Intel Core 3 100U vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

# The Verdict

The Intel Core 3 100U and Intel Core 9 273PQE occupy completely different tiers of the processor market, and the benchmark data leaves no ambiguity about their respective positions. The Core 9 273PQE wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons recorded in the database, with no wins recorded for the Core 3 100U. The average benchmark score for the Core 9 273PQE is 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 100U averages 16148 and sits in the 70th percentile. The Core 9 273PQE sits alongside rivals such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (0.3% higher average score) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (0.1% higher average score), while the Core 3 100U trades blows with the Intel Core i7-10850H (-0.3% delta), Intel Core i5-10600KF (-0.5%), Intel Core i7-1260U (-1.1%), and AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (-1.2%).

The Core 3 100U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, designed for thin-and-light notebooks where power efficiency takes priority. The Core 9 273PQE is a desktop part with a 125 W TDP, aimed at workloads that demand sustained multi-threaded throughput. Users needing a processor for compact portable systems should consider the Core 3 100U based on its power envelope, while those building a desktop workstation or high-performance rig should direct attention to the Core 9 273PQE. The Core 3 100U launched with an MSRP of $426, and the Core 9 273PQE launched with an MSRP of $589.

# Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 100U does not win any recorded benchmark category. Every single test in the head-to-head comparison favors the Core 9 273PQE, from Cinebench rendering workloads to PassMark utility tests. The margin of victory varies substantially depending on the workload type, which reveals where each processor's architecture excels relative to its own capabilities.

The Core 9 273PQE shows its largest advantages in extended instruction workloads, floating-point math, and data compression. In the PassMark extended instructions test, the Core 9 273PQE scores 38743 against 7894 for the Core 3 100U, a delta of -79.6%. Floating-point math shows a -77.4% delta, with the Core 9 273PQE reaching 125546 versus 28322. Data compression yields 585752 for the Core 9 273PQE against 136497, a -76.7% delta. These are compute-heavy tasks that benefit from the Core 9 273PQE's larger core count and higher clock speeds.

The smallest advantage for the Core 9 273PQE appears in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 4573 versus 3506 for the Core 3 100U, a -23.3% delta. This indicates that while the Core 9 273PQE leads in single-threaded performance, the gap narrows considerably when only one core is active. The physics test shows the tightest multi-threaded margin at -68.2%, with scores of 2754 and 876 respectively.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same manufacturing process node at 10 nm and are both fabricated by Intel, but their underlying designs diverge significantly. The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename, while the Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with its generation listed as Core 9 (Bartlett Lake). The Core 3 100U belongs to the Raptor Lake-U generation, and the Core 9 273PQE belongs to the Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) generation.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 100U provides 6 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 9 273PQE doubles both figures with 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clock speeds reflect the different design philosophies: the Core 3 100U runs at 1.20 GHz base and boosts to 4.70 GHz, whereas the Core 9 273PQE starts at 3.40 GHz base and reaches 5.90 GHz boost. The power envelope tells the story of their intended environments: 15 W for the mobile Core 3 100U versus 125 W for the desktop Core 9 273PQE.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors allocate 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the Core 3 100U versus 2 MB on the Core 9 273PQE. Shared L3 cache totals 10 MB on the Core 3 100U and 36 MB on the Core 9 273PQE. Memory support includes DDR4 and DDR5 for both, with dual-channel memory buses, but the Core 9 273PQE adds ECC memory support and a rated memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 3 100U has no ECC capability and no listed bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 3 100U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 9 273PQE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 64EU on the Core 3 100U versus UHD Graphics 770 on the Core 9 273PQE. The Core 3 100U uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, and the Core 9 273PQE uses Intel Socket 1700. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 3 100U has 6 cores and 8 threads. The Core 9 273PQE doubles the core count and triples the thread count relative to the Core 3 100U.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: The Core 3 100U has a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core 9 273PQE has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz. The Core 9 273PQE runs at a higher frequency at both idle and maximum load.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core 9 273PQE has an average benchmark score of 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 100U has an average benchmark score of 16148, placing it in the 70th percentile. The Core 9 273PQE's average score is approximately four times higher.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The Core 3 100U has a TDP of 15 W, and the Core 9 273PQE has a TDP of 125 W. This reflects the mobile versus desktop design targets, with the Core 3 100U suited for power-constrained laptops and the Core 9 273PQE for desktop systems with adequate cooling.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 100U does not. Both processors support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 9 273PQE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 3 100U has 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 9 273PQE also has 2 MB of L2 cache per core versus 1.25 MB per core on the Core 3 100U.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core 9 273PQE across all 17 benchmark comparisons. The Cinebench suite reveals consistent margins: in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PQE scores 3950 against 1070 for the Core 3 100U, a -72.9% delta. Single-core R15 shows 557 versus 150, also -73.1%. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 16459 versus 4462 (-72.9%), and R20 single-core shows 2323 versus 629 (-72.9%). Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 39190 versus 10624 (-72.9%), with single-core at 5532 versus 1499 (-72.9%).

