AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear hierarchy between these two processors. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins all 11 recorded head-to-head tests, with no benchmark in the database favoring the AMD Ryzen 7 170. The Intel part holds an average benchmark score of 49845 against 43689 for the AMD, a gap that places the Intel chip in the 90th percentile of all CPUs while the AMD chip sits in the 88th percentile. Buyers who need maximum throughput in every measured category should select the Intel Core 9 273PE. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 remains a functional alternative for systems where lower power draw and a smaller process node are priorities, but the data does not show any performance scenario where it takes the lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses the Zen 3+ architecture under the Rembrandt-R codename, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PE belongs to the Bartlett Lake family, uses a 10 nm process at Intel, and provides 12 cores with 24 threads. The AMD chip has a 35 TDP, while the Intel chip has a 65 TDP. This power difference is substantial: the Intel part draws nearly double the thermal budget, which aligns with its higher core and thread counts.

Cache configurations also diverge sharply. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has more than double the L3 capacity and four times the per-core L2. Memory support differs as well: the AMD chip supports DDR5 only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both run dual-channel memory, but the Intel part records a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for the AMD part. ECC memory is supported by both.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Intel Core 9 273PE uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ too: the AMD chip carries a Radeon 680M, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD processor is classified as a mobile part on AMD Socket FP7, whereas the Intel processor is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD chip launched on 2025-09-30, while the Intel chip has a release date of 2026-03-08. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $549. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-test margin appears in the prime number search workload. The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 203 against 49 for the AMD Ryzen 7 170, a delta of -75.9% from the AMD perspective. This means the AMD chip trails by roughly three-quarters in this test, an enormous gap that likely reflects the Intel part's higher core count and clock advantage. The physics test shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 3120 versus 890, a -71.5% delta. Floating point math also heavily favors Intel, with 107884 against 44979, a -58.3% delta.

Multi-threaded performance follows the same direction. The Intel chip scores 36810 in the PassMark multithread test versus 20760 for AMD, a -43.6% delta. Integer math shows Intel at 139410 against 79738, a -42.8% delta. Random string sorting gives Intel 45098 versus 27804, a -38.3% delta. Data compression, a workload that often scales with core count and cache, shows Intel at 405885 versus 265920, a -34.5% delta.

The Intel advantage narrows in some tests but never disappears. Data encryption gives Intel 22719 versus 16078, a -29.2% delta. Extended instructions show Intel at 24630 versus 18107, a -26.5% delta. The closest margin is in single-thread performance: Intel scores 3650 versus 3128, a -14.3% delta. Even in the AMD chip's relative strength, single-core throughput, the Intel part remains ahead by a meaningful margin. The recorded data shows zero benchmark wins for the AMD Ryzen 7 170 across all 11 head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ: AMD runs at 3.20 GHz, Intel at 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks flip the comparison: AMD reaches 4.75 GHz, while Intel boosts to 5.70 GHz. The Intel part has a higher peak clock by nearly a gigahertz, which helps explain its single-thread advantage despite a lower base frequency.

Process node and foundry differ completely. AMD uses a 6 nm node at TSMC, while Intel uses a 10 nm node at its own foundry. The AMD die measures 210 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded in the database. TDP differs by a factor of nearly two: 35 watts for AMD versus 65 watts for Intel. Socket compatibility is entirely different, with AMD on Socket FP7 and Intel on Socket 1700. The AMD chip has a part number of 100-000000989, while the Intel chip has a part number of SA4QD.

Memory support is a notable split. The AMD chip supports only DDR5, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. The AMD chip offers 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel chip offers 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon 680M for AMD, UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. The AMD part is listed as a mobile segment product, while the Intel part is listed as a desktop product. Release dates place the AMD chip earlier, with the Intel chip arriving in the following year.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 3650 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 scores 3128, giving Intel a 14.3% lead.

Q: Which chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 supports DDR5 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core 9 273PE has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE boosts to 5.70 GHz, compared to 4.75 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 7 170. The AMD chip has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus 2.30 GHz for Intel.

Q: Does either chip support ECC memory?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen 7 170 and the Intel Core 9 273PE support ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins in every recorded workload category. Its largest advantages appear in multi-threaded and compute-intensive tasks: prime number finding (75.9% ahead), physics simulation (71.5% ahead), and floating point math (58.3% ahead). These workloads benefit from the Intel chip's 12 cores, 24 threads, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Data compression also favors Intel strongly, with a 34.5% lead, likely reflecting both the higher core count and the larger cache pool. For users running rendering, scientific computation, or heavy data processing, the recorded data favors Intel without exception.

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 does not win any benchmark, but it retains structural advantages in the specification sheet. Its 6 nm process node is smaller than Intel's 10 nm node, and its 35 watt TDP is substantially lower than Intel's 65 watt TDP. For power-constrained mobile deployments, the AMD chip draws less thermal budget while still providing 8 cores and 16 threads. Its Radeon 680M integrated graphics may also serve different use cases than Intel's UHD Graphics 730, though the database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip. The AMD part offers 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes versus 16 Gen 5 lanes on the Intel side, which could matter for systems with many Gen 4 peripherals.

The Intel chip's single-thread lead of 14.3% means even lightly threaded applications favor Intel. Its higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz provides headroom for burst workloads. The Intel part also delivers higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s and supports DDR4 for legacy platform compatibility, which broadens its system integration options. The AMD chip counters with a higher base clock and lower power envelope, but the benchmark data does not show any performance scenario where it overtakes the Intel Core 9 273PE.