Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Comparison

The Intel Core 7 251TE and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX are two distinct processors that share a core count but diverge sharply in architecture, platform, and measured performance. The database shows the Core Ultra 9 275HX as the dominant performer in the majority of tests, securing 15 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Core 7 251TE takes the remaining 2 wins, both in single-core Cinebench tests. This split highlights a fundamental trade-off: the Ultra 9 delivers substantially higher throughput in nearly every workload category, while the 251TE shows a specific advantage in one legacy single-threaded benchmark.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is the clear leader in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. The data shows a decisive advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore, with a score of 5619.5 against 2572 for the 251TE, a difference of 54.2 percent. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Ultra 9 scores 19899 versus 10717, a 46.1 percent gap, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it delivers 35589 against 25518, a 28.3 percent lead. The Ultra 9 also wins all PassMark workloads, including multithread (55759 vs 30022, a 46.2 percent lead), floating point math (191186 vs 85607, a 55.2 percent lead), and integer math (155218 vs 125739, a 19 percent lead). The processor also dominates in specialized tasks such as data compression (608381 vs 334399, a 45 percent lead), data encryption (47112 vs 22176, a 52.9 percent lead), and extended instructions (47016 vs 16974, a 63.9 percent lead).

The Intel Core 7 251TE claims its wins in two Cinebench single-core tests. It scores 362 in Cinebench R15 singlecore versus 334 for the Ultra 9, an 8.4 percent advantage. It also wins Cinebench R23 singlecore with 3602 against 2204, a substantial 63.4 percent lead. These results indicate the 251TE has a legacy single-threaded performance edge that does not carry over to the newer Cinebench R20 singlecore test, where the Ultra 9 wins with 2809 against 1512, a 46.2 percent gap. The single-thread PassMark test also favors the Ultra 9, with 4713 versus 3568, a 24.3 percent lead.

The average benchmark score places the Ultra 9 at 67469 against 41650 for the 251TE. The percentile ranking confirms the separation: the Ultra 9 sits at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the 251TE is at the 88th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design lineages. The Intel Core 7 251TE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel and uses the Bartlett Lake codename. It is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename from the Core Ultra Series 2, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2114.

The core configuration differs despite the identical core count. The 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Ultra 9 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The 251TE therefore supports simultaneous multithreading, while the Ultra 9 does not. Both processors share a 36 MB L3 cache, but the per-core L1 and L2 allocations differ. The 251TE has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the Ultra 9 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core.

Memory support also separates the two. The 251TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and ECC memory enabled. The Ultra 9 supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and no ECC support. The PCIe configuration differs as well: the 251TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 9 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics are different. The 251TE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 9 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 9 also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 251TE does not. The transistor count and die size are documented only for the Ultra 9: 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The die size for the 251TE is recorded as 215 mm².

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 32 threads from 24 cores. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 threads from 24 cores.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX support ECC memory?

A: No. The database lists ECC memory as false for the Ultra 9. The Intel Core 7 251TE lists ECC memory as true.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX records 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE scores 3602 in Cinebench R23 singlecore, which is 63.4 percent higher than the Ultra 9's 2204.

Q: What process nodes do the two processors use?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE uses a 10 nm process at Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX uses a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has an average benchmark score of 67469, compared to 41650 for the Intel Core 7 251TE.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several recorded specifications. The base clock is 1.40 GHz for the 251TE and 2.70 GHz for the Ultra 9. The boost clock is identical at 5.40 GHz for both. The TDP is 45 watts for the 251TE and 55 watts for the Ultra 9. The 251TE uses Intel Socket 1700 and targets the desktop market, while the Ultra 9 uses Intel BGA 2114 and targets the mobile market.

The process node separates them: 10 nm for the 251TE versus 3 nm for the Ultra 9. The foundry is Intel for the 251TE and TSMC for the Ultra 9. The Ultra 9 has a documented transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the 251TE has a die size of 215 mm². The L1 cache is 80 KB per core for the 251TE and 192 KB per core for the Ultra 9. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core for the 251TE and 3 MB per core for the Ultra 9. Both share 36 MB of L3 cache.

Memory support differs: DDR4 and DDR5 for the 251TE, DDR5 only for the Ultra 9. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for the 251TE and 102.4 GB/s for the Ultra 9. ECC memory is supported on the 251TE but not on the Ultra 9. The PCIe configuration is Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the 251TE and Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the Ultra 9. The integrated GPU is UHD Graphics 770 for the 251TE and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for the Ultra 9. The multiplier is locked on the 251TE and unlocked on the Ultra 9. The launch MSRP for the 251TE is $384; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 9.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 47016 against 16974, a 63.9 percent advantage. This is followed closely by PassMark find prime numbers, with the Ultra 9 at 448 versus 140, a 68.7 percent lead. These two results show the Ultra 9's strength in instruction-heavy and integer-search workloads.

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Ultra 9 at 5619.5 versus 2572, a 54.2 percent lead. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows 19899 versus 10717, a 46.1 percent lead. The PassMark multithread result is 55759 versus 30022, a 46.2 percent lead. The PassMark random string sorting test shows 74320 versus 39643, a 46.7 percent lead. The PassMark data encryption test shows 47112 versus 22176, a 52.9 percent lead. The PassMark floating point math test shows 191186 versus 85607, a 55.2 percent lead.

The Intel Core 7 251TE counters with two wins. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, it scores 362 versus 334, an 8.4 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, it scores 3602 versus 2204, a 63.4 percent lead. This R23 singlecore result is the largest win for the 251TE in the entire comparison, and it stands in contrast to the Cinebench R20 singlecore result, where the Ultra 9 wins with 2809 versus 1512, a 46.2 percent gap.

The PassMark single thread test shows the Ultra 9 ahead with 4713 versus 3568, a 24.3 percent lead. The PassMark integer math test shows the smallest margin of the entire set, with the Ultra 9 at 155218 versus 125739, a 19 percent lead. The PassMark physics test shows 3338 versus 1938, a 41.9 percent lead for the Ultra 9.

The overall pattern from the recorded data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX delivers substantially higher performance in the vast majority of benchmarks, with particular strength in multicore, data processing, and math-intensive workloads. The Intel Core 7 251TE holds a narrow edge in two legacy single-core Cinebench tests, but the Ultra 9's broader and deeper performance profile, combined with its higher average score of 67469 versus 41650, places it in a different performance class.