PassMark results follow the same pattern but with varying intensity. Data compression shows the Core 9 273PQE at 585752 versus 136497, a -76.7% delta. Data encryption records 29636 against 8128 (-72.6%). Extended instructions produce the largest margin at -79.6%, with scores of 38743 and 7894. Prime number finding yields 198 versus 52 (-73.7%). Floating-point math delivers 125546 against 28322 (-77.4%). Integer math shows 164629 versus 39580 (-76%). The multithread test records 46107 versus 12522 (-72.8%). Physics results are 2754 against 876 (-68.2%). Random string sorting reaches 53167 versus 15191 (-71.4%).

The single-thread PassMark test shows the narrowest gap: 4573 for the Core 9 273PQE against 3506 for the Core 3 100U, a -23.3% delta. This suggests that per-core efficiency differences are less pronounced than the raw core-count advantage. The Core 3 100U's single-thread score of 3506 is competitive relative to its multi-thread performance, but the Core 9 273PQE's higher boost clock of 5.90 GHz still secures a decisive lead.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 39190 for the Core 9 273PQE versus 10624 for the Core 3 100U quantifies the scale of the multi-threaded performance gap. The delta of -72.9% means the Core 3 100U delivers roughly a quarter of the Core 9 273PQE's multi-threaded rendering throughput. This aligns with the specifications: 12 cores with hyper-threading against 6 cores with 8 threads, combined with substantially higher clock speeds on the desktop part.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every measurable specification field. Core and thread counts: 6 cores and 8 threads for the Core 3 100U, 12 cores and 24 threads for the Core 9 273PQE. Base clocks: 1.20 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. Boost clocks: 4.70 GHz versus 5.90 GHz. TDP: 15 W versus 125 W. Sockets: Intel BGA 1744 versus Intel Socket 1700.

Architecture and codename fields show Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake-U for the Core 3 100U, with Bartlett Lake for the Core 9 273PQE. The generation field lists Core 3 (Raptor Lake-U) for the former and Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) for the latter. L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the Core 3 100U and 2 MB on the Core 9 273PQE. L3 cache is 10 MB shared versus 36 MB shared.

Memory bandwidth is listed as 89.6 GB/s for the Core 9 273PQE, with no bandwidth figure recorded for the Core 3 100U. ECC memory support is true for the Core 9 273PQE and false for the Core 3 100U. PCIe versions and lanes: Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only) for the Core 3 100U, Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the Core 9 273PQE. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 64EU versus UHD Graphics 770.

Market segments are Mobile for the Core 3 100U and Desktop for the Core 9 273PQE. Release dates differ, with the Core 3 100U released earlier and the Core 9 273PQE released later. Part numbers are SRMYL for the Core 3 100U and SA4Q9 for the Core 9 273PQE. Both processors share the 10 nm process node, Intel as the foundry, DDR4 and DDR5 memory support, dual-channel memory buses, active production status, and locked multipliers. L1 cache of 80 KB per core is identical on both parts.