Intel Core 9 273PQE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins only 2 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus takes 15. However, the nature of those wins matters more than the raw count.

The Core 9 273PQE dominates in Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 557 against 354 for the Ultra 7 270K Plus, a 57.3% advantage. The gap widens dramatically in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Core 9 scores 5532 versus 2439, delivering a 126.8% lead. These are not marginal differences; the Core 9's single-thread performance is substantially higher in both tests.

The Ultra 7 270K Plus answers in every multicore test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 6656 against 3950, a 40.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 24461 versus 16459, a 32.7% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore narrows the gap to 44253 versus 39190, an 11.4% edge. The pattern is consistent: the Ultra 7 wins all three multicore Cinebench iterations.

PassMark results reinforce the Ultra 7's dominance in throughput-oriented workloads. Data compression shows 804322 against 585752, a 27.2% lead. Data encryption nearly doubles the Core 9's result, 59097 versus 29636, a 49.9% margin. Extended instructions score 63506 versus 38743, a 39% lead. Prime number finding shows 615 versus 198, a 67.8% advantage, the largest PassMark delta in the suite. Floating point math delivers 229491 versus 125546, a 45.3% gap. Random string sorting scores 96945 versus 53167, a 45.2% lead. Multithread performance lands at 68574 versus 46107, a 32.8% margin. Physics tests show 4064 versus 2754, a 32.2% difference.

Two areas are closer. Integer math shows only a 6.5% lead for the Ultra 7, 175986 versus 164629. Single-thread PassMark also favors the Ultra 7, 5068 versus 4573, a 9.8% margin. These results contradict the Cinebench single-core picture, where the Core 9 held large leads. The database therefore indicates workload-specific behavior: the Core 9 excels in certain lightly threaded Cinebench scenarios, while the Ultra 7 is faster in PassMark's single-thread metric.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall hierarchy. The Ultra 7 270K Plus averages 93785, while the Core 9 273PQE averages 66099. The Ultra 7 sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, the Core 9 in the 93rd. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 7 include the Intel Xeon 6520P at a 0% delta and AMD EPYC 4564P at 1.5% behind. The Core 9's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 0.1% behind and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D at 0.3% ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins the remaining 2, both in Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench?

A: The Core 9 273PQE leads by 57.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 126.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ultra 7 270K Plus does not win either test.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Ultra 7 270K Plus averages 93785, which is 27686 points higher than the Core 9 273PQE's 66099 average. The Ultra 7 also ranks in the 96th percentile of all CPUs versus the 93rd percentile for the Core 9.

Q: Does the Core 9 273PQE win any PassMark tests?

A: No. The Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every PassMark comparison, including integer math where the margin is only 6.5%, and single-thread where the margin is 9.8%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Ultra 7 270K Plus has a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the Core 9 273PQE has 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but the Core 9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which processor has higher boost and base clocks?

A: The Core 9 273PQE has a boost clock of 5.90 GHz, higher than the Ultra 7's 5.50 GHz. The Ultra 7 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, higher than the Core 9's 3.40 GHz.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to different use cases for each processor. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is the choice for workloads that depend heavily on single-thread Cinebench performance. Its 126.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 57.3% lead in R15 single-core are the largest margins recorded in this comparison. Anyone running applications that mirror those test conditions would see a substantial advantage.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the stronger processor overall. It wins every PassMark test, all three Cinebench multicore tests, and holds a 42% higher average benchmark score. Its 96th percentile ranking versus the Core 9's 93rd percentile reflects this broader strength. The Ultra 7 also delivers 24 cores and 24 threads against the Core 9's 12 cores and 24 threads, which aligns with its multicore dominance.

The data does not support a single universal winner. The Core 9 273PQE is narrowly superior in specific single-thread scenarios. The Ultra 7 270K Plus is superior in almost everything else, with particularly large leads in data encryption, prime number finding, floating point math, and random string sorting. Users whose workloads resemble Cinebench single-core tests may prefer the Core 9. Users with mixed or heavily threaded workloads should favor the Ultra 7 based on the recorded results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core and thread counts. The Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, meaning it has no hyperthreading-style thread doubling.

Clock speeds differ in both directions. The Core 9 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz. The Ultra 7 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Core 9 boosts higher, the Ultra 7 idles higher at base.

Sockets are incompatible. The Core 9 uses Intel Socket 1700, the Ultra 7 uses Intel Socket 1851. Process nodes also differ: the Core 9 uses Intel's 10 nm process, the Ultra 7 uses TSMC's 3 nm process built around 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Cache configurations diverge. The Core 9 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. The Ultra 7 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core. Both share 36 MB of L3.

Memory support differs. The Core 9 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 7 supports DDR5 only with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory and dual-channel operation.

PCIe lane counts differ. The Core 9 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 9 uses UHD Graphics 770. The Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 7 has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 9 does not.

The launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PQE is $589. The launch MSRP for the Ultra 7 270K Plus is $299. The release dates are close, the Core 9 on 2026-03-08 and the Ultra 7 on 2026-03-10.

Architecture Differences

The Core 9 273PQE is built on Bartlett Lake, a 10 nm Intel design. The Ultra 7 270K Plus is built on Arrow Lake Refresh, a 3 nm TSMC design. The process node difference is significant: the Ultra 7 uses a newer, smaller node from a different foundry, while the Core 9 stays on Intel's older 10 nm process.

Core organization differs beyond the raw counts. The Core 9 pairs 12 cores with 24 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading. The Ultra 7 pairs 24 cores with 24 threads, meaning each core is single-threaded. This architectural choice explains why the Ultra 7's multicore results are so much higher despite the same thread count as the Core 9: it has twice as many physical cores.

Cache architecture follows the core counts. The Ultra 7's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, 192 KB and 3 MB respectively, reflect its newer design. The Core 9's per-core caches are smaller at 80 KB and 2 MB. Both share 36 MB of L3, so the total last-level cache is identical, but the distribution of lower-level cache favors the Ultra 7.

Memory architecture favors the Ultra 7. Its 115.2 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the Core 9's 89.6 GB/s by 28.6%. The Ultra 7's DDR5-only support likely contributes to this higher ceiling, while the Core 9's DDR4 and DDR5 support offers flexibility at the cost of peak bandwidth.

PCIe connectivity favors the Ultra 7 with 20 CPU lanes against 16, both Gen 5. The integrated graphics solution differs as well: the Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, a more modern GPU architecture, while the Core 9 uses UHD Graphics 770.

The production status for both is Active. The Ultra 7 is part of the Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 9 has no series designation in the database. The multiplier unlock on the Ultra 7 provides overclocking headroom that the locked Core 9 does not offer. The recorded data shows these architectural differences align with the benchmark results: the Ultra 7's newer node, larger core count, and higher memory bandwidth support its multicore and throughput advantages, while the Core 9's higher boost clock supports its single-core Cinebench wins.