Intel Core 5 223PE vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for these two Bartlett Lake desktop processors shows a dominant performance profile for the Intel Core 9 273PE. Out of 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core 9 273PE wins 14, while the Intel Core 5 223PE takes 3. The margin of victory is substantial in most compute-heavy workloads, though the Core 5 223PE holds a notable single-thread advantage in one specific PassMark test.

Starting with Cinebench, the multi-core results favor the Core 9 273PE by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 3153 against 2666 for the Core 5 223PE, a delta of 15.4%. The R20 multi-core test shows 13140 versus 11111, again a 15.4% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 31288 for the Core 9 273PE versus 26455 for the Core 5 223PE, also a 15.4% difference. These consistent deltas across all three Cinebench versions indicate a stable architectural scaling advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core Cinebench results also favor the Core 9 273PE, though the margin is slightly larger. In R15 single-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 445 against 376, a 15.5% lead. R20 single-core shows 1855 versus 1568, a 15.5% delta. R23 single-core records 4417 versus 3734, also 15.5% ahead. This consistency across all three Cinebench versions suggests the Core 9 273PE has a higher effective single-thread performance ceiling in these rendering workloads.

PassMark results paint a more varied picture. The biggest win for the Core 9 273PE comes in floating point math, where it scores 107884 versus 76468, a 29.1% advantage. Integer math follows closely with 139410 versus 99819, a 28.4% lead. Data compression shows 405885 versus 346623, a 14.6% gap. Data encryption delivers 22719 versus 18448, an 18.8% margin. Prime number finding scores 203 versus 159, a 21.7% lead. Physics tests show 3120 versus 2493, a 20.1% difference. Random string sorting records 45098 versus 35798, a 20.6% gap. The PassMark multithread score is 36810 versus 31124, a 15.4% delta.

The Core 5 223PE wins two PassMark tests and ties one. The PassMark single-thread test shows 4219 for the Core 5 223PE versus 3650 for the Core 9 273PE, a 15.6% advantage for the Core 5 223PE. This same result appears under both the "single_thread" and "singlethread" test names, so it is effectively one workload win recorded twice. The extended instructions test is essentially a tie: the Core 5 223PE scores 24672 versus 24630 for the Core 9 273PE, a 0.2% margin that falls within noise. These two wins are the only bright spots for the Core 5 223PE in the entire benchmark suite.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall imbalance. The Core 9 273PE has an average score of 49845, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 223PE has an average of 40585, placing it in the 87th percentile. The Core 9 273PE sits next to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 in the database rankings with a delta of 0.1%, and it is 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600KF. The Core 5 223PE sits close to the Intel Core 7 253PE with a 0.1% delta and trails the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435G by 0.3%. Neither processor shows a dramatic gap to its immediate neighbors, but the distance between the two processors themselves is substantial.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Bartlett Lake codename, the same 10 nm process node, and the same Intel foundry. They also share the same Intel Socket 1700, the same dual-channel memory bus, the same 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, and the same DDR4 and DDR5 memory support. Both have ECC memory support and both ship with UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics. PCIe support is identical as well: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The core configuration is where the two diverge. The Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, a 50% increase in both core count and thread count. This directly explains the multi-core benchmark deltas, though the 15.4% Cinebench gap is smaller than the raw core count difference would suggest, indicating that per-core scaling is not perfectly linear.

Clock speeds also differ. The Core 5 223PE has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 9 273PE has a lower base clock of 2.30 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The lower base clock on the Core 9 273PE is likely tied to power management across more cores, while the higher boost clock gives it an advantage in lightly threaded workloads that can reach the top frequency.

Cache allocation shows a clear hierarchy. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs: the Core 5 223PE has 24 MB shared, while the Core 9 273PE has 36 MB shared. That is a 50% increase in shared L3, matching the core count increase. This larger shared cache likely benefits the Core 9 273PE in workloads that reuse data across cores.

The thermal design power is identical at 65 for both processors. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is not a supported feature for either. Both are listed as active production parts with the same release date of 2026-03-08. The part numbers differ: SA4QF for the Core 5 223PE and SA4QD for the Core 9 273PE. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 223PE is $232, and for the Core 9 273PE it is $549.

