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

The Intel Core 3 100U and Intel Core 9 273PTE occupy entirely different performance tiers, as the recorded data shows a decisive victory for the Core 9 273PTE in 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Core 3 100U secures only two wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests where it holds a small 2.1% advantage. This is not a close contest; the Core 9 273PTE delivers roughly double the multi-threaded performance across Cinebench and PassMark workloads, positioning it as the clear choice for compute-intensive tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 100U wins exclusively in the PassMark single-threaded tests, scoring 3506 in both `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread` against the Core 9 273PTE's 3433. This 2.1% edge indicates a slight advantage in lightly-threaded, clock-sensitive workloads that do not scale with additional cores. However, this is a narrow margin and does not translate into wins in any Cinebench single-core test, where the Core 9 273PTE leads by 48.1% to 48.3%.

The Core 9 273PTE dominates all other recorded benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 20445 against the Core 3 100U's 10624, a 48% advantage. The gap is consistent across the Cinebench suite: R15 multi-core shows 2060 versus 1070 (48.1% delta), R20 multi-core shows 8586 versus 4462 (48% delta), and R23 single-core shows 2886 versus 1499 (48.1% delta). The Core 9 273PTE also wins every PassMark workload by margins ranging from 43% in data encryption to 63.4% in prime number finding. The largest performance gap appears in `passmark_find_prime_numbers`, where the Core 9 273PTE scores 142 versus the Core 3 100U's 52, indicating a 63.4% advantage in integer-heavy algorithms.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different Intel platforms despite sharing the same 10 nm process node and Intel as the foundry. The Core 3 100U uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename, while the Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename. The Core 3 100U belongs to the Core 3 generation (Raptor Lake-U) and is a mobile part, while the Core 9 273PTE is a desktop part from the Core 9 generation (Bartlett Lake).

The core configuration differs substantially. The Core 3 100U has 6 cores and 8 threads, whereas the Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. This doubling of cores and tripling of threads directly explains the multi-threaded performance gap. The Core 9 273PTE also has a higher base clock of 1.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.50 GHz, compared to 1.20 GHz and 4.70 GHz on the Core 3 100U. The Core 9 273PTE carries a 45 W TDP against the Core 3 100U's 15 W TDP, reflecting its desktop power envelope.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Core 9 273PTE has 2 MB of L2 cache per core versus 1.25 MB on the Core 3 100U. The shared L3 cache is 36 MB on the Core 9 273PTE, far exceeding the 10 MB on the Core 3 100U. Memory bandwidth is listed for the Core 9 273PTE at 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 3 100U has no recorded bandwidth figure. The Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 100U does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Core 9 273PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 3 100U provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 48% performance delta in favor of the Core 9 273PTE across all tests. In R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PTE scores 2060 against 1070, a delta of -48.1% from the perspective of the Core 3 100U. R15 single-core shows 290 versus 150, a -48.3% delta. R20 multi-core shows 8586 versus 4462 (-48%), and R20 single-core shows 1212 versus 629 (-48.1%). R23 multi-core shows 20445 versus 10624 (-48%), and R23 single-core shows 2886 versus 1499 (-48.1%). These results indicate that the Core 9 273PTE delivers roughly double the performance in every Cinebench test, regardless of thread count.

PassMark results show even larger deltas in specific workloads. The Core 9 273PTE wins data compression with 258704 against 136497, a 47.2% delta. Data encryption shows 14253 versus 8128, a 43% delta. Extended instructions show 15952 versus 7894, a 50.5% delta. Prime number finding shows the largest gap at 63.4% (142 versus 52). Floating point math shows 60673 versus 28322, a 53.3% delta. Integer math shows 82411 versus 39580, a 52% delta. Multi-threaded PassMark shows 24054 versus 12522, a 47.9% delta. Physics shows 1917 versus 876, a 54.3% delta. Random string sorting shows 28973 versus 15191, a 47.6% delta.

The only two benchmarks where the Core 3 100U wins are the PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 3506 against 3433, a 2.1% delta. This is the sole area where the mobile chip's architecture provides any measurable benefit, though the margin is small enough to be within normal run-to-run variance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 3 100U has 6 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core 9 273PTE scores 20445, while the Core 3 100U scores 10624, a 48% delta in favor of the Core 9 273PTE.

Q: Does the Core 3 100U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-threaded tests with a score of 3506 against the Core 9 273PTE's 3433, a 2.1% delta.

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

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark prime number finding test, where the Core 9 273PTE scores 142 against the Core 3 100U's 52, a 63.4% delta.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Core 3 100U uses Intel BGA 1744, while the Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory. The Core 3 100U does not.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the Intel Core 9 273PTE is the superior processor for nearly all workloads. It wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, with the only losses being narrow 2.1% margins in PassMark single-threaded tests. The Core 9 273PTE's 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with a 5.50 GHz boost clock and 36 MB of L3 cache, deliver roughly double the multi-threaded performance of the Core 3 100U across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. It also leads in every PassMark workload, with deltas ranging from 43% to 63.4%. The Core 9 273PTE's 82nd percentile ranking versus the Core 3 100U's 70th percentile confirms its higher standing in the overall CPU performance distribution.

The Core 3 100U is a 15 W mobile processor designed for power-constrained environments. Its only recorded wins are in single-threaded PassMark tests, where it edges out the Core 9 273PTE by 2.1%. Its lower base clock (1.20 GHz versus 1.40 GHz) and boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 5.50 GHz) do not prevent it from taking this single-threaded crown, but the margin is negligible. The Core 3 100U also has a lower TDP, which suits thin-and-light mobile systems, but the data does not show any performance benefit beyond the single-threaded PassMark score.

Selecting between the two depends on the workload. For multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, or any compute-heavy task, the Core 9 273PTE is the clear choice based on its consistent 48% to 63.4% lead. For scenarios where single-threaded PassMark performance is the sole criterion, the Core 3 100U holds a marginal edge, though the difference is small enough that most users would not notice it. The Core 9 273PTE's higher percentile ranking (82 versus 70) and its position among rivals like the Intel Core i7-12700F and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS further reinforce its performance advantage.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 100U | Intel Core 9 273PTE |

|----------------|-------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 8 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 1.20 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Bartlett Lake |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 10 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | $549 |