Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record for these two processors shows a dominant pattern: the Intel Core 9 273PTE wins 15 of the 17 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core 3 304 secures only 2 wins. The scale of the Core 9 273PTE's advantage varies sharply by workload type, and the two Core 3 304 victories occur in a narrow single-threaded scenario.

The largest margin recorded is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 9 273PTE scores 20,445 against the Core 3 304's 5,263. That is a 74.3% deficit for the Core 3 304, the widest gap in the entire head-to-head set. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar pattern but with a smaller spread: 8,586 versus 4,160, a 51.5% difference. The R15 multi-core result repeats the trend at 2,060 versus 849, a 58.8% deficit. These scores indicate that the Core 9 273PTE's additional cores and threads translate directly into substantially higher sustained multi-threaded throughput.

Integer math performance shows the second-largest proportional gap. The Core 9 273PTE records 82,411 in PassMark integer math, while the Core 3 304 manages 24,640, a 70.1% deficit. Data compression follows at 258,704 versus 114,775, a 55.6% margin. Floating-point math comes in at 60,673 versus 29,722, a 51.0% difference. Random string sorting shows 28,973 versus 13,659, a 52.9% gap, and the multithread score is 24,054 versus 11,625, a 51.7% margin. Prime number finding shows 142 versus 68, a 52.1% gap. Physics simulation records 1,917 versus 868, a 54.7% deficit. Extended instructions show 15,952 versus 9,686, a 39.3% margin, and data encryption comes in at 14,253 versus 8,501, a 40.4% gap.

Single-core Cinebench results still favor the Core 9 273PTE, but by much smaller margins. In R23 single-core, the Core 9 273PTE scores 2,886 against 1,765, a 38.8% deficit for the Core 3 304. R20 single-core shows 1,212 versus 587, a 51.6% gap. R15 single-core shows 290 versus 264, only a 9.0% difference. The Core 3 304's only wins come in PassMark single-thread and PassMark singlethread, which are the same recorded test with identical scores of 3,614 versus 3,433. That 5.3% advantage indicates the Core 3 304 has a slight edge in this specific single-threaded PassMark workload, despite losing the Cinebench single-core tests.

The average benchmark score tells the same story from a different angle. The Core 9 273PTE sits at 31,143, which places it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 304 averages 13,745, which places it in the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PTE are the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31,081 (0.2% higher than the Core 9 273PTE), the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS at 31,074 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i7-13700TE at 31,028 (0.4% higher), and the Intel Core i7-12650HX at 31,290 (0.5% lower). The Core 3 304 sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13,786 (0.3% higher), the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13,868 (0.9% higher), the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13,594 (1.1% lower), and the AMD EPYC 7443 at 13,936 (1.4% higher).

The data indicates that the Core 9 273PTE is not merely faster in aggregate; it is categorically ahead in nearly every measured workload. The Core 3 304's single PassMark single-thread win is real but narrow, and it does not carry over to Cinebench single-core, where the Core 9 273PTE leads by a wide margin in R20 and R23.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 3 304 wins 2, both in the PassMark single-thread test where it scores 3,614 versus 3,433, a 5.3% margin.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PTE scores 20,445 versus 5,263 for the Core 3 304, a 74.3% deficit. In R20 multi-core, the gap is 51.5% with scores of 8,586 and 4,160. In R15 multi-core, the gap is 58.8% with scores of 2,060 and 849.

Q: Does the Core 3 304 win any single-core tests?

A: It wins the PassMark single-thread test with 3,614 versus 3,433 for the Core 9 273PTE, a 5.3% margin. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 9 273PTE leads with 2,886 versus 1,765, a 38.8% gap. In R20 single-core, the Core 9 273PTE leads with 1,212 versus 587, a 51.6% gap. In R15 single-core, the lead narrows to 290 versus 264, a 9.0% gap.

Q: How do the two processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Core 9 273PTE has an average score of 31,143, which is 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-12700F and 0.2% below the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, 0.4% below the Intel Core i7-13700TE, and 0.5% above the Intel Core i7-12650HX. The Core 3 304 averages 13,745, which is 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, 0.9% below the Intel Core i7-8750H, 1.1% above the Intel Core 5 120UL, and 1.4% below the AMD EPYC 7443.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor?

A: The Core 9 273PTE ranks in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 304 ranks in the 68th percentile.

Q: Which workloads show the smallest performance gap?

