Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two desktop CPUs into very different roles. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head tests, including every single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench result. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins only three tests, but those three are decisive in specific workloads. For general productivity, rendering, and everyday responsiveness, the Core Ultra 5 245 is the stronger pick. For integer-heavy math, physics simulation, and data compression, the Core 9 273PE shows clear advantages. The Core Ultra 5 245 also lands at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, matching the Core 9 273PE's percentile mark, while carrying a lower average benchmark score of 48995 versus 49845. The Core 9 273PE is the more expensive part at a $549 launch MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245 has a $270 launch MSRP. Given the Core Ultra 5 245's broader benchmark dominance, it is the better all-rounder. The Core 9 273PE is only worth choosing when its specific strengths — integer math, physics, and compression — matter more than everything else.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from different Intel design generations and foundries. The Core 9 273PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process, built by Intel itself. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 245 uses the Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm process, manufactured by TSMC. It has 14 cores and 14 threads — meaning no hyperthreading — with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 245 has a much higher base clock, while the Core 9 273PE has a higher boost clock.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Core 9 273PE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245 also carries more transistors (17,800 million versus no listed figure for the Core 9 273PE) and a die size of 243 mm², while the Core 9 273PE's die size is not listed. The Core Ultra 5 245 is built on Arrow Lake-S and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family; the Core 9 273PE has no series designation.

Memory support also diverges. The Core 9 273PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 245 supports DDR5 only. Both are dual-channel, but the Core Ultra 5 245 has higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 9 273PE. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: the Core 9 273PE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 245 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ too — the Core 9 273PE has UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 5 245 has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both are locked (multiplier not unlocked), both are currently active in production, and both target the desktop market segment. The sockets are incompatible: the Core 9 273PE uses Intel Socket 1700, the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Intel Socket 1851. Release dates also differ, with the Core Ultra 5 245 released earlier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. Across all six Cinebench tests — R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core — the Core Ultra 5 245 wins by roughly 5% every time. The largest Cinebench deltas are all in favor of the Core Ultra 5 245: R15 multi-core (3318 vs 3153, -5%), R15 single-core (468 vs 445, -4.9%), R20 multi-core (13828 vs 13140, -5%), R20 single-core (1952 vs 1855, -5%), R23 multi-core (32924 vs 31288, -5%), and R23 single-core (4648 vs 4417, -5%). The Core Ultra 5 245's higher base clock and 3 nm process appear to offset the Core 9 273PE's thread advantage in these mixed workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals where each chip excels. The Core 9 273PE wins integer math by a massive margin: 139410 vs 91187, a 52.9% lead. It also wins physics (3120 vs 2569, +21.4%) and data compression (405885 vs 400942, +1.2%). The Core Ultra 5 245 counters with wins in data encryption (30236 vs 22719, +24.9%), extended instructions (33304 vs 24630, +26%), find prime numbers (365 vs 203, +44.4%), floating point math (120548 vs 107884, +10.5%), multithread (38706 vs 36810, +4.9%), random string sorting (49140 vs 45098, +8.2%), and single-thread (4394 vs 3650, +16.9%).

The single-thread gap is particularly notable. The Core Ultra 5 245 scores 4394 in PassMark single-thread versus 3650 for the Core 9 273PE, a 16.9% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is smaller but still favors the Core Ultra 5 245 at 4648 vs 4417. The Core 9 273PE's wins are concentrated in workloads that scale with raw integer throughput and thread count, while the Core Ultra 5 245 wins everything else.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 has more cores (14 vs 12), but the Core 9 273PE has more threads (24 vs 14) because it supports simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded performance?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 wins every single-threaded test. In PassMark single-thread it scores 4394 vs 3650, a 16.9% lead, and in Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 4648 vs 4417, a 5% lead.

Q: Which CPU has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 9 273PE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 245 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Core 9 273PE and the Core Ultra 5 245 support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Core 9 273PE supports DDR4. The Core Ultra 5 245 supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Core 9 273PE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 9 273PE is the pick for integer-heavy computation. Its 52.9% lead in PassMark integer math (139410 vs 91187) is the largest single delta in the entire comparison. That strength extends to physics workloads, where it leads by 21.4% (3120 vs 2569), and data compression, where it leads by 1.2% (405885 vs 400942). If your work involves number crunching, simulation, or compression algorithms, the Core 9 273PE's 24 threads and larger 36 MB L3 cache deliver measurable advantages. Its higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz also helps burst workloads, even if the base clock is lower.

The Core Ultra 5 245 is the better all-rounder. It wins all six Cinebench tests, making it the stronger choice for rendering and video encoding workloads that rely on those benchmarks. It wins multithread (38706 vs 36810) and floating point math (120548 vs 107884), suggesting better performance in scientific and financial workloads that use FPU instructions. The data encryption win (30236 vs 22719, +24.9%) and extended instructions win (33304 vs 24630, +26%) point to advantages in security, cryptography, and SIMD-optimized code. The find prime numbers test shows a 44.4% lead (365 vs 203), which is a strong indicator for single-threaded integer-heavy loops. The 16.9% single-thread lead in PassMark makes it the snappier choice for everyday desktop responsiveness, and its 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth (vs 89.6 GB/s) helps memory-bound tasks.

For gaming, the Core Ultra 5 245's single-thread wins and higher base clock suggest it will handle lightly-threaded game logic better, though neither CPU's gaming performance can be directly inferred from these specific benchmark scores. For productivity suites that use single-threaded or lightly-threaded code, the Core Ultra 5 245's consistent single-thread advantage makes it the safer recommendation. For professional workloads that are explicitly integer-bound — certain physics engines, compression tools, or custom math libraries — the Core 9 273PE's 52.9% integer math lead is too large to ignore.

The socket difference also matters for platform planning. The Core 9 273PE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 245 uses Intel Socket 1851. These are not cross-compatible, so the choice of CPU determines your motherboard. The Core Ultra 5 245 also has better integrated graphics (Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU vs UHD Graphics 730), which matters if you plan to run without a discrete GPU. Both CPUs are locked, so overclocking is not an option on either. Both sit at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, indicating top-tier placement overall, but the Core Ultra 5 245 achieves that with a lower average benchmark score (48995 vs 49845), showing its wins are more consistent across a broader range of tests.