Intel Core 3 201E vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

The Intel Core 3 201E and Intel Core 9 273PE are both desktop processors built on Intel's Bartlett Lake architecture, but they occupy opposite ends of the performance spectrum. The Core 3 201E is a 4-core, 8-thread chip with a 3.60 GHz base clock and a 4.80 GHz boost clock, while the Core 9 273PE is a 12-core, 24-thread part with a 2.30 GHz base clock and a 5.70 GHz boost clock. The benchmark data shows a complete sweep: the Core 9 273PE wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Core 3 201E recording zero wins. The average benchmark score for the Core 3 201E is 19056, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 9 273PE averages 49845, landing in the 90th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core 9 273PE wins every single test in the database. There are no workloads where the Core 3 201E takes a lead, even in single-threaded performance. The closest margin is in PassMark's single-thread test, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3650 against the Core 3 201E's 3482, a delta of only 4.6%. That narrow gap suggests the Core 3 201E has competitive per-core execution, but the Core 9 273PE's higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz versus 4.80 GHz still gives it the edge.

The biggest disparities appear in compute-heavy workloads. The Core 9 273PE leads by 71.9% in PassMark's find prime numbers test, scoring 203 versus 57. Floating point math shows a 69.2% advantage for the Core 9 273PE, with scores of 107884 versus 33260. Integer math follows at 68.5% ahead, recording 139410 against 43894. These results indicate that the Core 9 273PE is substantially faster for scientific computing, mathematical modeling, and any task that relies heavily on arithmetic throughput.

For multithreaded workloads, the Core 9 273PE's advantage is consistent across rendering and compression. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the Core 9 273PE scoring 31288 against 12613, a 59.7% lead. Data compression in PassMark shows a 59.6% advantage, with scores of 405885 versus 164160. The pattern holds for encryption, extended instructions, physics simulation, and random string sorting, where the Core 9 273PE maintains leads between 55.2% and 63.4%. The only practical domain where the Core 3 201E comes close to parity is lightly threaded desktop responsiveness, but even there the data shows the Core 9 273PE ahead.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use the same 10 nm process node from Intel and share the Bartlett Lake codename. They both use the Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Integrated graphics are identical: both ship with UHD Graphics 730. PCIe support is also the same, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes available from the CPU exclusively. ECC memory support is present on both parts.

The core configuration is where the architectures diverge. The Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, a 3x increase in core count and thread count. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, but the L2 cache differs: the Core 3 201E has 1.25 MB per core, while the Core 9 273PE has 2 MB per core. The L3 cache also scales up significantly, with the Core 3 201E offering 12 MB shared versus 36 MB shared on the Core 9 273PE, a 3x difference.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. The Core 3 201E has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 2.30 GHz on the Core 9 273PE, but the Core 9 273PE has a much higher boost clock at 5.70 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power is close, with the Core 3 201E rated at 60 W and the Core 9 273PE at 65 W, a modest 5 W increase for triple the cores. Memory bandwidth scales with the core count: the Core 3 201E delivers 76.8 GB/s, while the Core 9 273PE reaches 89.6 GB/s.

The die size is recorded only for the Core 3 201E at 163 mm², with no die size listed for the Core 9 273PE. Production status is active for both. The Core 3 201E has a launch MSRP of $134, while the Core 9 273PE has a launch MSRP of $549. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is limited on both. The Core 3 201E was released earlier, with a release date of 2025-01-12, while the Core 9 273PE followed later with a release date of 2026-03-08.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a straightforward choice. The Intel Core 9 273PE is faster in every recorded test, with an average benchmark score of 49845 compared to 19056 for the Core 3 201E. That places the Core 9 273PE in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 201E sits in the 73rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PE include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 with an average score of 49796, which is 0.1% behind, and the Intel Core i5-14600KF at 49394, which is 0.9% behind. The Core 9 273PE also trails the Intel Core i9-13980HX by 1.1% and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 by 1.2%, showing it sits at the top of its immediate competitive group.

For the Core 3 201E, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at 19047, which is 0.0% behind, and the Intel Core i5-12400F at 19039, which is 0.1% behind. The Core 3 201E leads the Intel Core i5-1335U by 0.4% and the AMD EPYC 7773X by 0.4%. This places the Core 3 201E in a competitive position for its performance class, but it does not change the outcome of this comparison.

Users who need maximum throughput in rendering, data compression, encryption, or math-heavy workloads should select the Core 9 273PE. The data shows a 59.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and a 71.9% lead in prime number finding, which translates to substantial real-world speedups in those tasks. Users who prioritize lower power consumption, a lower launch MSRP, or a smaller footprint might consider the Core 3 201E, but they will sacrifice significant performance across every benchmark category. The Core 3 201E does offer a higher base clock, which can benefit certain lightly threaded workloads, but the Core 9 273PE's boost clock is higher and its single-thread score is still 4.6% ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Core 9 273PE in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Core 9 273PE scores 31288, which is 59.7% ahead of the Core 3 201E's score of 12613.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 3 201E and the Intel Core 9 273PE support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 9 273PE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, compared to 4.80 GHz on the Intel Core 3 201E.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 9 273PE has an average benchmark score of 49845, while the Core 3 201E has an average benchmark score of 19056.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dominant wins for the Core 9 273PE appear in arithmetic and physics workloads. In PassMark's find prime numbers test, the Core 9 273PE scores 203 against 57 for the Core 3 201E, a 71.9% advantage. Floating point math shows a 69.2% lead with scores of 107884 versus 33260. Integer math follows at 68.5% ahead, recording 139410 versus 43894. These three tests show the largest performance gaps in the entire dataset.

The rendering benchmarks show consistent leads around 59.7%. Cinebench R15 multicore scores are 3153 versus 1271, R20 multicore is 13140 versus 5297, and R23 multicore is 31288 versus 12613. Single-core Cinebench results show similar margins, with R15 single-core at 445 versus 179, R20 single-core at 1855 versus 747, and R23 single-core at 4417 versus 1780, each showing a 59.7% or 59.8% delta.

PassMark's multithread test shows the Core 9 273PE at 36810 versus 14839, a 59.7% lead. Physics simulation follows at 3120 versus 1141, a 63.4% advantage. Data compression shows 405885 versus 164160, a 59.6% lead. Data encryption shows 22719 versus 8931, a 60.7% advantage. Extended instructions show 24630 versus 11035, a 55.2% lead, which is the smallest multicore gap outside of single-thread tests.

Random string sorting shows 45098 versus 17783, a 60.6% advantage. The only close result is PassMark's single-thread test, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3650 versus 3482, a 4.6% lead. This indicates that while the Core 3 201E has respectable single-thread performance, the Core 9 273PE still wins that category. The data records the same result for both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, confirming the 4.6% margin.

The Core 9 273PE wins all 17 benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison, with zero wins for the Core 3 201E. The narrowest margin is the 4.6% single-thread delta, and the widest is the 71.9% prime number finding delta. Across the entire dataset, the Core 9 273PE delivers a higher average benchmark score by a factor of approximately 2.6, which aligns with its 90th percentile ranking versus the 73rd percentile for the Core 3 201E.