Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

The Verdict

The data in the database is decisively lopsided. The Intel Core 7 251TE wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Intel Core 9 273PTE claiming only a single narrow victory. For workloads measured by Cinebench and Passmark suites, the Core 7 251TE is the stronger processor across nearly every category, often by substantial margins. The Core 9 273PTE does hold a slight edge in one prime-number finding test, but that result is isolated and does not offset its overall deficit.

The Core 7 251TE sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 41650. Its closest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41621, a 0.1% gap, and the Intel Core i7-14650HX at 41576, a 0.2% gap. The Core 9 273PTE, by contrast, ranks at the 82nd percentile with an average score of 31143. Its nearest competitors are the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31081 and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS at 31074, each within 0.2% of the Core 9 273PTE's average.

For users selecting between these two, the data points firmly to the Core 7 251TE. It offers higher scores in all multi-threaded rendering tests, all single-thread tests, and the vast majority of Passmark workloads. The Core 9 273PTE, despite its higher model number and higher boost clock, does not translate that into benchmark superiority. The Core 7 251TE also carries a lower launch MSRP of $384 compared to $549 for the Core 9 273PTE, though the performance gap is the more relevant factor in this analysis.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from Intel's Bartlett Lake family, built on a 10 nm process node and manufactured by Intel. They share the same Intel Socket 1700 platform, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and both feature ECC memory support. The PCIe implementation is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Intel Core 7 251TE packs 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. This is a substantial difference in parallel execution capacity. The Core 7 251TE has more than double the core count, which explains its dominance in multi-threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both share 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the L2 cache per core is 1.25 MB on the Core 7 251TE versus 2 MB per core on the Core 9 273PTE. The Core 9 273PTE compensates for fewer cores with a larger per-core L2 allocation, but the aggregate L2 capacity is roughly similar: 30 MB for the Core 7 251TE (24 cores at 1.25 MB) versus 24 MB for the Core 9 273PTE (12 cores at 2 MB).

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 7 251TE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 9 273PTE uses UHD Graphics 730. The die size is recorded for the Core 7 251TE at 215 mm², while no die size is listed for the Core 9 273PTE. The release dates show the Core 7 251TE arriving earlier, on 2025-01-12, with the Core 9 273PTE following on 2026-03-08.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core 7 251TE provides a significant advantage in core count.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 251TE boosts to 5.40 GHz. Base clocks are identical at 1.40 GHz for both.

Q: Which processor scores higher in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE scores 25518 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE scores 20445. The Core 7 251TE leads by 24.8%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has an average benchmark score of 41650, ranking at the 88th percentile. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has an average score of 31143, ranking at the 82nd percentile.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger L2 cache per core?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel Core 7 251TE has 1.25 MB per core. However, the Core 7 251TE has more cores, so its total L2 capacity is higher at 30 MB versus 24 MB.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear divergences between the two processors. The Intel Core 7 251TE uses 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE uses 12 cores and 24 threads. The boost clock favors the Core 9 273PTE at 5.50 GHz versus 5.40 GHz, though base clocks are equal at 1.40 GHz.

L2 cache per core differs: 1.25 MB for the Core 7 251TE versus 2 MB for the Core 9 273PTE. The L3 cache is identical at 36 MB shared, and L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core. The integrated graphics differ, with UHD Graphics 770 on the Core 7 251TE and UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 9 273PTE.

Die size is listed only for the Core 7 251TE at 215 mm². The Core 9 273PTE has no recorded die size. The part numbers also differ: SRQAXQ5ZG for the Core 7 251TE and SA4QJ for the Core 9 273PTE. Both processors are active in production, locked multipliers, and target the desktop market segment. The launch MSRP is $384 for the Core 7 251TE and $549 for the Core 9 273PTE.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent pattern of dominance by the Intel Core 7 251TE. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 7 251TE scores 2572 against 2060 for the Core 9 273PTE, a 24.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 362 versus 290, a 24.8% lead. These margins repeat across the Cinebench suite with remarkable consistency. R20 multi-core delivers 10717 versus 8586, a 24.8% difference, and R20 single-core shows 1512 versus 1212, also 24.8%. R23 multi-core yields 25518 versus 20445, again 24.8%, and R23 single-core gives 3602 versus 2886, another 24.8% margin.

The Passmark suite reveals where the Core 7 251TE's advantages are largest. The data encryption test shows the biggest gap: 22176 versus 14253, a 55.6% difference. Integer math follows closely at 125739 versus 82411, a 52.6% lead. Floating point math delivers 85607 versus 60673, a 41.1% advantage. Random string sorting shows 39643 versus 28973, a 36.8% gap. Data compression comes in at 334399 versus 258704, a 29.3% difference. The multithread test records 30022 versus 24054, a 24.8% lead, matching the Cinebench margins.

Smaller wins for the Core 7 251TE appear in extended instructions at 16974 versus 15952, a 6.4% edge, and single-thread performance at 3568 versus 3433, a 3.9% lead. The physics test is nearly a tie: 1938 versus 1917, with the Core 7 251TE ahead by only 1.1%.

The single victory for the Core 9 273PTE comes in the find prime numbers test, where it scores 142 versus 140 for the Core 7 251TE, a 1.4% margin. This is the closest result in the entire comparison and does not indicate any broader strength in the Core 9 273PTE's favor.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 251TE is the clear choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 24 cores and 32 threads deliver consistent 24.8% advantages across all Cinebench multi-core tests, and the Passmark multithread test confirms the same margin. The data encryption test shows a 55.6% lead, making the Core 7 251TE substantially stronger for encryption-heavy tasks. Integer math, which often correlates with general computational throughput, shows a 52.6% advantage. Floating point math, relevant to scientific and engineering calculations, is 41.1% ahead. Data compression and random string sorting, both common in data processing pipelines, show advantages of 29.3% and 36.8% respectively.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins in exactly one recorded scenario: the find prime numbers test, where it edges ahead by 1.4%. This test measures a specific algorithmic workload involving prime number generation. The Core 9 273PTE's larger per-core L2 cache of 2 MB may contribute to this narrow result, but the practical significance is minimal given the single-point margin.

For single-thread performance, the Core 7 251TE still leads, though by smaller margins. The Cinebench single-core tests show a 24.8% advantage, while the Passmark single-thread test shows a 3.9% lead. The Core 9 273PTE's higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz does not overcome the Core 7 251TE's architectural advantages in these tests.

The data indicates that the Core 7 251TE is the superior processor for rendering, encryption, integer and floating point math, compression, sorting, and general multithreaded execution. The Core 9 273PTE offers only a marginal win in prime number finding, which does not compensate for its losses across the other 16 benchmark comparisons. For users prioritizing raw throughput and parallel performance, the Core 7 251TE is the stronger option according to every major benchmark category in the database.