Intel Core 9 273PTE vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12650HX and the Intel Core 9 273PTE are both 10 nm Intel parts, but they are separated by nearly four years of design philosophy and target completely different sockets. The data from the benchmark database shows a clear split: the Core 9 273PTE dominates in raw compute and rendering, while the older Core i7-12650HX holds its own in specific memory and single-threaded workloads. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, differing by only 0.5%, yet the distribution of wins is lopsided at 12 to 5 in favor of the Core 9 273PTE.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victories for the Intel Core 9 273PTE come in workloads that stress the processor's core architecture and cache hierarchy. In PassMark's find prime numbers test, the Core 9 273PTE scores 142 against the Core i7-12650HX's 74, a staggering 47.9% advantage. This is not a marginal lead; it suggests a fundamental difference in how the two chips handle integer-heavy iterative loops. Similarly, the physics test shows a 39.9% gap, with the Core 9 273PTE scoring 1917 versus 1152. These two tests alone indicate that the newer processor has a significantly stronger per-thread execution engine for certain types of calculations.

Across the Cinebench suite, the Core 9 273PTE is consistently ahead by a narrow but uniform margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 20445 versus 19043, a 6.9% lead. The single-core R23 test shows the same 6.9% delta, with scores of 2886 and 2688. This pattern repeats in R20 and R15, where the delta is 6.8% in both multicore and single-core tests. The consistency of this gap across all Cinebench versions is telling: it is not a workload-specific quirk but a systematic advantage in the Core 9 273PTE's core design and clock speed. The boost clock difference is notable here, with the Core 9 273PTE reaching 5.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz for the i7-12650HX.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX does not go down without a fight. Its biggest win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 15325 against 14253, a 7.5% advantage. This is followed by a 5.9% lead in both PassMark single_thread and singlethread tests, scoring 3637 versus 3433. The i7-12650HX also wins in data compression (266700 vs 258704, a 3.1% lead) and random string sorting (29692 vs 28973, a 2.5% lead). These wins are all in memory-bandwidth-sensitive or latency-sensitive tasks, which is curious given that the Core 9 273PTE has a larger L3 cache. The data suggests that the i7-12650HX's memory subsystem, despite being on a mobile platform, is better optimized for these specific operations.

The remaining benchmarks are closer. In PassMark extended instructions, the Core 9 273PTE wins by a slim 0.6% (15952 vs 15856). Integer math is nearly a tie, with the Core 9 273PTE ahead by 0.7% (82411 vs 81810). Floating point math shows a 3.7% lead for the Core 9 273PTE (60673 vs 58426). The PassMark multithread test gives the Core 9 273PTE a 6.2% win (24054 vs 22573), which aligns with the Cinebench multicore results. Overall, the Core 9 273PTE's wins are larger in magnitude and more frequent, while the i7-12650HX's wins are concentrated in a few specific areas.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 31290, compared to 31143 for the Intel Core 9 273PTE. This is a 0.5% difference, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Why does the Core i7-12650HX win the PassMark single-thread test despite having a lower boost clock?

A: The data shows the i7-12650HX scores 3637 in PassMark single_thread versus 3433 for the Core 9 273PTE, a 5.9% lead. This occurs despite the Core 9 273PTE having a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The result implies that the i7-12650HX's Alder Lake architecture has a more efficient single-thread execution pipeline for this specific PassMark workload.

Q: Is the Core 9 273PTE always faster in multi-core workloads?

A: No. While the Core 9 273PTE wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 6.9% and PassMark multithread by 6.2%, the i7-12650HX wins PassMark data compression by 3.1% and random string sorting by 2.5%. These are multi-threaded tasks where the i7-12650HX's 14 cores and 20 threads outperform the Core 9 273PTE's 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core 9 273PTE has fewer physical cores but more threads, which is an unusual configuration that benefits certain parallel workloads.

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core 9 273PTE leads by 47.9% (142 vs 74). The second largest is in PassMark physics, with a 39.9% lead for the Core 9 273PTE (1917 vs 1152). These are both cases where the Core 9 273PTE's newer architecture shows a massive advantage.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-12650HX and the Intel Core 9 273PTE are in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. This places them in the same overall performance tier despite their different benchmark win distributions.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-12650HX is built on the Alder Lake architecture with the codename Alder Lake-HX, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename. Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel, but their design goals diverge sharply. The i7-12650HX is a mobile part with a 55 W TDP, while the Core 9 273PTE is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP. This is counterintuitive, as the desktop chip consumes less power on paper despite having a higher boost clock.

