Intel Core 9 273PQE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 9 273PQE dominates the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T across nearly every recorded benchmark, winning 16 of 17 tests. The margin is often dramatic. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PQE scores 39,190 versus 26,232 for the Core Ultra 5 235T, a 49.4% advantage. The single-core R23 result follows the same pattern: 5,532 for the Core 9 273PQE against 3,703, again a 49.4% gap. This consistent 49.4% delta repeats across Cinebench R15 multi-core (3,950 vs 2,644), R15 single-core (557 vs 373), R20 multi-core (16,459 vs 11,017), and R20 single-core (2,323 vs 1,555).

PassMark results show even larger disparities in some workloads. Data compression favors the Core 9 273PQE by 98.5% (585,752 vs 295,100). Integer math is nearly as lopsided at 95.4% (164,629 vs 84,244). Extended instructions show a 66.9% lead (38,743 vs 23,212). Random string sorting lands at 50.3% (53,167 vs 35,377). Multi-threaded performance in PassMark is 49.1% higher for the Core 9 273PQE (46,107 vs 30,918). Physics testing shows a 27.7% gap (2,754 vs 2,157), and data encryption comes in at 26.3% (29,636 vs 23,457). Floating point math is closer but still favors the Core 9 273PQE by 17.8% (125,546 vs 106,546).

The single narrow victory for the Core Ultra 5 235T comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 318 versus 198 for the Core 9 273PQE, a 37.7% improvement. PassMark single-thread results are surprisingly tight: 4,573 for the Core 9 273PQE versus 4,339 for the Core Ultra 5 235T, a modest 5.4% edge.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PQE is the clear winner for almost any compute-heavy workload. Its advantages in Cinebench tests indicate strong rendering performance, and the large multi-core deltas confirm it handles parallel tasks far better. Data compression, integer math, extended instruction sets, and random string sorting all point to productivity scenarios where the Core 9 273PQE delivers 50% to 98% more throughput than the Core Ultra 5 235T. Encryption work also favors the Core 9 273PQE substantially.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has exactly one niche win: prime number calculation. The PassMark find prime numbers score of 318 versus 198 suggests this specific algorithm runs more efficiently on the Ultra 5 235T, possibly due to differences in instruction scheduling or core design. However, this isolated result does not translate into broader superiority in any other tested category.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the gap is small. The Core 9 273PQE leads by just 5.4% in PassMark single-thread testing. This means everyday lightly threaded applications will feel similar on both processors, though the Core 9 273PQE still holds the edge. The Ultra 5 235T also demonstrates a lower power envelope with a 65 W TDP versus 125 W for the Core 9 273PQE, which matters for system cooling and noise considerations even if raw performance favors the larger chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is based on Bartlett Lake and uses a 10 nm process from Intel. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, meaning each core supports two threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses Arrow Lake architecture on TSMC's 3 nm node, with 14 cores but only 14 threads, indicating no hyper-threading on those cores.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Core 9 273PQE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 235T offers larger per-core caches: 192 KB L1 per core and 3 MB L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 235T also has a much larger physical footprint with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 9 273PQE does not have published transistor or die size figures in the database.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 9 273PQE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Core Ultra 5 235T has a higher memory bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s compared to 89.6 GB/s for the Core 9 273PQE. The Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 5 235T does not.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 9 273PQE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235T provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are different: the Core 9 273PQE uses UHD Graphics 770, and the Core Ultra 5 235T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. The Core Ultra 5 235T occupies Socket 1851, while the Core 9 273PQE uses Socket 1700. Clock speeds show the Core 9 273PQE at a 3.40 GHz base and 5.90 GHz boost, versus 2.20 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost for the Core Ultra 5 235T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores, but only 14 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PQE scores 39,190 versus 26,232 for the Core Ultra 5 235T, a 49.4% difference. PassMark multi-thread shows a 49.1% gap (46,107 vs 30,918).

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 235T win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark find prime numbers test with a score of 318 versus 198 for the Core 9 273PQE, a 37.7% advantage.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 9 273PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T has 102.4 GB/s, while the Core 9 273PQE has 89.6 GB/s.

Q: How do the TDP values compare?

A: The Core 9 273PQE has a 125 W TDP, and the Core Ultra 5 235T has a 65 W TDP.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 9 273PQE | Intel Core Ultra 5 235T |

|----------------|----------------------|--------------------------|

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Arrow Lake-S |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $589 | $247 |

The Verdict

The recorded data makes the choice clear for performance-focused builds: the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins 16 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, often by substantial margins. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39,190 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core Ultra 5 235T sits at the 86th percentile with a score of 26,232. The Core 9 273PQE's average benchmark score of 66,099 is 71.5% higher than the Core Ultra 5 235T's 38,561.

The Core 9 273PQE's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus (avg score 66,159, delta -0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (avg score 65,914, delta +0.3%), indicating it competes with top-tier parts. The Core Ultra 5 235T's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-14500 (avg score 38,531, delta +0.1%) and the Intel Xeon w3-2525 (avg score 38,392, delta +0.4%), placing it in a much lower performance tier.

The Core Ultra 5 235T offers advantages in efficiency, with a 65 W TDP compared to 125 W for the Core 9 273PQE, plus higher memory bandwidth and more PCIe lanes. But those advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The single prime number test victory and the relatively close single-thread PassMark result (5.4% gap) are the only areas where the Ultra 5 235T approaches the Core 9 273PQE. For users requiring maximum compute throughput in rendering, compression, encryption, or general multi-threaded tasks, the data unequivocally points to the Intel Core 9 273PQE.