Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

The Intel Core 9 273PE and Intel Core 9 273PTE share the same core architecture, cache layout, and platform features, but the recorded benchmark data shows a decisive performance split driven by clock speed and power envelope. The 273PE, with a higher base clock of 2.30 GHz and boost clock of 5.70 GHz, wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the 273PTE, which operates at a 1.40 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost. The average benchmark score for the 273PE is 49845, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the 273PTE averages 31143, landing in the 82nd percentile. These figures position the two processors at different performance tiers despite their identical core counts and memory support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins every recorded workload category, but the margin varies significantly by task type. The largest advantage appears in floating-point math, where the 273PE scores 107884 against 60673 for the 273PTE, a delta of 77.8%. Integer math shows a similar pattern with the 273PE at 139410 versus 82411, a 69.2% advantage. These results indicate that compute-heavy scientific and engineering workloads favor the 273PE by a substantial margin.

Data encryption is another strong area for the 273PE, delivering a score of 22719 compared to 14253 for the 273PTE, a 59.4% difference. Physics simulations also lean heavily toward the 273PE, with a score of 3120 versus 1917, a 62.8% gap. Multi-threaded performance follows the same trend: the 273PE reaches 36810 in the PassMark multithread test, while the 273PTE manages 24054, a 53% difference.

The narrowest win for the 273PE comes in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 3650 against 3433 for the 273PTE, a 6.3% delta. This smaller gap suggests that lightly threaded applications, such as basic desktop responsiveness or legacy software, see a more modest benefit from the 273PE. The Cinebench single-core tests show a larger spread, however, with the 273PE leading by 53.4% in R15 single-core (445 versus 290) and 53% in R23 single-core (4417 versus 2886). The divergence between PassMark single-thread and Cinebench single-core scores highlights that benchmark methodology matters when assessing single-threaded capability.

In data compression, the 273PE scores 405885 versus 258704 for the 273PTE, a 56.9% lead. Random string sorting shows a 55.7% advantage (45098 versus 28973), and extended instruction workloads favor the 273PE by 54.4% (24630 versus 15952). Find prime numbers, a workload sensitive to integer throughput, shows a 43% gap (203 versus 142), the smallest margin outside the single-thread tests.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear differentiation: the Intel Core 9 273PE is the higher-performance part across every benchmark in the database, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE trades performance for a lower thermal design power of 45 watts against 65 watts for the 273PE. The 273PE delivers an average benchmark score of 49845, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals including the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 at 49796 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-13980HX at 50398 (-1.1% delta). The 273PTE, by contrast, sits in the 82nd percentile with an average score of 31143, closely matched by the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31081 (0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS at 31074 (0.2% delta).

For workloads that emphasize multi-threaded throughput, rendering, or numerical computation, the 273PE is the only choice between the two based on the recorded scores. The 273PTE offers the same core count and cache, but its lower clock speeds reduce its output in every tested scenario. The 273PTE may fit systems where the 45-watt envelope is a requirement, but the benchmark data shows no workload where it outperforms the 273PE. The 273PE also leads in memory bandwidth, though both parts share the same dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s peak bandwidth, so this is not a differentiating factor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single delta in the head-to-head results is the PassMark floating-point math test, where the 273PE leads by 77.8%. This result indicates a strong advantage in vectorized and floating-point arithmetic, which matters for simulation and modeling software. The integer math test follows with a 69.2% lead, reinforcing the 273PE's dominance in general-purpose compute tasks.

Cinebench results are consistent across all versions tested. In R15, the 273PE scores 3153 multi-core versus 2060 for the 273PTE, a 53.1% lead. Single-core R15 shows 445 versus 290, a 53.4% lead. R20 multi-core shows 13140 versus 8586, a 53% lead, and single-core shows 1855 versus 1212, a 53.1% lead. R23 multi-core shows 31288 versus 20445, a 53% lead, and single-core shows 4417 versus 2886, also 53%. The consistency of the 53% delta across Cinebench versions suggests that the performance gap scales uniformly with the clock difference rather than varying by workload intensity.

Data encryption shows a 59.4% lead for the 273PE, a larger margin than the Cinebench averages. This suggests that encryption workloads benefit disproportionately from the higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz. Physics simulation shows a 62.8% lead, and data compression shows a 56.9% lead. Random string sorting shows a 55.7% lead. Extended instructions show a 54.4% lead. Find prime numbers shows the smallest multi-threaded delta at 43%.

The PassMark single-thread test is the outlier, with only a 6.3% delta (3650 versus 3433). This result contradicts the larger single-core deltas seen in Cinebench, indicating that the PassMark single-thread workload may not scale as strongly with clock speed or may be limited by other factors. The 273PTE's single-thread score of 3433 is relatively close to the 273PE's 3650, suggesting that for certain single-threaded operations, the lower-power part remains competitive.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has an average benchmark score of 49845, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE averages 31143.

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

A: The largest delta is in PassMark floating-point math, where the 273PE leads by 77.8% with a score of 107884 versus 60673.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The 273PE leads in PassMark single-thread by 6.3% (3650 versus 3433), but in Cinebench R23 single-core the lead is 53% (4417 versus 2886).

Q: Do both processors share the same cache configuration?

A: Yes, both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The 273PE has a TDP of 65 watts, while the 273PTE has a TDP of 45 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The 273PE boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the 273PTE boosts to 5.50 GHz.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Intel 10 nm process and use the Bartlett Lake codename. They share the same socket, Intel Socket 1700, and the same core configuration: 12 cores and 24 threads. The cache hierarchy is identical, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is also the same, with DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility, dual-channel memory bus, and a peak bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory and include UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics. PCIe connectivity is identical as well, with Gen 5 support and 16 lanes from the CPU.

The critical differences are the clock speeds and the thermal design power. The 273PE runs at a 2.30 GHz base clock and 5.70 GHz boost clock with a 65-watt TDP. The 273PTE runs at a 1.40 GHz base clock and 5.50 GHz boost clock with a 45-watt TDP. The lower base clock of the 273PTE is especially significant for sustained workloads, as it reduces the minimum performance floor when the processor is not boosting.

Both processors carry a launch MSRP of $549, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The production status for both is listed as active, with the same release date of 2026-03-08. The part numbers differ, with the 273PE identified as SA4QD and the 273PTE as SA4QJ. The market segment for both is desktop.

The nearest rivals for the 273PE include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 at 49796 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-13980HX at 50398 (-1.1% delta), indicating that the 273PE sits in a performance class comparable to high-end mobile and desktop parts from the previous generation. The 273PTE, with an average score of 31143, aligns with mid-range desktop processors such as the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31081 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i7-12650HX at 31290 (-0.5% delta). This placement confirms that the 273PTE, despite its Core 9 branding, delivers performance in the range of lower-tier parts due to its reduced clock speeds.