Intel Core 5 221E vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 9 273PTE. No single test favors the Core 9 273PTE. The margins are substantial across every category, ranging from 14.2% to 43%.

The largest gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core 5 221E scores 117813 against 82411 for the Core 9 273PTE, a 43% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in the entire dataset. Floating point math also shows a significant edge, with the Core 5 221E at 79028 versus 60673, a 30.3% lead. Data encryption favors the Core 5 221E by 34.7% (19205 versus 14253), while random string sorting shows a 30.1% gap (37686 versus 28973).

Cinebench results tell a consistent story. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core 5 221E posts 25933 against 20445 for the Core 9 273PTE, a 26.8% difference. The single-core R23 result is similar: 3661 versus 2886, a 26.9% edge. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 10891 versus 8586 (26.8%), and R20 single-core shows 1537 versus 1212 (26.8%). The older R15 test follows the same pattern, with the Core 5 221E ahead by 26.8% in multicore (2613 versus 2060) and 26.9% in single-core (368 versus 290).

PassMark multithread results show the Core 5 221E at 30510 versus 24054 for the Core 9 273PTE, a 26.8% lead. The single-thread PassMark result is 4147 versus 3433, a 20.8% advantage. Data compression shows a 25.3% lead (324285 versus 258704), while extended instructions post a 14.2% gap (18216 versus 15952). Find prime numbers favors the Core 5 221E by 21.8% (173 versus 142), and physics by 16.3% (2230 versus 1917).

The aggregate benchmark scores confirm the hierarchy. The Core 5 221E has an average benchmark score of 40144, while the Core 9 273PTE averages 31143. The Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile among all CPUs in the database, whereas the Core 9 273PTE sits at the 82nd percentile. This is a curious outcome given the naming convention, which suggests the Core 9 should be the higher-tier part.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Bartlett Lake codename and the 10 nm process node from Intel, but the configuration differs substantially. The Core 5 221E packs 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores but 24 threads. The thread count discrepancy indicates a different core topology, with the Core 9 using more hyperthreading per physical core.

The base clock speeds diverge sharply. The Core 5 221E runs at 2.70 GHz base, while the Core 9 273PTE sits much lower at 1.40 GHz. Boost clocks reverse this relationship: the Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core 9 273PTE boosts to 5.50 GHz. The higher boost clock on the Core 9 does not translate into better benchmark results, as the data shows.

Cache allocation differs in L3 capacity. The Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB. Both use 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. Despite having 50% more L3 cache, the Core 9 273PTE still loses every benchmark, suggesting the lower base clock and core count outweigh the cache advantage.

Thermal design power favors the Core 9 273PTE at 45 watts, while the Core 5 221E draws 65 watts. The lower TDP indicates the Core 9 273PTE is designed for more power-constrained environments, but the performance trade-off is severe. Both parts use Intel Socket 1700, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and feature dual-channel memory buses with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory support appears on both.

Integrated graphics are identical: UHD Graphics 730 on both processors. PCIe support is also the same, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes from the CPU. The die size for the Core 5 221E is 257 mm², while the Core 9 273PTE has no recorded die size. The Core 5 221E launched on 2025-01-12 with a launch MSRP of $232. The Core 9 273PTE launched on 2026-03-08 with a launch MSRP of $549. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins across every recorded workload, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of its advantages rather than any reversal. The largest wins favor heavily parallel integer operations. The 43% lead in integer math and the 30.3% lead in floating point math suggest the Core 5 221E is clearly superior for compute-heavy scientific or engineering workloads where math throughput dominates.

The 34.7% encryption lead and the 25.3% compression lead indicate the Core 5 221E is the stronger choice for security-related tasks, database workloads, or file archiving scenarios. The random string sorting advantage of 30.1% further supports a recommendation for data processing pipelines that involve sorting or organizing large datasets.

Single-thread performance shows a 20.8% lead for the Core 5 221E in PassMark and a 26.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. This matters for applications that depend on per-core responsiveness, such as legacy software, certain simulation tools, or lightly threaded workloads. The Core 5 221E also leads in physics by 16.3% and extended instructions by 14.2%, though these are smaller margins.

The Core 9 273PTE holds a TDP advantage at 45 watts versus 65 watts, and it carries more L3 cache at 36 MB versus 24 MB. It also has a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. However, none of these architectural advantages translate into a single benchmark win. The Core 9 273PTE might be preferable in scenarios where power draw is the primary constraint and absolute performance is secondary, but the recorded data does not provide any workload where it outperforms the Core 5 221E.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E averages 40144 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE averages 31143.

Q: How large is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is a 43% advantage for the Intel Core 5 221E in PassMark integer math, with scores of 117813 versus 82411.

Q: Do the core and thread counts favor one processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite fewer cores, the Core 9 has more threads, but it still loses all benchmarks.

Q: How does the thermal design power compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a 45 watt TDP, while the Intel Core 5 221E has a 65 watt TDP.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 221E boosts to 5.20 GHz.

The Verdict

The data shows a complete victory for the Intel Core 5 221E. It wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks with deltas between 14.2% and 43%, holds a higher average benchmark score (40144 versus 31143), and ranks in the 87th percentile versus the Core 9's 82nd percentile. The Core 5 221E also carries a lower launch MSRP of $232 compared to $549 for the Core 9 273PTE.

The Core 9 273PTE offers a lower TDP (45 watts versus 65 watts), more L3 cache (36 MB versus 24 MB), and a higher boost clock (5.50 GHz versus 5.20 GHz). It also has more threads (24 versus 20). However, none of these advantages appear in the benchmark results. The lower base clock of 1.40 GHz appears to be a decisive handicap that the higher boost clock cannot overcome in sustained workloads.

For buyers choosing between these two Bartlett Lake parts on Socket 1700, the recorded measurements point exclusively toward the Core 5 221E. It delivers superior performance in every measured category, from Cinebench rendering to PassMark math, encryption, compression, and sorting tests. The Core 9 273PTE's only clear edge is power efficiency, which matters only when the performance deficit is acceptable. Based on the database results, the Core 5 221E is the stronger processor by every performance metric recorded.