The cache hierarchy differs significantly. The i7-12650HX has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 9 273PTE has 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L2 and L3 caches on the Core 9 273PTE likely contribute to its dominance in the prime number and physics tests, which are cache-sensitive. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core.

The integrated graphics also differ: the i7-12650HX features UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 9 273PTE has UHD Graphics 730. The Core 9 273PTE adds ECC memory support, which the i7-12650HX lacks. This positions the Core 9 273PTE for workstation or server-like reliability use cases. The PCIe configuration is slightly different too, with the i7-12650HX offering 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) versus 16 on the Core 9 273PTE.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are a primary differentiator. The i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i7-12650HX runs at 2000 MHz, while the Core 9 273PTE runs at 1400 MHz. Boost clocks reverse this, with the Core 9 273PTE hitting 5.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz on the i7-12650HX. The TDP is 55 W for the i7-12650HX and 45 W for the Core 9 273PTE.

Sockets are incompatible: the i7-12650HX uses Intel BGA 1964, while the Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700. The die size is listed at 215 mm² for the i7-12650HX, while no die size is provided for the Core 9 273PTE. The Core 9 273PTE has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while this metric is not provided for the i7-12650HX. The Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory, while the i7-12650HX does not. The multiplier is unlocked on the i7-12650HX but locked on the Core 9 273PTE. The release dates are 2022-05-09 for the i7-12650HX and 2026-03-08 for the Core 9 273PTE. The Core 9 273PTE has a part number SA4QJ, while the i7-12650HX does not have one listed. The launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PTE is $549.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PTE is the clear winner for compute-intensive and scientific workloads. Its 47.9% lead in prime number finding and 39.9% lead in physics simulations make it the superior choice for mathematical modeling, financial analytics, or any application that relies on iterative integer calculations. The consistent 6.9% lead across all Cinebench versions indicates it is also better for 3D rendering and video encoding, which are the primary use cases for multicore CPU benchmarks. Its larger 36 MB L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache appear to be the driving factors.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins in data compression and encryption tasks. Its 7.5% lead in encryption and 3.1% lead in compression suggest it is better suited for file archiving, VPN throughput, or database operations that involve heavy data movement. The 5.9% lead in PassMark single-thread performance is also notable, although this is contradicted by the Cinebench single-core results where the Core 9 273PTE leads by 6.9%. This contradiction suggests the i7-12650HX has a specialized advantage in the PassMark single-thread test specifically, rather than a general single-thread superiority.

The Core 9 273PTE also wins in floating point math (3.7%), integer math (0.7%), and extended instructions (0.6%), though these margins are small. The i7-12650HX wins random string sorting by 2.5%, another memory-heavy workload. For general multithreaded performance, the Core 9 273PTE leads by 6.2% in PassMark multithread, reinforcing its overall compute advantage.

The Verdict

The data directs different buyers to different processors. The Intel Core 9 273PTE is the choice for anyone who prioritizes raw computational throughput, particularly in rendering, scientific simulation, or heavy number-crunching. Its dominant wins in prime numbers and physics, combined with consistent Cinebench leads, make it the superior compute engine. The 82nd percentile ranking and the 12 benchmark wins out of 17 head-to-head tests confirm its overall strength. The ECC memory support and desktop Socket 1700 platform further cement its position for professional or server-adjacent workloads.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX is the pick for workloads that are sensitive to memory latency or specific data manipulation patterns. Its wins in encryption, compression, and random string sorting indicate a particular strength in data-handling tasks that the Core 9 273PTE cannot match. The 14-core configuration with 20 threads provides a different parallel profile, and the unlocked multiplier offers overclocking flexibility that the locked Core 9 273PTE lacks. The 5.9% PassMark single-thread win, while not universal, is a notable advantage in that specific benchmark.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i7-12650HX at 31290 and the Core 9 273PTE at 31143. This means that for mixed usage, either processor will deliver similar overall performance. However, the nature of the workloads matters enormously. The Core 9 273PTE's wins are larger in magnitude and cover more diverse test categories, while the i7-12650HX's wins are concentrated in a niche set of memory-oriented tasks. For a user who does a little bit of everything, the Core 9 273PTE is the safer choice. For a user whose workload is dominated by data compression or encryption, the i7-12650HX is the data-backed winner. The 82nd percentile ranking for both confirms they are peers in the overall CPU hierarchy, but the benchmark breakdown shows they achieve that status through very different means.