Intel Core 5 315 vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 9 273PE, which wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 315 manages only two wins, both in single-thread PassMark tests. The scale of the Core 9 273PE's dominance varies by workload, from a narrow 44.8% lead in prime number finding to a massive 77.3% advantage in integer math.

In Cinebench rendering tests, the Core 9 273PE delivers a consistent performance margin. Across all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, the Core 9 273PE leads by approximately 58.5% to 58.7%. The smallest gap in this suite is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core 9 273PE scores 445 against 184 for the Core 5 315, a 58.7% difference. The multicore results show the same pattern, with the Core 9 273PE scoring 3153 in R15 multicore versus 1308 for the Core 5 315. In Cinebench R23, the Core 9 273PE reaches 31288 points, while the Core 5 315 records 12981.

PassMark integer math shows the largest performance disparity of any test. The Core 9 273PE scores 139410, while the Core 5 315 manages 31690, making the Core 9 273PE 77.3% faster in this workload. This massive gap reflects the substantial difference in core count and thread count between the two processors.

Floating point math also shows a wide 60.7% margin, with the Core 9 273PE scoring 107884 versus 42441 for the Core 5 315. Data compression tests show a 64% lead for the Core 9 273PE, which scores 405885 compared to 146143. The Core 9 273PE also leads by 62.7% in physics calculations, scoring 3120 against 1163.

The Core 9 273PE leads by 61.1% in random string sorting, with a score of 45098 versus 17551. Data encryption shows a 51.1% margin, with the Core 9 273PE scoring 22719 against 11119 for the Core 5 315. Extended instruction workloads show the smallest overall gap at 46.6%, with the Core 9 273PE scoring 24630 versus 13143. Prime number finding shows a 44.8% lead for the Core 9 273PE, scoring 203 against 112.

The only tests won by the Core 5 315 are the PassMark single-thread tests, where it scores 4021 against 3650 for the Core 9 273PE. This 10.2% advantage is notable, as it indicates the Core 5 315 has superior per-core performance in certain single-threaded workloads, despite its lower overall core count. The Core 5 315 also shows a higher single-core Cinebench R23 ratio relative to its multicore score, though the absolute scores remain lower than the Core 9 273PE.

The average benchmark score places the Core 9 273PE at 49845, compared to 18188 for the Core 5 315. The Core 9 273PE sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core 5 315 sits at the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PE include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 with an average score of 49796 (0.1% difference), the Intel Core i5-14600KF at 49394 (0.9% difference), and the Intel Core i9-13980HX at 50398 (1.1% difference). The Core 5 315's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9274F at 18189 (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-9700 at 18180 (0% difference), and the Intel Core i7-1365U at 18177 (0.1% difference).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 15 of 17 recorded benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 315 wins the remaining two tests, both being PassMark single-thread evaluations.

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

A: The largest gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the Intel Core 9 273PE scores 139410 against 31690 for the Intel Core 5 315, a 77.3% difference in favor of the Core 9 273PE.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 315 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 315 wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4021, compared to 3650 for the Intel Core 9 273PE. This represents a 10.2% advantage for the Core 5 315.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 31288 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core 5 315 scores 12981. The Core 9 273PE leads by 58.5% in this test.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has an average benchmark score of 49845, while the Intel Core 5 315 has an average score of 18188. The Core 9 273PE ranks at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, and the Core 5 315 ranks at the 72nd percentile.

Q: How does the Core 9 273PE compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The nearest rival to the Core 9 273PE is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, with an average score of 49796, a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i9-13980HX scores 50398, which is 1.1% higher than the Core 9 273PE.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE is the clear winner for all multi-threaded and compute-intensive workloads. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide substantial advantages in rendering, data compression, encryption, and math-heavy tasks. The Cinebench multicore results show a consistent 58.5% lead across all three versions of the test, indicating that the Core 9 273PE is well-suited for content creation, 3D rendering, and video encoding workloads. The 64% lead in data compression and 61.1% lead in string sorting also position it as the stronger choice for database operations and file archiving tasks.

The Intel Core 9 273PE also dominates in floating-point math with a 60.7% margin, making it the preferred option for scientific computing, simulation, and financial modeling. Its 51.1% lead in data encryption suggests better performance in security-related tasks and VPN operations. The 62.7% advantage in physics calculations indicates stronger performance in physics simulation and gaming-related physics workloads.

