Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core i9-13980HX Comparison

The Intel Core i9-13980HX and Intel Core 9 273PE are both 90th-percentile performers, but they achieve that status through opposite strategies. The i9-13980HX wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, dominating heavily threaded workloads with its 24 cores and 32 threads. The Core 9 273PE, despite having half the cores, counters with a decisive single-core advantage, winning 5 tests including the two most dramatic deltas in the comparison. The data suggests a mobile workstation part optimized for parallel throughput versus a desktop part built for raw clock speed and per-thread response.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13980HX is the clear choice for content creation, scientific computing, and any workload that scales with core count. Its 24 cores and 32 threads deliver a 49.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 23.2% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and a 26.1% lead in PassMark multi-thread. The most extreme victories come in data compression (44.9%), random string sorting (46.6%), and data encryption (55.5%). These are tasks where the i9's massive thread pool crushes the 273PE's 12 cores and 24 threads.

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins where single-thread speed matters most. Its 5.70 GHz boost clock, versus the i9's 5.60 GHz, translates to a 52.2% win in Cinebench R23 single-core — the largest delta in the entire comparison. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 31.6%, PassMark physics by 17.5%, and PassMark find prime numbers by 5.9%. The 273PE is the better option for legacy software, lightly threaded games, and applications where per-core clock speed determines responsiveness.

The split is clean: the i9-13980HX for parallel throughput, the 273PE for single-thread latency. The 273PE's PassMark single-thread score of 3650 trails the i9's 4252 by 16.5%, so the "single-core" narrative is nuanced — the 273PE wins in some tests but loses in others. The R23 single-core result is the outlier that defines its profile.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13980HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The i9 has exactly double the cores and 33% more threads.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core 9 273PE wins by 52.2% (4417 vs 2110). The second-largest is data encryption, where the i9-13980HX wins by 55.5% (35332 vs 22719).

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-13980HX has an average benchmark score of 50398, which is 1.1% higher than the Core 9 273PE's 49845. Both sit at the 90th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-13980HX and the Intel Core 9 273PE have ECC memory support enabled.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE boosts to 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-13980HX boosts to 5.60 GHz. The 273PE is 100 MHz faster at peak.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe lane count?

A: The Intel Core i9-13980HX provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 9 273PE provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). The i9 has 25% more lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive i9-13980HX victory is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 35332 against the 273PE's 22719 — a 55.5% margin. This is a pure thread-count win, as encryption workloads parallelize almost linearly. The i9 also dominates random string sorting (66125 vs 45098, +46.6%) and data compression (588306 vs 405885, +44.9%). In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 scores 4717 versus 3153, a 49.6% lead that reflects its 24-core advantage over the 273PE's 12 cores.

The 273PE's counterattack comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it actually wins 31288 vs 30273, a 3.2% margin. This is notable because it's the only multi-threaded test the 273PE wins, and it suggests that the 273PE's higher base clock (2.30 GHz vs 2.20 GHz) and lower core count allow for sustained boost behavior that the i9 can't match under all-core loads. The 273PE also takes Cinebench R23 single-core by a massive 52.2% (4417 vs 2110), and Cinebench R15 single-core by 31.6% (445 vs 304.5).

The i9 wins PassMark single-thread by 16.5% (4252 vs 3650), which contradicts the 273PE's single-core success in Cinebench. The explanation lies in the different test methodologies — PassMark single-thread is a broader aggregate, while Cinebench R23 single-core is a shorter burst that favors the 273PE's 5.70 GHz boost. In PassMark integer math, the i9 leads 166455 vs 139410 (+19.4%), and in floating-point math it leads 118645 vs 107884 (+10%). The 273PE wins PassMark physics (3120 vs 2575, +17.5%) and find prime numbers (203 vs 191, +5.9%).

The i9's total wins: 12. The 273PE's total wins: 5. The average benchmark score confirms the i9's edge: 50398 vs 49845, a 1.1% gap that falls within the noise of the nearest rival cluster (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 at 50448, Intel Core i7-13850HX at 50761).

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ dramatically: 24 cores/32 threads for the i9-13980HX versus 12 cores/24 threads for the Core 9 273PE. The base clocks are close (2.20 GHz vs 2.30 GHz), but the boost clocks differ by 100 MHz (5.60 GHz vs 5.70 GHz). The TDP is higher on the 273PE at 65W versus 55W for the i9.

The socket is a major differentiator: the i9 uses Intel BGA 1964 (mobile), while the 273PE uses Intel Socket 1700 (desktop). The i9 is unlocked (multiplierUnlocked: true), while the 273PE is locked (multiplierUnlocked: false). The i9 has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes; the 273PE has 16. The i9's integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, while the 273PE uses UHD Graphics 730.

The i9 has a stated die size of 257 mm²; the 273PE's die size is not provided. The i9's launch MSRP is $668; the 273PE's launch MSRP is $549. The i9 was released on 2023-01-03, while the 273PE has a 2026-03-08 release date. The memory bandwidth is specified only for the 273PE at 89.6 GB/s; the i9's is not listed.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs use a 10 nm process node from Intel, but they belong to different families. The i9-13980HX is based on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-HX, part of the Core 13th Gen series. The Core 9 273PE uses Bartlett Lake architecture, codename Bartlett Lake, part of the Core 9 generation. Neither has a listed transistor count.

The cache hierarchy is identical on paper: 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. However, the core count difference means the total L2 cache is 48 MB on the i9 (24 cores × 2 MB) versus 24 MB on the 273PE (12 cores × 2 MB). The L3 is the same 36 MB on both.

The i9 is a mobile part (Intel BGA 1964), while the 273PE is a desktop part (Intel Socket 1700). The i9's integrated GPU is the UHD Graphics 770, a step above the 273PE's UHD Graphics 730. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, with ECC capability. The i9 is unlocked for overclocking; the 273PE is not.

The 273PE has a higher TDP (65W vs 55W), which likely contributes to its higher boost clock and its surprising Cinebench R23 multi-core win. The i9 compensates with more cores and a larger die (257 mm² vs unknown).

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-13980HX is the performance leader, winning 12 of 17 benchmarks and posting a higher average score (50398 vs 49845). Its 24 cores and 32 threads make it the definitive choice for parallel workloads: data encryption (+55.5%), data compression (+44.9%), random string sorting (+46.6%), and Cinebench R15 multi-core (+49.6%). It also wins PassMark multi-thread by 26.1% and PassMark single-thread by 16.5%, proving it's not just a multi-core brute — it also has faster per-thread throughput in the PassMark suite.

The Intel Core 9 273PE should be picked for single-core-sensitive tasks, specifically those that resemble Cinebench R23 single-core. Its 52.2% win there and 31.6% win in R15 single-core are staggering margins. It also wins PassMark physics (+17.5%) and find prime numbers (+5.9%). Its Cinebench R23 multi-core win (31288 vs 30273, +3.2%) is a surprise given its core deficit, but it's the only multi-threaded test it wins.

The data shows a mobile-versus-desktop split: the i9-13980HX is the mobile workstation king, with a $668 launch MSRP, unlocked multiplier, and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The 273PE is a desktop part with a $549 launch MSRP, locked multiplier, and 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. The 273PE's higher TDP (65W vs 55W) and boost clock (5.70 GHz vs 5.60 GHz) give it the single-core edge, but the i9's 24 cores overwhelm it in most workloads. For users who need maximum parallel throughput, the i9-13980HX is the answer. For users who prioritize the fastest possible single-thread response and can live with half the cores, the Core 9 273PE is the data-backed pick.