The Verdict

The data points clearly in one direction for most workloads. The Intel Core 9 273PE delivers a 15.4% advantage in every Cinebench multi-core test and every Cinebench single-core test. It also leads by larger margins in PassMark math workloads, with floating point math 29.1% ahead and integer math 28.4% ahead. For any application that relies on sustained multi-threaded compute, rendering, compression, or encryption, the Core 9 273PE is the stronger part based on the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core 5 223PE has one specific advantage: the PassMark single-thread test shows it 15.6% ahead of the Core 9 273PE. This is a single test, and it is contradicted by the Cinebench single-core results where the Core 9 273PE leads by 15.5%. The PassMark extended instructions test is a near tie at 0.2% in favor of the Core 5 223PE. Outside of these two tests, the Core 5 223PE does not win any other recorded benchmark.

For a user prioritizing the PassMark single-thread metric, the Core 5 223PE is the only choice between these two. For every other measured workload in the database, the Core 9 273PE is ahead. The percentile ranking confirms this: the Core 9 273PE sits at the 90th percentile versus the 87th percentile for the Core 5 223PE. The average benchmark score difference is 49845 versus 40585, a gap of roughly 23%.

The Core 9 273PE also benefits from a larger L3 cache at 36 MB versus 24 MB, and a higher boost clock at 5.70 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. These architectural advantages align with its benchmark wins. The Core 5 223PE has a higher base clock at 2.90 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, but this does not translate into a performance win in any multi-threaded or Cinebench test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 14 of 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 223PE wins 3, with two of those being the same PassMark single-thread result listed under two test names.

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

A: In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the Core 9 273PE leads by 15.4% in each case. The PassMark multithread score also shows a 15.4% advantage for the Core 9 273PE.

Q: Is there any workload where the Core 5 223PE wins?

A: Yes. The PassMark single-thread test shows the Core 5 223PE scoring 4219 versus 3650 for the Core 9 273PE, a 15.6% advantage. The PassMark extended instructions test is a near tie with the Core 5 223PE ahead by 0.2%.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, use a dual-channel memory bus, and have a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in core count?

A: The Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, a 50% increase in both.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: The Core 5 223PE has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 9 273PE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins in every rendering benchmark recorded. Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, R20 multi-core and single-core, and R23 multi-core and single-core all show the Core 9 273PE ahead by roughly 15.4% to 15.5%. This makes it the clear choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, and any CPU-bound creative application that uses Cinebench-style workloads.

The Core 9 273PE also dominates PassMark computational tests. Floating point math shows a 29.1% lead, integer math shows 28.4%, and prime number finding shows 21.7%. These are the largest margins in the entire benchmark set. Data compression and encryption also favor the Core 9 273PE by 14.6% and 18.8% respectively. The multithread score, physics test, and random string sorting all show leads between 15.4% and 20.6% for the Core 9 273PE.

The Intel Core 5 223PE wins the PassMark single-thread test by 15.6%, which is its only substantial victory. This test measures a specific single-threaded workload that the Core 5 223PE handles better despite its lower boost clock. The extended instructions test is effectively a tie, with the Core 5 223PE ahead by 0.2%, which is within measurement noise.

For workloads that rely heavily on single-thread PassMark-style operations, the Core 5 223PE is the better part. For everything else in the recorded data, the Core 9 273PE delivers a measurable and often large performance advantage. The Core 9 273PE also has a higher boost clock, more cores, more threads, and more L3 cache, all of which align with its dominant benchmark results.

Specification Differences

The Core 5 223PE and Core 9 273PE differ in core count, thread count, base clock, boost clock, L3 cache size, and launch MSRP. The Core 5 223PE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core 5 223PE has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 9 273PE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The L3 cache is 24 MB shared on the Core 5 223PE and 36 MB shared on the Core 9 273PE. The launch MSRP is $232 for the Core 5 223PE and $549 for the Core 9 273PE.

The two processors share the same process node (10 nm), the same foundry (Intel), the same codename (Bartlett Lake), and the same socket (Intel Socket 1700). Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both have ECC memory support, Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes, and UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics. Both have a TDP of 65, an unlocked multiplier status of false, and the same release date of 2026-03-08. The part numbers differ: SA4QF for the Core 5 223PE and SA4QD for the Core 9 273PE.