Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core i7-13850HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-13850HX and Intel Core 9 273PE are two very different Intel processors that land in the same performance percentile. Both sit at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, but their benchmark profiles are distinct. The i7-13850HX is a mobile Raptor Lake part with 20 cores, while the Core 9 273PE is a desktop Bartlett Lake chip with 12 cores. The data shows a clear split: the Core 9 wins most compute-heavy tests, while the i7 dominates in specific workloads like encryption and single-threaded PassMark tests. The average benchmark scores are close, with the i7 at 50761 and the Core 9 at 49845, a difference of roughly 1.8%. This is a matchup decided by workload, not raw average.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 9 273PE takes the lead in nearly every Cinebench test, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 scores 31288 against the i7's 30695, a 1.9% advantage. The same 1.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (13140 vs 12891) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (3153 vs 3093). Single-core results are equally tight; the Core 9 wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 1.9% (4417 vs 4333) and Cinebench R15 single-core by 2% (445 vs 436). These are not blowouts, but the Core 9 is consistently ahead in rendering and CPU-agnostic compute.

The Core 9's biggest wins come in PassMark's math and physics workloads. In PassMark floating point math, it scores 107884 versus the i7's 92369, a 14.4% lead. Integer math shows a 9% advantage (139410 vs 126852), and find prime numbers favors the Core 9 by 9.4% (203 vs 184). PassMark physics is the largest single delta in the entire comparison: the Core 9 scores 3120 against the i7's 2483, a 20.4% gap. These results suggest the Core 9 has a meaningful edge in raw arithmetic throughput and simulation-style tasks.

The i7-13850HX fights back in several specific workloads. Its most significant win is PassMark data encryption, where it scores 26062 versus 22719, a 14.7% advantage. Data compression also favors the i7 by 8.8% (441525 vs 405885), and random string sorting goes to the i7 by 9.1% (49198 vs 45098). Extended instructions are 7.9% better on the i7 (26586 vs 24630). Notably, the i7 wins PassMark single-thread by 3.3% (3769 vs 3650), even though it loses every Cinebench single-core test. The i7 also edges out the Core 9 in PassMark multithread by a hair: 36870 vs 36810, a 0.2% margin.

The overall win count is 10 for the Core 9 and 7 for the i7, but the magnitude of the wins matters more. The Core 9's victories are often double-digit percentage gaps in math and physics, while the i7's wins are concentrated in encryption, compression, and sorting. The i7's single-thread win in PassMark is curious given the Cinebench results, but the data is unambiguous. For users running encryption or compression-heavy workloads, the i7 is the better choice. For general compute, especially floating-point and integer math, the Core 9 pulls ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13850HX has an average benchmark score of 50761, while the Intel Core 9 273PE scores 49845. The i7 is ahead by roughly 1.8%, but both are at the 90th percentile of all CPUs.

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

A: The Core 9 273PE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 31288, compared to the i7-13850HX's 30695. This is a 1.9% advantage for the Core 9.

Q: Where does the i7-13850HX show its biggest strength?

A: The i7's largest win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 26062 versus the Core 9's 22719, a 14.7% difference. It also leads in data compression by 8.8% and random string sorting by 9.1%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison?

A: The biggest delta is in PassMark physics, where the Core 9 273PE scores 3120 against the i7-13850HX's 2483, a 20.4% advantage for the Core 9.

Q: Does the i7 have any single-threaded advantage?

A: Yes, the i7 wins PassMark single-thread by 3.3% (3769 vs 3650). However, it loses all four Cinebench single-core tests by about 2%, so the result depends on the benchmark.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i7-13850HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite fewer cores, the Core 9 wins most multi-core Cinebench tests.

The Verdict

The Core 9 273PE is the better choice for users who prioritize raw compute performance. It wins 10 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, and its victories in PassMark physics (20.4% ahead), floating-point math (14.4% ahead), and integer math (9% ahead) are substantial. The Cinebench suite is a clean sweep for the Core 9, with every multi-core and single-core test going its way by roughly 2%. If the workload involves rendering, simulation, or heavy arithmetic, the Core 9 is the data-backed pick.

The i7-13850HX is the pick for security and data-handling tasks. Its 14.7% lead in data encryption and 8.8% lead in data compression are significant, and it also wins random string sorting by 9.1%. The i7's PassMark single-thread win (3.3%) and its narrow multithread victory (0.2%) show it is no slouch, but its strengths are narrower. The avg benchmark score also favors the i7 (50761 vs 49845), but that average is pulled up by its encryption and compression scores.

For a general-purpose user, the Core 9's consistent lead across Cinebench and math workloads makes it the stronger option. For a user who knows their software relies on encryption or compression, the i7's specialized wins justify its selection. The Core 9 also has a higher boost clock (5.70 GHz vs 5.30 GHz) and more L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB), which likely explains its compute advantage. The i7 counters with more cores (20 vs 12) and a larger die size (257 mm² vs unspecified), but the benchmark data shows that core count does not translate into overall performance dominance here.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i7-13850HX has 20 cores and 28 threads, while the Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are close, with the Core 9 at 2.30 GHz and the i7 at 2.10 GHz, but the boost clocks differ more: the Core 9 boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the i7 reaches 5.30 GHz. The TDP also differs, with the i7 rated at 55 W and the Core 9 at 65 W.

The socket is a major differentiator. The i7 uses Intel BGA 1964, a mobile socket, while the Core 9 uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform. The i7's die size is listed at 257 mm², while the Core 9's die size is not specified. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7 has UHD Graphics 770, and the Core 9 has UHD Graphics 730. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 9 is locked. The PCIe lanes also differ: the i7 has Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), and the Core 9 has Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Memory support is identical (DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel), but the Core 9 lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure the i7 does not provide. Both support ECC memory. The release dates are far apart: the i7 was released on 2023-01-03, and the Core 9 on 2026-03-08. The launch MSRP for the i7 is $428, and the Core 9 is $549. The part numbers are SRMEA for the i7 and SA4QD for the Core 9.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is significant. The i7-13850HX is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX codename, and is part of the Core 13th Gen series. The Core 9 273PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is listed under the Core 9 generation. Both are built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, but the underlying designs are different generations.

The cache configurations show a notable difference in L3. The i7 has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 9 has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have the same L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (2 MB per core) allocations. The larger L3 on the Core 9 likely contributes to its better performance in math-heavy PassMark tests, where cache residency matters.

The market segments differ, with the i7 aimed at mobile and the Core 9 at desktop. This is reflected in the sockets (BGA 1964 vs Socket 1700) and the TDP (55 W vs 65 W). The i7's mobile orientation explains its lower TDP and the fact that it is a BGA part, while the Core 9 is a desktop chip with a traditional socket. The integrated graphics also differ by tier, with the i7's UHD 770 being a step above the Core 9's UHD 730. Both are active in production, but the Core 9 is a newer design by roughly three years. The data does not reveal core architecture details beyond the codenames, but the benchmark results suggest the Core 9's newer design, despite fewer cores, delivers better compute efficiency per thread.