The Intel Core 5 315 wins exclusively in the PassMark single-thread test, with a 10.2% margin over the Core 9 273PE. This suggests the Core 5 315 has superior per-core IPC in certain single-threaded scenarios, which could benefit lightly-threaded applications such as older games, spreadsheet operations, or general desktop responsiveness. However, the Core 5 315's single-core Cinebench scores remain lower in absolute terms, scoring 184 in R15 single-core versus 445 for the Core 9 273PE. The PassMark single-thread result measures different aspects of performance than Cinebench, which explains the divergence.

For users running a mix of single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, the Core 9 273PE offers the more balanced overall package. Its single-core Cinebench scores are higher than the Core 5 315's, and its multi-threaded performance is dramatically better. The Core 5 315's single-thread PassMark advantage is the only area where it outperforms the Core 9 273PE, and this advantage does not translate to Cinebench single-core results.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core 5 315 and Intel Core 9 273PE differ significantly in core configuration. The Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core 9 273PE supports simultaneous multithreading, which doubles its thread count, while the Core 5 315 does not.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The Core 5 315 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Core 9 273PE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Core 9 273PE's higher boost clock contributes to its superior single-thread performance in most tests.

Thermal design power differs by a wide margin. The Core 5 315 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core 9 273PE has a TDP of 65 watts. This reflects the Core 9 273PE's higher core count and clock speeds, as well as its desktop-oriented design.

The two processors use different sockets. The Core 5 315 uses Intel BGA 1516, which is a soldered mobile socket. The Core 9 273PE uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket that allows for processor installation in standard motherboards.

Memory support differs in several ways. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, while the Core 9 273PE supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Core 5 315 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 9 273PE uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 9 273PE also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 315 does not.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Core 5 315 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU. The Core 9 273PE provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives the Core 9 273PE more bandwidth and more available expansion lanes for graphics cards and storage devices.

Integrated graphics differ between the two. The Core 5 315 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core 9 273PE includes UHD Graphics 730. The market segments differ, with the Core 5 315 aimed at mobile devices and the Core 9 273PE aimed at desktop systems.

The Core 5 315 has a launch MSRP of $340. The Core 9 273PE has a launch MSRP of $549. Both processors are currently listed as active in production. The Core 5 315 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core 9 273PE was released on 2026-03-08.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process node. The Intel Core 9 273PE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core 5 315 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 9 273PE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. With 12 cores, the Core 9 273PE's total L1 cache amounts to 960 KB, and its total L2 cache is 24 MB. The Core 9 273PE's L3 cache is six times larger than the Core 5 315's.

The generation labels reflect the different architectures. The Core 5 315 is listed as Core 5 (Wildcat Lake), while the Core 9 273PE is listed as Core 9 (Bartlett Lake). The process node difference is substantial, with the Core 5 315 using a 3 nm process versus 10 nm for the Core 9 273PE. This explains the Core 5 315's lower power consumption and smaller die footprint, despite its lower performance.

The Core 5 315's single-channel memory bus and lower bandwidth (59.7 GB/s) contrast with the Core 9 273PE's dual-channel bus and higher bandwidth (89.6 GB/s). The Core 9 273PE's support for ECC memory further distinguishes it as a workstation-oriented part. The Core 5 315's support for LPDDR5X memory indicates its mobile design intent, while the Core 9 273PE's support for DDR4 as well as DDR5 gives it broader compatibility with existing desktop platforms.

The integrated graphics differ by generation. The Core 5 315 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics, which is a newer graphics architecture. The Core 9 273PE uses UHD Graphics 730, which is an older design. Despite this, neither processor is primarily intended for gaming without a discrete GPU.

The PCIe generation difference is notable. The Core 5 315 supports PCIe Gen 4, while the Core 9 273PE supports PCIe Gen 5. The Core 9 273PE's 16 PCIe lanes provide significantly more bandwidth for discrete graphics cards and NVMe storage than the Core 5 315's 6 lanes. This makes the Core 9 273PE better suited for desktop systems with multiple expansion devices.

The production status for both processors is listed as active. The part numbers differ, with the Core 5 315 using SAEFC and the Core 9 273PE using SA4QD. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported through multiplier adjustment.