches 5.50 GHz, AMD reaches 4.50 GHz. TDP: Intel draws 45 W, AMD draws 28 W.

Cache differences are substantial. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. L2 cache: Intel has 2 MB per core, AMD has 1 MB per core. L3 cache: Intel has 36 MB shared, AMD has 4 MB. Process node: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 10 nm. Foundry: AMD uses TSMC, Intel uses its own foundry.

Memory support: AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory: Intel supports it, AMD does not. PCIe: Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes, AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes.

Integrated graphics: AMD uses Radeon 820M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. Socket: AMD uses Socket FP8, Intel uses Socket 1700. Market segment: AMD is mobile, Intel is desktop. Release date: AMD launched 2025-07-15, Intel launched 2026-03-08. Multiplier unlocked: neither. Production status: both active.