Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225F Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F takes 4. The Core 9 273PE is the clear multi-threaded and compute-heavy champion. Its largest victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 4417 against 1893, a 133.3% advantage. That is not a small gap; it is a generational difference in raw single-thread performance. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 9 273PE scores 31288 versus 16467, a 90% lead.

The Core 9 273PE also dominates integer math. Its PassMark integer score of 139410 doubles the Ultra 5 225F's 66417, a 109.9% delta. Floating-point math follows the same direction, with the Core 9 273PE at 107884 versus 92554, a 16.6% edge. Data compression favors the Core 9 273PE by 30.6%, and random string sorting by 20.8%. The multi-thread PassMark score sits at 36810 for the Core 9 273PE against 31004, an 18.7% margin. Physics simulation also goes to the Core 9 273PE, 3120 versus 2430, a 28.4% difference.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F wins where single-threaded PassMark throughput and specialized instruction execution matter. Its PassMark single-thread score is 4397 versus 3650, a 17% lead. Extended instructions favor the Ultra 5 225F at 28027 versus 24630, a 12.1% edge. Prime number finding is another win for the Ultra 5 225F: 352 versus 203, a 42.3% margin. Data encryption is effectively a tie, with the Core 9 273PE ahead by only 0.3% (22719 versus 22648).

The pattern is consistent. The Core 9 273PE wins broad compute workloads, especially those that scale with cores and threads. The Ultra 5 225F wins narrow, latency-sensitive tests and some instruction-specific workloads. Users building for rendering, compilation, or heavy math should favor the Core 9 273PE. Those targeting certain single-threaded PassMark workloads or extended instruction sets may find the Ultra 5 225F sufficient, though its overall average score is much lower.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different foundries. The Core 9 273PE is based on Bartlett Lake, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Ultra 5 225F uses Arrow Lake-S architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm process. This process difference explains part of the efficiency and frequency behavior, though the Core 9 273PE still posts higher boost clocks.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 5 225F has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Core 9 273PE therefore supports simultaneous multithreading, while the Ultra 5 225F does not. That explains the large multi-threaded deltas in Cinebench R23 and PassMark multi-thread tests. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 9 273PE has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The Ultra 5 225F has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, but only 20 MB shared L3. The Core 9 273PE's larger L3 helps in workloads with large working sets.

Memory support separates them further. The Core 9 273PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 225F supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Ultra 5 225F has higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 9 273PE. ECC memory is supported on the Core 9 273PE but not on the Ultra 5 225F.

PCIe lanes also differ. The Core 9 273PE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5 225F provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5 225F has more expansion headroom for storage or other devices. Integrated graphics are present on the Core 9 273PE as UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 225F has no integrated graphics. The Core 9 273PE uses Socket 1700, the Ultra 5 225F uses Socket 1851. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Ultra 5 225F lists 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 9 273PE does not list transistor count or die size in the database. The Ultra 5 225F was released on 2025-01-06, while the Core 9 273PE has a release date of 2026-03-08. Both are active production parts for the desktop segment.

The Verdict

The database points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Core 9 273PE holds a 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Ultra 5 225F sits at the 85th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 9 273PE is 49845, compared to 37313 for the Ultra 5 225F. That is a 33.6% gap in overall average score.

The Core 9 273PE is the stronger processor for nearly every compute-heavy task. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 at 49796 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i5-14600KF at 49394 (0.9% behind). It also edges out the Intel Core i9-13980HX, which scores 50398, meaning the Core 9 273PE trails that part by only 1.1%. The Ultra 5 225F, by contrast, competes with the Intel Core i9-13900HK at 37425 (0.3% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H at 37161 (0.4% behind). The Ultra 5 225F's competition is a tier lower.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput, single-thread speed in Cinebench, or integer and floating-point math performance, the Core 9 273PE is the data-backed choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 31288 is nearly double the Ultra 5 225F's 16467. For users who prioritize PassMark single-thread performance or extended instruction workloads, the Ultra 5 225F delivers those specific wins, but the overall score gap is large. The Ultra 5 225F also offers more PCIe lanes and higher memory bandwidth, which may matter in system-level designs, but the Core 9 273PE wins the compute comparison decisively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 4417 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 1893 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F, a 133.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread (4397 versus 3650, a 17% lead), extended instructions (28027 versus 24630, a 12.1% edge), and find prime numbers (352 versus 203, a 42.3% margin).

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 5 225F has 10 cores and 10 threads. The Core 9 273PE supports simultaneous multithreading; the Ultra 5 225F does not.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F does not.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Core 9 273PE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Ultra 5 225F uses Intel Socket 1851.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 9 273PE has an average benchmark score of 49845, placing it in the 90th percentile. The Ultra 5 225F has an average score of 37313, placing it in the 85th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Core 9 273PE is Cinebench R23 single-core. Its score of 4417 beats the Ultra 5 225F's 1893 by 133.3%. That is the biggest delta in the entire head-to-head set. The same test in multi-core shows a 90% lead, with 31288 versus 16467. These two results alone establish the Core 9 273PE as the far faster processor for Cinebench workloads.

PassMark integer math is another dominant result. The Core 9 273PE scores 139410, more than double the Ultra 5 225F's 66417, a 109.9% gap. Floating-point math is closer, 107884 versus 92554, a 16.6% lead for the Core 9 273PE. Data compression shows a 30.6% advantage (405885 versus 310843), and random string sorting a 20.8% edge (45098 versus 37325). The multi-thread PassMark score favors the Core 9 273PE by 18.7% (36810 versus 31004). Physics simulation goes to the Core 9 273PE by 28.4% (3120 versus 2430). Cinebench R15 multi-core shows an 18.5% lead (3153 versus 2660), and Cinebench R20 multi-core an 18.8% lead (13140 versus 11059). Cinebench R20 single-core also favors the Core 9 273PE by 18.8% (1855 versus 1561). Cinebench R15 single-core goes to the Core 9 273PE by 55.1% (445 versus 287).

The Ultra 5 225F's wins are narrower in most cases. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4397 beats 3650 by 17%. Extended instructions show a 12.1% advantage (28027 versus 24630). Find prime numbers shows a 42.3% lead (352 versus 203). Data encryption is the closest result in the entire set, with the Core 9 273PE ahead by just 0.3% (22719 versus 22648). The Ultra 5 225F does not come close in any Cinebench test.

The overall win count is 13 for the Core 9 273PE and 4 for the Ultra 5 225F. The magnitude of the Core 9 273PE's wins, particularly in Cinebench R23 single-core, integer math, and multi-core rendering, far outweighs the Ultra 5 225F's narrow single-thread PassMark and extended instruction victories. The data confirms a lopsided comparison in favor of the Core 9 273PE.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 9 273PE | Intel Core Ultra 5 225F |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 24 | 10 |

| Base clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake-S |

| Generation | Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 36 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | N/A |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Release date | 2026-03-08 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $549 | $231 |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

The Core 9 273PE uses an older 10 nm Intel process but compensates with a higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. The Ultra 5 225F has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.30 GHz. The Ultra 5 225F offers more per-core L1 and L2 cache, but the Core 9 273PE has nearly double the shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 225F has higher memory bandwidth and more PCIe lanes, but lacks ECC support and integrated graphics. The Core 9 273PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 5 225F is DDR5-only. Both processors have locked multipliers and are active desktop parts. The Ultra 5 225F was released over a year earlier and carries a launch MSRP of $231, while the Core 9 273PE carries a launch MSRP of $549.