Intel Core 9 273PQE vs Intel Core Ultra X7 368H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance profile for the Intel Core 9 273PQE, winning 15 of the 17 benchmark comparisons. The most striking pattern emerges in the Cinebench suite, where the desktop chip delivers a consistent 38.9% advantage across all six tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core 9 273PQE scores 39,190 points against 28,221 for the Core Ultra X7 368H, while the single-core result of 5,532 versus 3,984 reinforces the same margin.

The PassMark integer math workload reveals the largest gap between the two processors. The Core 9 273PQE posts 164,629 points, which is 86.9% ahead of the Ultra X7's 88,083. Data compression follows a similar trajectory, with the desktop part scoring 585,752 versus 312,927, a 87.2% delta. Extended instruction throughput also favors the Core 9 273PQE by 50.9%, with scores of 38,743 and 25,669 respectively.

The Core Ultra X7 368H does claim two wins, and they are worth examining closely. In the PassMark find prime numbers test, the mobile chip scores 321 against 198, a 38.3% advantage. This is a notable inversion of the overall trend, suggesting a workload-specific strength in the Panther Lake architecture. The physics test also goes to the Ultra X7, albeit by a narrow 3.6% margin, with scores of 2,857 and 2,754.

Other multi-threaded workloads show the Core 9 273PQE maintaining substantial leads. PassMark multithread scores 46,107 versus 32,956, a 39.9% gap, while random string sorting shows a 39.6% delta at 53,167 versus 38,093. Floating point math favors the desktop chip by 18.8% (125,546 versus 105,681), and data encryption shows a 17.5% edge (29,636 versus 25,228). Single-thread PassMark results show a 14.2% advantage for the Core 9 273PQE at 4,573 versus 4,005.

The overall average benchmark scores place the Core 9 273PQE at 66,099, compared to 40,518 for the Ultra X7. The desktop processor sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs, while the mobile part ranks at the 87th. The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PQE include the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus at 66,159 (0.1% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D at 65,914 (0.3% lower), indicating the desktop chip sits within a tight competitive cluster. The Ultra X7's closest competitors include the Intel Core 7 253PE at 40,557 (0.1% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940H at 40,431 (0.2% lower).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design points. The Intel Core 9 273PQE is a desktop part built on Intel's Bartlett Lake architecture using a 10 nm process node. It houses 12 cores with 24 threads, arranged with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip runs on the Intel Socket 1700 platform and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel interface, delivering 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It also includes ECC memory support and exposes Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3 family and uses the Panther Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm node. It packs 16 cores but only 16 threads, indicating a different threading model. Its cache hierarchy is configured with 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The mobile chip uses an Intel BGA 2540 socket and supports LPDDR5X memory over a dual-channel bus, with 153.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe implementation provides only 4 Gen 5 lanes from the CPU.

The process node difference is substantial: 10 nm versus 3 nm. The newer manufacturing process for the Ultra X7 allows for a higher core count within a 25 W TDP, while the Core 9 273PQE carries a 125 W TDP. Clock speeds also reflect the desktop versus mobile split. The Core 9 273PQE has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz, while the Ultra X7 runs at 2.00 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The desktop chip includes UHD Graphics 770, while the mobile part features an Arc B390 GPU. The Ultra X7 was released earlier, with a launch date in early January 2026, while the Core 9 273PQE followed in March 2026. The production status for both is listed as active.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PQE is the clear choice for compute-heavy desktop workloads. Its consistent 38.9% lead across all Cinebench versions and its 86.9% advantage in integer math point to strong sustained multicore performance. The PassMark multithread result, with a 39.9% margin, reinforces its capability for parallel processing. Data compression and random string sorting, both showing roughly 40% deltas, suggest the desktop chip handles data-intensive tasks with greater efficiency. Extended instruction workloads, where the gap reaches 50.9%, further support its suitability for cryptographic and SIMD-heavy applications.

The Core Ultra X7 368H demonstrates a specific strength in prime number calculation, where it outperforms the desktop chip by 38.3%. This is a distinctive result, as it is the only workload where the mobile part achieves a large margin. The physics test also goes to the Ultra X7, though the 3.6% difference is small enough to be within typical run-to-run variation. The mobile processor's 16-core configuration, even without hyper-threading, appears to give it an edge in workloads that scale with physical core count rather than thread count.

For floating point operations, the Core 9 273PQE leads by 18.8%, a smaller margin than the integer and compression tests. Data encryption shows a 17.5% gap, which is moderate compared to the larger deltas elsewhere. Single-thread performance favors the desktop chip by 14.2%, a meaningful but not overwhelming advantage.

The TDP difference, 125 W versus 25 W, places these chips in different power categories. The desktop part can draw significantly more power to sustain high clock speeds, while the mobile chip operates within a much tighter thermal envelope. This is reflected in the benchmark results, where the Core 9 273PQE generally dominates but the Ultra X7 still manages to win in prime number calculation despite its power limits.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear split by market segment. The Intel Core 9 273PQE, with its 93rd percentile ranking and average score of 66,099, delivers desktop-class performance that outpaces the Ultra X7 in nearly every measured workload. Its 38.9% lead in Cinebench tests and 86.9% advantage in integer math make it the stronger choice for rendering, compilation, and general productivity tasks where multicore throughput matters.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 368H, ranked at the 87th percentile with an average score of 40,518, is positioned for mobile use. Its 3 nm process and 25 W TDP allow for a higher core count in a laptop form factor. The prime number test win, where it beats the desktop chip by 38.3%, shows that the Panther Lake architecture has specific strengths that could benefit certain scientific or mathematical workloads.

Users requiring maximum performance in a desktop socket should select the Core 9 273PQE. Users operating within mobile power constraints should select the Ultra X7, accepting lower multicore throughput in exchange for the portability and efficiency that the data reflects.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE leads in all Cinebench multicore tests by 38.9%, including a 39,190 versus 28,221 result in Cinebench R23. PassMark multithread shows a 39.9% advantage at 46,107 versus 32,956.

Q: Does the Core Ultra X7 368H win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark find prime numbers test with 321 points against 198, a 38.3% margin, and the physics test with 2,857 versus 2,754, a 3.6% margin.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations?

A: The Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core Ultra X7 368H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Core 9 273PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra X7 supports LPDDR5X with 153.6 GB/s.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Core 9 273PQE uses a 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra X7 uses a 3 nm process.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Core 9 273PQE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra X7 does not.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 9 273PQE | Intel Core Ultra X7 368H |

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

| Cores | 12 | 16 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Bartlett Lake | Panther Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| 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) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Supported | Not supported |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc B390 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2026-03-08 | 2026-01-04 |

| Part Number | SA4Q9 | SA4R7Q9EJ |