Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE reaches 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V tops out at 4.80 GHz.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core 9 273PE uses 12 cores with 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 258V has 8 cores with 8 threads.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Core 9 273PE is built on Intel's 10 nm node, while the Core Ultra 7 258V uses TSMC's 3 nm process.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Core 9 273PE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 258V has 12 MB shared.

Q: Do both support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 9 273PE supports ECC memory, but the Core Ultra 7 258V does not.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Core 9 273PE averages 49845 points, versus 20454 for the Core Ultra 7 258V. The Core 9 273PE sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 258V sits in the 74th.

Architecture Differences

The two chips represent fundamentally different Intel designs. The Core 9 273PE is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, using the Bartlett Lake codename. It is built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 7 258V belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Lunar Lake architecture, and targets mobile devices on the Intel BGA 2833 socket. Its 3 nm process comes from TSMC.

Core organization differs sharply. The Core 9 273PE has 12 physical cores and 24 threads, indicating hyper-threading support. The Core Ultra 7 258V has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyper-threading. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 9 273PE allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, plus 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 258V provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 on the Ultra 7 reflect a different cache strategy for mobile efficiency.

Memory support separates the two further. The Core 9 273PE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, running dual-channel with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 258V is limited to LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but reaches 136.5 GB/s. That higher bandwidth comes from the integrated memory design typical of Lunar Lake. The Core 9 273PE also offers ECC memory support, which the Ultra 7 lacks.

PCIe lane counts differ substantially. The Core 9 273PE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 7 258V provides Gen 5 with only 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 9 273PE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 7 258V carries Arc 140V.

Release timing and market position are distinct. The Core 9 273PE launched on 2026-03-08 with a launch MSRP of $549. The Core Ultra 7 258V launched earlier, on 2024-09-23, and has no recorded launch MSRP. Both are active production parts, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance spread. Across 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the Core 9 273PE wins 15, and the Core Ultra 7 258V wins 2. The magnitude of the Core 9 wins varies from modest to overwhelming.

Multicore workloads show the largest gaps. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core 9 273PE scores 31288 against 10301 for the Ultra 7, a 203.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 13140 versus 6739, a 95% lead. Cinebench R15 multicore gives 3153 versus 1596.5, a 97.5% gap. PassMark multithread follows the pattern: 36810 versus 18887, a 94.9% difference.

Integer math delivers the single biggest delta. The Core 9 273PE scores 139410 in PassMark integer math, against 42889 for the Ultra 7, a 225% lead. Floating point math is also one-sided: 107884 versus 57372, an 88% advantage. Data compression shows 405885 versus 176686, a 129.7% gap. Random string sorting yields 45098 versus 21580, a 109% difference.

Single-core Cinebench results also favor the Core 9, though by less. Cinebench R23 singlecore gives 4417 versus 1872, a 136% lead. Cinebench R20 singlecore gives 1855 versus 951, a 95.1% gap. Cinebench R15 singlecore gives 445 versus 285, a 56.1% difference. PassMark physics shows 3120 versus 1565, a 99.4% gap. Data encryption shows 22719 versus 13534, a 67.9% lead. Extended instructions show 24630 versus 14717, a 67.4% gap. Find prime numbers is the narrowest Core 9 win: 203 versus 185, only 9.7% ahead.

The Ultra 7 258V claims both PassMark single-thread tests. The score is 4018 versus 3650, giving the Ultra 7 a 9.2% advantage in each. That is the only category where the mobile chip leads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. Core count: 12 versus 8. Thread count: 24 versus 8. Base clock: 2.30 GHz versus 2.20 GHz. Boost clock: 5.70 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP: 65 watts versus 17 watts. Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel BGA 2833. Codename: Bartlett Lake versus Lunar Lake. Process node: 10 nm versus 3 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC.

Cache specifications differ in both size and organization. L1 per core: 80 KB versus 192 KB. L2 per core: 2 MB versus 2.5 MB. L3 shared: 36 MB versus 12 MB.

Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 versus LPDDR5X only. Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s versus 136.5 GB/s. ECC: supported versus not supported. PCIe lanes: Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 5 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc 140V. Market segment: Desktop versus Mobile. Release date: 2026-03-08 versus 2024-09-23. Launch MSRP: $549 versus none recorded. Part number: SA4QD versus SRPMNSRPMT.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 9 273PE wins in every heavily threaded workload recorded. Cinebench R23 multicore, R20 multicore, and R15 multicore all show leads between 95% and 203.7%. PassMark multithread, integer math, floating point math, and data compression all favor the Core 9 by wide margins. Physics simulation, data encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting also go to the Core 9. For desktop productivity, content creation, compilation, or any workload that scales across cores, the data clearly points to the Core 9 273PE.

The Core Ultra 7 258V wins in PassMark single-thread performance. The 4018 score beats the Core 9's 3650 by 9.2%. That advantage matters for lightly threaded tasks where per-core efficiency is the bottleneck. The Ultra 7 also offers much higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s, along with dramatically lower power consumption at 17 watts versus 65 watts. The 3 nm TSMC process and 8-core design target sustained mobile workloads where battery life and heat matter more than raw throughput.

The Ultra 7's integrated Arc 140V graphics is a different class from the UHD Graphics 730 in the Core 9, though the benchmark data does not include graphics scores. The data does show the Ultra 7's nearest rivals are desktop and server parts like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and AMD EPYC 9454P, with average scores within 0.4% of the Ultra 7. That places the mobile chip's overall performance at a mid-range desktop level, despite its efficiency focus.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the use case, and the benchmark data makes that split clear.

For desktop computing with heavy multithreaded workloads, the Core 9 273PE is the decisive pick. It leads by 203.7% in Cinebench R23 multicore, 225% in integer math, and 129.7% in data compression. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide the parallelism needed for rendering, simulation, and content creation. The 65 watt TDP is reasonable for a desktop part, and the 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes support discrete graphics and expansion. The 36 MB of L3 cache helps with large working sets. Its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and Intel Core i5-14600KF, sit within 0.9% of its average score, confirming it competes at the top of the mainstream desktop tier.

For mobile use with an emphasis on efficiency and single-thread responsiveness, the Core Ultra 7 258V makes sense. The 9.2% single-thread lead over the Core 9 273PE is modest but real. The 17 watt TDP enables thin-and-light designs that the 65 watt desktop chip cannot support. The LPDDR5X memory with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the Core 9's 89.6 GB/s, which helps integrated GPU performance. The Arc 140V graphics is substantially more capable than UHD Graphics 730, though graphics benchmarks are not included in this comparison. The 3 nm TSMC process gives it a manufacturing advantage that shows in power efficiency.

Users needing a desktop workstation CPU should choose the Core 9 273PE. Users needing a mobile processor for a laptop should choose the Core Ultra 7 258V. The data does not support any other conclusion: the Core 9 wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, and the Ultra 7 wins the two single-thread tests plus offers the efficiency and platform features needed for portable systems.