AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a 4-core, 4-thread mobile processor built on the 12 nm Picasso architecture, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE is a 12-core, 24-thread desktop part based on the 10 nm Bartlett Lake design. The database places the Ryzen 5 3501U at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 9 273PQE sits at the 93rd percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 14,320 and 66,099, respectively, which positions the Intel part roughly 4.6 times higher in overall performance. In direct comparison, the Intel processor wins all 11 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with the smallest margin in single-threaded tests and the largest margins in extended instruction workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads. This gives the Intel part a 3x core advantage and a 6x thread advantage.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz, making it substantially faster in both metrics.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE has a TDP of 125 watts. The Intel part draws over 8 times the power, reflecting its desktop-class design.

Q: Which processor supports more memory types?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory only. The Intel Core 9 273PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving it broader compatibility with newer memory standards.

Q: How does memory bandwidth differ between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part delivers roughly 2.3 times the bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both have integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses Radeon Vega 8, and the Intel Core 9 273PQE uses UHD Graphics 770. The database does not provide a direct benchmark comparison for these iGPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and market targets. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U comes from the 3000 series and uses the Picasso codename, which is built on the Zen+ microarchitecture. It is manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries and contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 9 generation. It is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, though the database does not list its transistor count or die size.

Cache organization differs sharply between the two. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 36 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the Intel processor 9 times the L3 capacity, which is significant for workloads that reuse large data sets.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 only, has a dual-channel memory bus, and does not support ECC memory. The Intel Core 9 273PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also uses a dual-channel bus, and does support ECC memory. The PCIe interface differs as well: the AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes available for CPU-connected devices.

The market segments are clearly distinct. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, designed for power-limited laptops. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is a desktop processor with a 125-watt TDP, built for high-performance systems where power draw is less constrained. The production status for both is listed as active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records 11 head-to-head benchmark results, and the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every single one. The smallest margin is in the single-threaded PassMark tests, where the Intel part scores 4,573 against the AMD's 2,136, a difference of 53.3 percent in favor of Intel. This indicates that even in lightly threaded workloads, the Intel architecture holds a strong per-core advantage.

The largest margin appears in the extended instructions test. The Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 38,743, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 3,274. This is a 91.5 percent difference, meaning the Intel part is roughly 11.8 times faster in workloads that use advanced instruction sets such as AVX or similar extensions. This is the most lopsided result in the entire comparison.

In integer math, the Intel part scores 164,629 versus 26,321, a difference of 84 percent. Floating-point math shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 125,546 against AMD's 12,707, an 89.9 percent gap. The data compression test gives Intel 585,752 and AMD 87,380, an 85.1 percent difference. Data encryption shows Intel at 29,636 and AMD at 5,580, which is an 81.2 percent gap.

The multithreaded PassMark score is a strong indicator of overall throughput. The Intel Core 9 273PQE achieves 46,107, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U manages only 7,071, a difference of 84.7 percent. The physics test follows the same trend: Intel scores 2,754, AMD scores 483, an 82.5 percent gap. Random string sorting gives Intel 53,167 and AMD 10,414, an 80.4 percent difference. Prime number finding shows Intel at 198 and AMD at 21, an 89.4 percent gap.

The average benchmark scores place this comparison in context. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average score of 14,320, which puts it near rivals such as the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 (14,336, a 0.1 percent difference) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (14,277, a 0.3 percent difference). The Intel Core 9 273PQE has an average score of 66,099, which is close to the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (66,159, a 0.1 percent difference) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (65,914, a 0.3 percent difference). This shows that the AMD part competes in a much lower performance tier than the Intel part.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core 9 273PQE is the dominant processor in this pairing. It wins all 11 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 93rd percentile ranking versus the AMD's 69th, and delivers an average benchmark score that is roughly 4.6 times higher. The Intel part also offers more than twice the memory bandwidth, 9 times the L3 cache, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is not without its place. It draws only 15 watts, which is 12 percent of the Intel part's 125-watt TDP, and it is built for mobile systems where power efficiency is critical. Its 12 nm process and 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die show a design focused on compact, low-power integration. The Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics and Socket FP5 compatibility make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE targets desktop workloads that demand high multi-threaded performance. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, 5.90 GHz boost clock, and 36 MB of L3 cache are all oriented toward sustained heavy computation. The support for ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5 further positions it for workstation-class tasks. The launch MSRP is $589, which reflects its high-end desktop positioning.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the decision hinges on the intended use case. A mobile system with strict power limits would use the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U. A desktop system that needs maximum throughput would use the Intel Core 9 273PQE. The data does not suggest any scenario where the AMD part outperforms the Intel part in raw speed.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 5.90 GHz. TDP is 15 watts versus 125 watts.

The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The codenames are Picasso and Bartlett Lake, and the generations are listed as Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) and Core 9 (Bartlett Lake). The process nodes are 12 nm (GlobalFoundries) and 10 nm (Intel). The AMD part lists 4,940 million transistors and a 210 mm² die size; the Intel part does not have these figures in the database.

Cache configurations differ: L1 is 96 KB per core for AMD and 80 KB per core for Intel. L2 is 512 KB per core for AMD and 2 MB per core for Intel. L3 is 4 MB shared for AMD and 36 MB shared for Intel. Memory support is DDR4 only for AMD and DDR4/DDR5 for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported on the AMD part but is supported on the Intel part. PCIe is Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel.

Integrated graphics differ: Radeon Vega 8 on the AMD part versus UHD Graphics 770 on the Intel part. The market segments are Mobile and Desktop, respectively. The part numbers are YM3501C4T4MFG and SA4Q9. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $589; the AMD part has no launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins in every measured benchmark category. Its largest advantages come in extended instructions (91.5 percent difference), floating-point math (89.9 percent), and prime number finding (89.4 percent). These are compute-heavy tasks that benefit from the Intel part's higher core count, larger cache, and faster clocks.

The Intel part also wins decisively in data compression (85.1 percent), data encryption (81.2 percent), and integer math (84 percent). The multithreaded score shows an 84.7 percent gap, which reflects the 6x thread advantage. The physics test shows an 82.5 percent gap, and random string sorting shows an 80.4 percent gap. Even the single-threaded tests, which should favor the AMD part given its lower power envelope, show a 53.3 percent advantage for Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has no benchmark wins in the database. Its only advantages are qualitative: lower TDP (15 watts versus 125 watts), smaller process node (12 nm versus 10 nm, though the Intel node is more advanced), and a mobile socket design. It also has a lower launch cost, but the database does not provide a launch MSRP for the AMD part, so no direct price comparison can be made.

In practical terms, the Intel part is suited for rendering, simulation, compilation, and other multi-threaded desktop workloads. The AMD part is suited for battery-powered laptops where a 15-watt TDP and integrated Vega graphics are priorities. The data shows no overlap in performance capability: the Intel Core 9 273PQE is in a different performance class entirely.