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark single-thread, where the Core 3 304 leads by 5.3%. The next smallest is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core 9 273PTE leads by 9.0%. The largest gaps are all multi-threaded workloads, with Cinebench R23 multi-core at 74.3% being the largest.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel process nodes and design families. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process. The Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on a 10 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but they target different market segments and physical platforms.

The core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads, which indicates it uses two threads per core. This thread count difference is the primary architectural driver behind the large multi-threaded benchmark gaps.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Core 3 304 has a 192 KB L1 cache, a 2.5 MB L2 cache, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Core 9 273PTE lists its L1 as 80 KB per core, its L2 as 2 MB per core, and its L3 as 36 MB shared. The per-core figures for the Core 9 273PTE are not directly comparable to the aggregate figures for the Core 3 304, but the total L3 capacity is far larger on the Core 9 273PTE at 36 MB versus 6 MB.

Memory support differs in type and width. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus. The Core 9 273PTE supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The measured memory bandwidth reflects this: the Core 9 273PTE records 89.6 GB/s, while the Core 3 304 records 59.7 GB/s. The Core 9 273PTE also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 304 does not.

PCIe capabilities differ. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core 9 273PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, while the Core 9 273PTE uses UHD Graphics 730.

The sockets are different. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, which is a ball-grid array package for mobile systems. The Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, which is a desktop socket. The Core 3 304 is classified as a mobile segment processor, while the Core 9 273PTE is classified as desktop.

Specification Differences

The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are close: 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 304 and 1.40 GHz for the Core 9 273PTE. Boost clocks differ more, with the Core 3 304 reaching 4.30 GHz and the Core 9 273PTE reaching 5.50 GHz.

Thermal design power differs by a factor of 3. The Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W, while the Core 9 273PTE is rated at 45 W. This aligns with the mobile versus desktop market segment split.

The process node differs: 3 nm for the Core 3 304 and 10 nm for the Core 9 273PTE. The codenames are Wildcat Lake and Bartlett Lake respectively. The sockets are Intel BGA 1516 and Intel Socket 1700.

Memory bus width differs: single-channel for the Core 3 304 and dual-channel for the Core 9 273PTE. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC support is absent on the Core 3 304 and present on the Core 9 273PTE. PCIe generation and lane count differ: Gen 4 with 6 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) on the Core 3 304 and UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 9 273PTE. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Core 9 273PTE supports DDR4 and DDR5.

The release dates are close, with the Core 9 273PTE releasing on 2026-03-08 and the Core 3 304 on 2026-04-15. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309, and the launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PTE is $549. Both processors have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PTE is the clear winner in all multi-threaded workloads. The data shows it leads by 51.0% to 74.3% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, and by similar margins in PassMark integer math, data compression, floating-point math, multithread, physics, random string sorting, and prime number finding. This processor is suited for workloads that scale with core count and thread count, such as rendering, compilation, simulation, and heavy data processing. Its 24 threads, 36 MB of shared L3 cache, and 89.6 GB/s of dual-channel memory bandwidth support this role.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 3,614 versus 3,433, a 5.3% margin. This is a narrow win in one specific benchmark. In Cinebench single-core tests, the Core 9 273PTE leads by 9.0% in R15, 51.6% in R20, and 38.8% in R23. The Core 3 304's advantage is therefore limited to one PassMark workload and does not generalize across the Cinebench single-core suite.

The Core 3 304's strengths lie elsewhere. Its 15 W TDP, 3 nm process, and mobile BGA 1516 socket place it in a low-power mobile segment where the Core 9 273PTE's 45 W desktop design is not a direct alternative. The Core 3 304 supports LPDDR5X memory, which the Core 9 273PTE does not, and it uses a newer process node. For workloads that fit within its 5 cores and 5 threads, the Core 3 304 delivers competitive single-thread PassMark performance, but the recorded data does not show it winning any multi-threaded comparison.

The Core 9 273PTE's nearest rivals in the database are desktop and high-end mobile parts: the Intel Core i7-12700F, AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, Intel Core i7-13700TE, and Intel Core i7-12650HX. Its average score of 31,143 places it within 0.5% of all four. The Core 3 304's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core 5 120UL, and AMD EPYC 7443, all within 1.4% of its average score of 13,745.

For applications that can use more than 5 threads, the Core 9 273PTE is the stronger choice by a wide margin. For a mobile platform with a 15 W envelope, the Core 3 304 offers a 3 nm process, LPDDR5X support, and a single-thread PassMark edge. The two processors do not occupy the same performance class, and the benchmark data reflects that split.