Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE records an average benchmark score of 49845, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V records 23297. The Core 9 273PE sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Core Ultra 7 266V sits in the 76th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins only 2 tests, both of which are the PassMark single-thread measurements.

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

A: The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core 9 273PE scores 139410 against 41558 for the Core Ultra 7 266V, a delta of 235.5% in favor of the Core 9 273PE.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 7 266V win any benchmark by a significant margin?

A: Yes, in PassMark single-thread testing the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 3943 versus 3650 for the Core 9 273PE, a delta of 7.4% in its favor. This is the only category where it leads.

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

A: The Core 9 273PE scores 31288 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 16544. The delta is 89.1% in favor of the Core 9 273PE.

Q: What are the closest rival scores for each processor?

A: For the Core 9 273PE, the closest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 with an average score of 49796, a 0.1% difference. For the Core Ultra 7 266V, the closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with an average score of 23277, also a 0.1% difference.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data divides cleanly into two categories. The Intel Core 9 273PE dominates every multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads in the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests show consistent leads of roughly 89% for the Core 9 273PE. The same pattern holds across PassMark tests for data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. The Core 9 273PE also wins the PassMark prime number test, though by a narrower 6.3% margin.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins only the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 3943 against 3650. This 7.4% advantage indicates that in a specific single-threaded workload, the Lunar Lake architecture can outpace the Bartlett Lake part. However, the Cinebench single-core tests tell a different story, with the Core 9 273PE leading by about 89% in each of those. The PassMark single-thread test appears to measure a different workload profile than Cinebench single-core, and the Core Ultra 7 266V excels specifically in that PassMark scenario.

For use-case planning, the data suggests that workloads built around PassMark single-thread metrics will favor the Core Ultra 7 266V. Everything else in the recorded benchmark set favors the Core 9 273PE, often by very large margins. The Core 9 273PE shows particular strength in integer math, where its 139410 score is more than triple the Core Ultra 7 266V's 41558.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design families. The Intel Core 9 273PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm node at TSMC. These process differences align with their respective market segments: the Core 9 273PE targets desktop systems with an Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 266V is a mobile part using Intel BGA 2833.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core 9 273PE therefore supports simultaneous multithreading, and the Core Ultra 7 266V does not. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 9 273PE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3.

Memory support differs in both type and bandwidth. The Core 9 273PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 9 273PE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 266V does not. PCIe lane counts also differ: the Core 9 273PE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 266V offers Gen 5 with only 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics present another split. The Core 9 273PE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses Arc 140V. The launch dates differ as well, with the Core Ultra 7 266V released in September 2024 and the Core 9 273PE scheduled for March 2026.

Specification Differences

The Core 9 273PE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 266V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Thermal design power differs sharply: the Core 9 273PE is rated at 65 W, while the Core Ultra 7 266V is rated at 17 W.

The Core 9 273PE offers 12 cores and 24 threads, compared to 8 cores and 8 threads for the Core Ultra 7 266V. L3 cache is 36 MB shared on the Core 9 273PE versus 12 MB shared on the Core Ultra 7 266V. Memory bandwidth favors the Core Ultra 7 266V at 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC support exists only on the Core 9 273PE. PCIe lanes favor the Core 9 273PE at 16 Gen 5 lanes versus 4 Gen 5 lanes.

The Core 9 273PE lists a launch MSRP of $549. The Core Ultra 7 266V has no listed launch MSRP in the database. The Core 9 273PE uses part number SA4QD, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses SRPMMSRPMY. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 9 273PE scores 3153 against 1667, an 89.1% lead. In R15 single-core, it scores 445 against 235, an 89.4% lead. R20 multi-core shows 13140 versus 6948, an 89.1% lead, and R20 single-core shows 1855 versus 980, an 89.3% lead. R23 multi-core shows 31288 versus 16544, an 89.1% lead, and R23 single-core shows 4417 versus 2335, an 89.2% lead. The consistency of these deltas across all six Cinebench tests suggests a fundamental throughput advantage for the Core 9 273PE in render workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Core 9 273PE pulls away most dramatically. Integer math shows the largest gap: 139410 versus 41558, a 235.5% delta. Data compression shows 405885 versus 187050, a 117% delta. Random string sorting shows 45098 versus 22905, a 96.9% delta. Physics shows 3120 versus 1608, a 94% delta. Floating-point math shows 107884 versus 56923, an 89.5% delta. Multithread shows 36810 versus 19461, an 89.1% delta. Extended instructions show 24630 versus 15928, a 54.6% delta. Data encryption shows 22719 versus 13822, a 64.4% delta. Prime number search shows 203 versus 191, a 6.3% delta, the closest PassMark result.

The single exception in the entire head-to-head set is PassMark single-thread. Here the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 3943, and the Core 9 273PE scores 3650. The delta is 7.4% in favor of the Core Ultra 7 266V. This result appears twice in the database, under both "passmark_single_thread" and "passmark_singlethread", with identical values.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to two very different roles for these processors. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests and holds a 90th percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its average score of 49845 places it within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600KF. It trails the Intel Core i9-13980HX by 1.1% and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 by 1.2%. For workloads involving rendering, compression, encryption, math, physics, and multithreaded execution, the Core 9 273PE is the clear choice based on recorded measurements.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V wins the PassMark single-thread test by 7.4% and holds a 76th percentile ranking. Its average score of 23297 matches the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H within 0.1% and edges the Intel Core i9-11900F by 0.2%. It also leads the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V by 0.3% and the AMD EPYC 4124P by 0.6%. The Core Ultra 7 266V operates at 17 W TDP versus 65 W for the Core 9 273PE, and it delivers higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s. For a mobile platform with a specific single-thread PassMark workload, the Core Ultra 7 266V has a measurable advantage. For everything else in the recorded benchmark set, the Core 9 273PE delivers substantially higher scores, often by margins exceeding 89%.