AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Intel Core 9 273PQE are two desktop processors aimed at different performance profiles. The recorded data shows the Intel part holds a higher average benchmark score of 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip scores 58386 on average, which places it in the 92nd percentile. These percentile positions indicate both are high-end parts, but their benchmark results diverge sharply depending on the workload. The Intel processor wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD processor wins 5. This analysis walks through those results, the specification gaps, and the architecture choices that separate them.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has an average benchmark score of 66099, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s average of 58386. The Intel part also sits in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 92nd percentile.

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

A: The largest margin appears in the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 5532, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 2228, a difference of 59.7 percent in Intel’s favor.

Q: In which test does the AMD processor show its biggest win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins the PassMark find prime numbers test by a wide margin. It scores 435, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 198, giving AMD a 119.7 percent advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Intel Core 9 273PQE list ECC memory support as true in the recorded data.

Q: What is the difference in thread count?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads. That gives the Intel processor 50 percent more cores and 50 percent more threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has a boost clock of 5.90 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D’s boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Conversely, the AMD part has a higher base clock at 4.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz for Intel.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core 9 273PQE as the stronger overall performer for most compute-heavy tasks. Its average benchmark score of 66099 is 13.2 percent above the AMD part’s 58386, and it wins 10 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel processor dominates in multi-core rendering, floating-point math, integer math, data compression, and data encryption. For users running Cinebench R23 multi-core workloads, the Intel chip scores 39190 versus 22807 for AMD, a 41.8 percent lead. That gap is substantial enough to matter for sustained rendering or compilation workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the clear choice for specific workloads where its architecture excels. It wins the PassMark physics test by 51.5 percent, scoring 4171 against Intel’s 2754. It also wins the find prime numbers test by 119.7 percent and the extended instructions test by 1.4 percent. In single-thread PassMark tests, the AMD part scores 4704 versus 4573 for Intel, a 2.9 percent edge. However, these wins are narrower or confined to niche workloads, so the AMD processor is not the general-purpose leader in this comparison.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE also carries a higher launch MSRP of $589. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a launch MSRP of $499. These prices are recorded facts, but the benchmark data shows the Intel part’s higher average score aligns with its higher launch price. The AMD part’s lower launch price does not compensate for its substantial deficits in most multi-core tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a clear split. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 3950 against 3551 for AMD, a 10.1 percent win. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel jumps ahead with 557 versus 343, a 38.4 percent margin. The R23 results are even more lopsided. Intel scores 39190 in multi-core, AMD scores 22807, giving Intel a 41.8 percent lead. In R23 single-core, Intel scores 5532, AMD scores 2228, and Intel wins by 59.7 percent. These single-core results are particularly important because they show the Intel part’s boost clock of 5.90 GHz translates into a massive advantage in lightly threaded rendering tasks.

PassMark results tell a more mixed story. In data compression, Intel scores 585752 against 474501 for AMD, a 19 percent win. In data encryption, Intel scores 29636 against 22856, a 22.9 percent win. Floating-point math goes to Intel with 125546 versus 81998, a 34.7 percent margin. Integer math also favors Intel, with 164629 versus 123140, a 25.2 percent win. The PassMark multithread test gives Intel a 10.4 percent win, with 46107 against 41318. Random string sorting goes to Intel by 6.4 percent, with 53167 versus 49764.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins the remaining tests. The extended instructions test is close, with AMD scoring 39272 and Intel scoring 38743, a 1.4 percent margin. The find prime numbers test is not close: AMD scores 435, Intel scores 198, and AMD wins by 119.7 percent. The physics test goes to AMD with 4171 against 2754, a 51.5 percent win. In single-thread PassMark, AMD scores 4704 against 4573, a 2.9 percent win. The same result appears for the duplicate singlethread test, also 4704 versus 4573.

The overall win count is 10 for Intel and 5 for AMD. The Intel wins are larger in absolute percentage terms, especially in single-core rendering and floating-point math. The AMD wins are concentrated in physics, prime number finding, and extended instructions.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The base clocks also differ: AMD runs at 4.70 GHz, Intel at 3.40 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 5.90 GHz and AMD at 5.60 GHz. The TDP is 120 watts for AMD and 125 watts for Intel.

The sockets are incompatible. AMD uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 1700. Memory support differs as well. AMD supports DDR5 only, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both have dual-channel memory buses and the same memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe lanes differ. The AMD part offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon Graphics, Intel uses UHD Graphics 770.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor does not. The release dates are also different: AMD launched on 2026-01-28, Intel on 2026-03-08. The part numbers are 100-000001973 for AMD and SA4Q9 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and a 10 nm process node from Intel. The Intel part does not list transistor count or die size in the recorded data.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD and 2 MB per core for Intel. The L3 cache is the major difference: AMD has 96 MB shared L3 cache, while Intel has 36 MB shared L3 cache. That gives AMD 60 MB more L3 cache, which likely contributes to its wins in physics and prime number tests.

The AMD part is listed as part of the 9000 series and the Ryzen 7 generation, specifically Zen 5 (Granite Ridge). The Intel part is listed as Core 9 (Bartlett Lake). Both are desktop market segments and active production status. The AMD part is manufactured by TSMC, the Intel part by Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins in workloads that benefit from its larger L3 cache and lower-latency access patterns. The PassMark physics test, which often relies on cache-friendly data structures, shows a 51.5 percent win for AMD. The find prime numbers test, which is compute-bound but also heavily dependent on memory access patterns, gives AMD a 119.7 percent win. The extended instructions test is a narrow 1.4 percent win for AMD. Single-thread PassMark also favors AMD by 2.9 percent, suggesting its higher base clock of 4.70 GHz helps in certain lightly threaded integer workloads.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins in most throughput-oriented tasks. Its 12 cores and 24 threads give it a clear advantage in multi-threaded rendering, as shown by the 41.8 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Floating-point math goes to Intel by 34.7 percent, integer math by 25.2 percent, data compression by 19 percent, and data encryption by 22.9 percent. The PassMark multithread test gives Intel a 10.4 percent win. Its higher boost clock of 5.90 GHz also drives massive single-core wins in Cinebench R15 and R23, where Intel leads by 38.4 percent and 59.7 percent respectively.

The pattern is clear. The AMD part is specialized, winning in physics simulation, prime number calculations, and a couple of single-thread scenarios. The Intel part is the general-purpose workhorse, winning across most rendering, math, compression, and encryption benchmarks. Users running cache-sensitive physics or number-theory workloads should look at the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D. Users targeting broad multi-core performance, especially in rendering or data processing, will find the Intel Core 9 273PQE consistently faster in the recorded data.