Intel Core 7 253PE vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the Intel Core 9 273PE wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 7 253PE claims only 2. The margin is not narrow. In the Cinebench suite, the Core 9 273PE consistently delivers a 20.5% advantage across all six tests, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The single-core R15 result shows 445 versus 354, the multi-core R15 shows 3153 versus 2507, and the pattern holds through R23 where the Core 9 273PE scores 31288 against 24880 for the Core 7 253PE.

The PassMark suite reveals a broader spread of margins. The largest single gap appears in passmark_physics, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3120 against 1845, a 40.9% advantage. Floating point math also shows a substantial gap at 25%, with scores of 107884 and 80870 respectively. Prime number finding follows at 32% (203 versus 138), and random string sorting at 27.3% (45098 versus 32777). Data encryption shows a 19.1% gap (22719 versus 18385), integer math 18.1% (139410 versus 114158), data compression 16.4% (405885 versus 339133), and extended instructions 11.5% (24630 versus 21806). Multithread performance sits at 20.5%, matching the Cinebench multi-core margin exactly with scores of 36810 and 29271.

The one clear reversal comes in passmark_single_thread, where the Core 7 253PE records 3955 against 3650 for the Core 9 273PE, an 8.4% advantage. This result appears twice in the data, once under the test name passmark_single_thread and once as passmark_singlethread, confirming the single-threaded PassMark workload favors the lower-core-count part. The average benchmark scores reflect the overall trend: the Core 9 273PE sits at 49845 while the Core 7 253PE sits at 40557, a difference of roughly 23%.

The percentile rankings place the Core 9 273PE at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 7 253PE ranks at the 87th. The nearest rival data adds context. The Core 7 253PE sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H (40431), 0.1% above the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H (40518), and 0.2% below the Intel Xeon 6357P (40630). Its closest competitor is the Intel Core 5 223PE at 40585, a 0.1% delta. The Core 9 273PE, meanwhile, sits 0.1% above the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (49796), 0.9% above the Intel Core i5-14600KF (49394), 1.1% below the Intel Core i9-13980HX (50398), and 1.2% below the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (50448). The data suggests the Core 9 273PE holds its position against a stronger field of rivals.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is straightforward. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins every Cinebench test, every PassMark multi-threaded workload, and every PassMark math, encryption, compression, and sorting test. The extra two cores and four threads translate directly into multi-threaded throughput. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration with a 36 MB shared L3 cache handles parallel workloads with a consistent 20.5% advantage in Cinebench multi-core tests. The physics test, which often scales with core count, shows the largest gap at 40.9%, suggesting the additional cores provide outsized gains in that specific workload.

The Intel Core 7 253PE wins only the PassMark single-thread test, and it wins it by a meaningful 8.4%. This is a curious result. The Core 7 253PE has a base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz for the Core 9 273PE, and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.70 GHz. The lower boost clock on the Core 7 253PE should theoretically disadvantage it in single-threaded workloads, yet the PassMark single-thread score favors it. The 10-core, 20-thread configuration with a 33 MB shared L3 cache may benefit from different thermal or power allocation behavior under single-threaded load, though the recorded data does not specify the cause.

For general productivity and content creation, the Cinebench results indicate the Core 9 273PE delivers a uniform 20.5% uplift. For data-heavy tasks, the PassMark compression and encryption results show a 16.4% and 19.1% advantage respectively. The Core 9 273PE also leads in integer math by 18.1% and floating point math by 25%, indicating strong performance in numerically intensive applications. The single-threaded PassMark win for the Core 7 253PE is the only scenario where the lower-tier part pulls ahead, and that advantage does not extend to the Cinebench single-core tests, where the Core 9 273PE leads by the same 20.5% margin seen elsewhere.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 9 273PE is the superior processor in nearly every recorded benchmark. The 20.5% advantage in all six Cinebench tests is remarkably consistent, suggesting a fixed architectural scaling factor rather than workload-specific variation. The PassMark results confirm this pattern across a diverse set of workloads, with only the single-thread test bucking the trend. The Core 7 253PE does not win any multi-threaded workload, and its single-thread PassMark win does not offset the broader deficit.

The average benchmark scores tell the same story: 49845 for the Core 9 273PE against 40557 for the Core 7 253PE. The percentile ranking of 90 versus 87 places the Core 9 273PE in a higher performance tier overall. The nearest rival data reinforces this, as the Core 9 273PE competes against the Intel Core i9-13980HX and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370, both higher-tier parts, while the Core 7 253PE competes against the Intel Core 5 223PE and AMD Ryzen 9 7940H, which are a step down in the broader CPU landscape.

Users who prioritize single-threaded PassMark performance and prefer the lower core count would select the Core 7 253PE, but the evidence for the Core 9 273PE is overwhelming. The 12-core configuration delivers a consistent performance advantage across rendering, math, encryption, compression, and sorting workloads. The launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PE is $549, while the Core 7 253PE has a launch MSRP of $384. The performance gap of roughly 23% in average benchmark score accompanies the price difference, but the benchmark data alone justifies the higher-tier part for any multi-threaded workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE records an average benchmark score of 49845, while the Intel Core 7 253PE records 40557.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core 7 253PE outperform the Intel Core 9 273PE?

A: The Core 7 253PE wins the passmark_single_thread test with a score of 3955 against 3650, an 8.4% advantage. This result is recorded under both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread.

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

A: The passmark_physics test shows the largest gap, with the Intel Core 9 273PE scoring 3120 against 1845 for the Intel Core 7 253PE, a 40.9% difference.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 31288, while the Intel Core 7 253PE scores 24880, giving the Core 9 273PE a 20.5% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE ranks at the 90th percentile, while the Intel Core 7 253PE ranks at the 87th percentile.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Bartlett Lake codename, the same 10 nm process node, and the same Intel foundry. They both use the Intel Socket 1700 and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory and integrate UHD Graphics 730. PCIe connectivity is identical: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both have a 65 W TDP. The release date is the same for both parts.

The core and cache configurations differ. The Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core for both, and the L2 cache is 2 MB per core for both. The L3 cache differs: 33 MB shared on the Core 7 253PE versus 36 MB shared on the Core 9 273PE. The base clocks differ as well, with the Core 7 253PE at 2.50 GHz and the Core 9 273PE at 2.30 GHz. The boost clocks also differ, with the Core 7 253PE reaching 5.50 GHz and the Core 9 273PE reaching 5.70 GHz.

The generation labeling reflects the tiering: the Core 7 253PE is marked as Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) and the Core 9 273PE as Core 9 (Bartlett Lake). The part numbers differ, SA4QE for the Core 7 253PE and SA4QD for the Core 9 273PE. The launch MSRP values are $384 and $549 respectively. Both processors are active in production and target the desktop market segment.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The base clock is 2.30 GHz on the Core 9 273PE and 2.50 GHz on the Core 7 253PE, so the lower-tier part starts at a higher frequency. The boost clock reverses this, with the Core 9 273PE reaching 5.70 GHz and the Core 7 253PE reaching 5.50 GHz. The L3 cache is 36 MB on the Core 9 273PE and 33 MB on the Core 7 253PE. The launch MSRP is $549 for the Core 9 273PE and $384 for the Core 7 253PE. The part numbers are SA4QD and SA4QE respectively. All other recorded specifications, including TDP, socket, memory support, memory bandwidth, ECC support, PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, process node, and release date, are identical between the two processors.