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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core 9 273PQE, winning all 17 recorded comparisons. The most decisive margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core 9 273PQE scores 164629 versus 41558 for the Core Ultra 7 266V, a 296.1% advantage. This indicates a massive difference in raw arithmetic throughput, which typically translates to heavy computational workloads.

Cinebench results consistently show the Core 9 273PQE ahead by roughly 137% across both single-core and multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 9 273PQE records 39190 against 16544, a 136.9% lead. Single-core R23 shows 5532 versus 2335, also a 136.9% gap. The single-core advantage is notable because it suggests the Core 9 273PQE's higher boost clock, 5.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, delivers tangible benefits even in lightly threaded tasks.

PassMark data compression shows the Core 9 273PQE at 585752 compared to 187050, a 213.2% lead. Data encryption follows with 29636 versus 13822, a 114.4% margin. Extended instructions score 38743 against 15928, a 143.2% difference. Floating point math shows 125546 versus 56923, a 120.6% gap. Random string sorting records 53167 versus 22905, a 132.1% advantage.

The closest contest appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core 9 273PQE scores 198 against 191, a mere 3.7% lead. This near tie suggests that this particular workload does not scale as strongly with the Core 9 273PQE's architectural advantages. PassMark physics shows 2754 versus 1608, a 71.3% margin. PassMark multithread records 46107 versus 19461, a 136.9% difference.

PassMark single thread shows 4573 versus 3943, a 16% lead. This is the smallest relative advantage outside of prime numbers, indicating that the Core 9 273PQE's single-thread performance, while clearly superior, does not match the scale of its multi-thread dominance. The average benchmark score for the Core 9 273PQE is 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 7 266V averages 23297, sitting in the 76th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design approaches. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It is a desktop part with 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core Ultra 7 266V belongs to the Lunar Lake architecture, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm node by TSMC. It targets mobile systems with 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyperthreading.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The Core 9 273PQE carries 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 36 MB L3 cache. 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. The total cache hierarchy favors the Core 9 273PQE by a wide margin, though the per-core L2 is slightly larger on the Lunar Lake part.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 9 273PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses LPDDR5X, with capacity depending on the motherboard. Both are dual-channel, but the Core Ultra 7 266V records a higher memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 9 273PQE. The Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory; the Core Ultra 7 266V does not.

PCIe lane counts show another clear split. The Core 9 273PQE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 7 266V offers Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. This reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 9 273PQE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 7 266V carries Arc 140V.

The Core 9 273PQE has a 125 W TDP, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 266V is rated at 17 W TDP, with a 2.20 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The power envelope difference is substantial, which explains the performance gap in sustained workloads. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every single benchmark category. There are no workloads in the database where the Core Ultra 7 266V comes out ahead. The Core 9 273PQE demonstrates its largest margins in integer math, data compression, and extended instructions, all areas that benefit from high core counts and thread counts.

The Core Ultra 7 266V's closest performance appears in find prime numbers, where it trails by only 3.7%. This suggests that the workload is not heavily dependent on the Core 9 273PQE's additional cores or higher clock speed. The single-thread PassMark test also shows a relatively modest 16% gap, indicating that the Core Ultra 7 266V's Lunar Lake architecture does provide competitive single-thread capabilities when power is not a constraint.

For single-core Cinebench tests, the Core 9 273PQE leads by roughly 137%, which is a much larger margin than the 16% PassMark single-thread gap. This inconsistency between benchmark suites suggests that Cinebench places more weight on the higher boost clock and possibly IPC differences, while PassMark single-thread may be less sensitive to those factors.

The Core Ultra 7 266V's 17 W TDP positions it for efficiency-focused mobile designs. The Core 9 273PQE's 125 W TDP is clearly aimed at performance desktops. The data shows that the Core Ultra 7 266V trades a significant amount of raw performance for a much lower power envelope, but in every measured test, the Core 9 273PQE delivers more.

The Core 9 273PQE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which it edges by 0.3%, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus, which is 0.1% ahead. The Core Ultra 7 266V sits near the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, with a 0.1% lead, and the Intel Core i9-11900F, which is 0.2% behind. These rival positions place the two processors in entirely different performance tiers.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core 9 273PQE is the stronger processor in every measured category. Anyone choosing between these two for raw compute performance should select the Core 9 273PQE without hesitation. The 17-0 win record in the head-to-head benchmarks makes this a straightforward decision from a performance standpoint.

The Core Ultra 7 266V appeals to a different use case entirely. Its 17 W TDP and mobile socket, Intel BGA 2833, make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal limits take priority over maximum performance. The Core 9 273PQE, with its Intel Socket 1700 and 125 W TDP, is built for desktop systems with adequate cooling and power delivery.

The performance gap varies by workload. In integer math, the Core 9 273PQE is nearly three times faster. In prime number finding, it is only marginally ahead. For users whose workloads resemble PassMark integer math or data compression, the Core 9 273PQE delivers outsized benefits. For tasks that resemble prime number calculations, the difference would be barely perceptible.

The Core 9 273PQE's 93rd percentile ranking versus the Core Ultra 7 266V's 76th percentile confirms the overall positioning. The launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PQE is $589. The Core Ultra 7 266V has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are Active in production status, with the Core 9 273PQE released in March 2026 and the Core Ultra 7 266V released in September 2024.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two?

A: PassMark integer math shows the Core 9 273PQE at 164629 versus 41558, a 296.1% advantage.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V does not.

Q: What are the power ratings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE has a 125 W TDP. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has a 17 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V records 136.5 GB/s, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE records 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core 9 273PQE nor the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 9 273PQE | Intel Core Ultra 7 266V |

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

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Lunar Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 36 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc 140V |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $589 | None recorded |

| Part Number | SA4Q9 | SRPMMSRPMY |