Intel Core 9 273PE vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a starkly divided picture. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX dominates the head-to-head record, taking 15 of 17 comparisons, while the Intel Core 9 273PE secures only two wins. The scale of the Ultra 9's victories is often substantial, but the Core 9's two wins are dramatic outliers that define its single-threaded strength.

The most striking result in the entire dataset is in Cinebench R23 single-core. Here, the Core 9 273PE scores 4417 against the Ultra 9's 2187.5, a 101.9% lead. This is more than double the performance, an enormous gap that indicates a fundamental difference in how these processors execute lightly threaded workloads. The Cinebench R15 single-core test confirms this trend, with the Core 9 winning 445 to 323.5, a 37.6% advantage.

Beyond those two tests, the Ultra 9 285HX takes control. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5656.5 versus 3153, a 44.3% lead. The Cinebench R20 multi-core result shows a 35.1% advantage (20236 vs 13140), and the R23 multi-core test shows a smaller but still decisive 14.1% lead (36429.5 vs 31288). Interestingly, the Ultra 9 also wins the Cinebench R20 single-core test, scoring 2856 against the Core 9's 1855, a 35% difference. This creates a confusing picture where the Core 9 wins some single-core tests while losing others, suggesting the two processors have very different frequency and architectural behaviors under different load types.

The PassMark suite reinforces the Ultra 9's multi-threaded superiority. Data compression shows a 35.8% lead (631885 vs 405885). Data encryption is a 53.2% blowout (48567 vs 22719). Extended instructions favor the Ultra 9 by 49.9% (49148 vs 24630). Prime number finding shows a 55.9% gap (460 vs 203). Floating point math delivers a 44.7% advantage (194998 vs 107884). Integer math is closer, with the Ultra 9 ahead by 10.1% (155076 vs 139410). The multithreaded PassMark score gives the Ultra 9 a 35.3% lead (56902 vs 36810). Physics testing shows a 10.2% edge (3476 vs 3120), and random string sorting favors the Ultra 9 by 41.6% (77196 vs 45098). The PassMark single-thread test also goes to the Ultra 9, 4618 to 3650, a 21% margin.

The overall average benchmark score cements the hierarchy: the Ultra 9 285HX sits at 76155, while the Core 9 273PE sits at 49845. That is a 52.8% difference in the composite average. The percentile rankings reflect this, with the Ultra 9 in the 95th percentile of all CPUs versus the Core 9's 90th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE is a single-thread specialist. Its two benchmark wins are both in single-core Cinebench tests, and the R23 victory is historically large. Workloads that depend on one or two heavily optimized threads, such as certain legacy applications or lightly threaded productivity tasks, would see a measurable benefit from this processor. The 5.70 GHz boost clock, the highest in this comparison, clearly drives this advantage.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins everywhere else. It is the clear choice for heavily threaded rendering, as shown by its multi-core Cinebench leads. Content creation tasks that use data compression, encryption, or extended instruction sets would favor it substantially. The 24-core configuration, double the Core 9's 12 cores, provides the raw parallel throughput that dominates these workloads. Even in integer math, where the gap narrows to 10.1%, the Ultra 9 still holds the lead. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4618 also beats the Core 9's 3650, meaning in the PassMark methodology, the Ultra 9 is faster even on single-threaded code, contradicting the Cinebench single-core results.

The data suggests the Ultra 9 is the more balanced and broadly capable processor, while the Core 9 is a niche product optimized for a specific type of single-threaded performance that Cinebench R23 detects but PassMark does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Intel Core 9 273PE is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 9 generation. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 2114, fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. It uses the Arrow Lake-HX codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, with the Arrow Lake architecture.

The core counts diverge sharply. The Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning it has twice the cores but no hyperthreading, resulting in equal thread counts. The Ultra 9 also has a larger L1 cache at 192 KB per core versus 80 KB, and a larger L2 at 3 MB per core versus 2 MB. Both share the same 36 MB of L3 cache.

The Ultra 9 uses a more advanced manufacturing process, and its transistor count is listed at 17,800 million on a 243 mm² die. The Core 9's transistor count and die size are not recorded. Clock speeds differ as well: the Core 9 has a 2.30 GHz base clock and 5.70 GHz boost, while the Ultra 9 has a higher 2.80 GHz base but a lower 5.50 GHz boost. The TDP ratings are 65 watts for the Core 9 and 55 watts for the Ultra 9.

Memory support diverges. The Core 9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 9 supports only DDR5. The Ultra 9 has higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s, though both use dual-channel buses. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: the Core 9 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes, while the Ultra 9 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 9 using UHD Graphics 730 and the Ultra 9 using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 9 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 9 does not.

The Core 9 273PE was released in March 2026 with a launch MSRP of $549. The Ultra 9 285HX was released in January 2025 and has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Both processors therefore have 24 threads, but the Ultra 9 has double the physical cores.

Q: Why does the Core 9 273PE win Cinebench R23 single-core but lose PassMark single-thread?

A: The Core 9 273PE scores 4417 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 2187.5 for the Ultra 9, a 101.9% lead. However, in the PassMark single-thread test, the Ultra 9 scores 4618 against the Core 9's 3650, a 21% advantage. The two benchmark suites measure different aspects of single-threaded performance, and the results indicate divergent strengths under different test methodologies.

Q: What is the L3 cache size on each processor?

A: Both processors have 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The L1 and L2 caches differ, with the Ultra 9 having 192 KB per core L1 and 3 MB per core L2, while the Core 9 has 80 KB per core L1 and 2 MB per core L2.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, compared to 89.6 GB/s for the Intel Core 9 273PE. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 9 supports only DDR5 while the Core 9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: How close is the Core 9 273PE to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 9 273PE has an average benchmark score of 49845. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 at 49796, a 0.1% difference. It is also close to the Intel Core i5-14600KF at 49394 (0.9% ahead) and trails the Intel Core i9-13980HX at 50398 by 1.1% and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 at 50448 by 1.2%.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear split decision. The Intel Core 9 273PE is the pick for workloads that rely on extreme single-threaded performance as measured by Cinebench R23, where it doubles the Ultra 9's score. Its higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz and desktop-oriented design make it a specialized tool for that niche.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is the broader performer. It wins 15 of 17 benchmark comparisons, including all multi-core tests, all PassMark tests, and even the Cinebench R20 single-core test. Its 24 physical cores, larger caches, higher memory bandwidth, and 95th percentile ranking make it the superior all-around processor. The 52.8% gap in average benchmark score is decisive. Users who run heavily threaded workloads, content creation pipelines, or any PassMark-based benchmark suite should choose the Ultra 9. Users whose primary application is specifically optimized for the Cinebench R23 single-core test would see a unique advantage from the Core 9 273PE.