Intel Core 9 273PTE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235A Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison. Across 17 individual tests spanning Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and the PassMark suite, the Core Ultra 5 235A takes all 17, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE records zero wins. This is not a close contest with trade-offs by workload type; the data shows a complete sweep.

The largest gaps appear in encryption-related and math-heavy workloads. In PassMark data encryption, the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 30136 against 14253 for the Core 9 273PTE, a delta of 52.7% in favor of the Ultra part. Prime number finding shows the widest relative margin, with the Core Ultra 5 235A at 392 versus 142, a 63.8% advantage. Floating point math also leans heavily toward the Core Ultra 5 235A, which posts 118778 against 60673, a 48.9% gap. These are not marginal differences; the Core Ultra 5 235A roughly doubles the Core 9 273PTE in several compute-oriented tests.

The closest contest is PassMark integer math. Here the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 88626 versus 82411, a delta of only 7%. Even this narrowest win still belongs to the Core Ultra 5 235A, but it indicates that the Core 9 273PTE's 12 cores and 24 threads can keep pace in basic integer operations. Single-thread performance also favors the Core Ultra 5 235A, with a 4557 score against 3433, a 24.7% margin, which is substantial but smaller than the multi-thread gaps.

In Cinebench, the pattern is consistent. The Core Ultra 5 235A leads by roughly 37% across all six Cinebench tests, whether single-core or multi-core, R15 or R23. The Core 9 273PTE cannot claim a single workload category where it comes out ahead based on the recorded measurements.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design families. The Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 235A belongs to the Arrow Lake-S architecture, uses the Arrow Lake codename, and is manufactured on a 3 nm node by TSMC. This process difference is significant: the Core Ultra 5 235A also lists 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 9 273PTE has no transistor or die size figures recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads, meaning each core supports two threads. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 cores but only 14 threads, indicating no simultaneous multithreading. Despite having fewer threads, the Core Ultra 5 235A still wins every multi-threaded benchmark, which points to much higher per-core efficiency from the newer architecture and process node.

Cache hierarchies also differ in structure. The Core 9 273PTE carries 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core 9 273PTE has more total L3, but the Core Ultra 5 235A has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 9 273PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory across a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 235A supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with higher bandwidth at 102.4 GB/s, and it lacks ECC support. The Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 235A uses Intel Socket 1851, so they are not platform-compatible.

PCIe lane counts differ: the Core 9 273PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235A provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 9 273PTE using UHD Graphics 730 and the Core Ultra 5 235A using Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Clock speeds show the Core 9 273PTE with a 1.40 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost, while the Core Ultra 5 235A has a 3.40 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a much higher base clock, while the Core 9 273PTE has a higher boost clock. Thermal design power, recorded as TDP, is 45 for the Core 9 273PTE and 65 for the Core Ultra 5 235A. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither is marked as unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 3289 against 2060, a 37.4% lead. Single-core R15 shows 464 versus 290, a 37.5% gap. R20 multi-core continues the trend at 13705 versus 8586, 37.4% ahead. R20 single-core gives 1934 versus 1212, 37.3% ahead. R23 multi-core shows 32633 versus 20445, 37.3% ahead, and R23 single-core shows 4607 versus 2886, 37.4% ahead. The consistency of these margins, all within a 37.3% to 37.5% range, suggests a uniform architectural advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

PassMark results are more varied. Data compression scores 393800 for the Core Ultra 5 235A versus 258704, a 34.3% lead. Data encryption shows the biggest percentage gap among the larger workloads at 52.7%, with 30136 versus 14253. Extended instructions score 31625 versus 15952, a 49.6% difference. Prime number finding is the most lopsided at 63.8%, with 392 versus 142. Floating point math gives 118778 versus 60673, 48.9% ahead. Random string sorting favors the Core Ultra 5 235A by 41.5%, at 49489 versus 28973.

Multi-threaded PassMark shows 38392 versus 24054, a 37.3% gap that mirrors Cinebench multi-core margins. Physics tests give 2437 versus 1917, a 21.3% lead. Single-thread PassMark shows 4557 versus 3433, 24.7% ahead. Integer math is the outlier at only 7% difference, with 88626 versus 82411. Even in that narrow result, the Core Ultra 5 235A still wins.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce the overall picture. The Core Ultra 5 235A has an average benchmark score of 48201, while the Core 9 273PTE sits at 31143. The Core Ultra 5 235A ranks in the 90th percentile against all CPUs, while the Core 9 273PTE ranks in the 82nd percentile. Nearest rival comparisons confirm the positioning: the Core 9 273PTE sits within 0.5% of parts like the Intel Core i7-12700F and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, while the Core Ultra 5 235A sits within 0.6% of parts like the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 and Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 7% in integer math to 63.8% in prime number finding. Its average benchmark score of 48201 is roughly 55% higher than the Core 9 273PTE's 31143, and its 90th percentile ranking versus 82nd percentile places it in a higher performance tier overall.

For workloads dominated by multi-threaded rendering or encoding, the Core Ultra 5 235A delivers Cinebench R23 multi-core at 32633, which is 59.6% above the Core 9 273PTE's 20445. For single-thread responsiveness, the Core Ultra 5 235A leads by 24.7% in PassMark single-thread and by 37.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core. For encryption, extended instruction sets, and floating point math, the Core Ultra 5 235A is between roughly 49% and 53% ahead. The only near-even result, integer math at 7% difference, still favors the Core Ultra 5 235A.

The Core 9 273PTE does offer ECC memory support, DDR4 compatibility, and a lower TDP of 45 versus 65, along with a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. It also has 36 MB of shared L3 versus 24 MB. None of these attributes translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data. The Core 9 273PTE also has 24 threads versus 14, yet still loses all multi-threaded tests, which indicates the Core Ultra 5 235A's per-core throughput more than compensates for the thread count deficit.

The launch MSRP for the Core 9 273PTE is $549, and the launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 235A is $269. The Core Ultra 5 235A also has a later release date, recorded as July 2025 versus March 2026 for the Core 9 273PTE. Based strictly on benchmark performance, the Core Ultra 5 235A is the stronger choice across every measured category.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235A wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark tests. The Intel Core 9 273PTE records zero wins.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 392 versus 142, a 63.8% advantage.

Q: How close is the closest benchmark result?

A: The closest result is PassMark integer math, where the Core Ultra 5 235A scores 88626 against 82411, a delta of only 7%.

Q: Does the Core 9 273PTE's higher thread count help in multi-threaded tests?

A: No. The Core 9 273PTE has 24 threads versus 14 for the Core Ultra 5 235A, but it still loses every multi-threaded benchmark, including Cinebench R23 multi-core by 37.3% and PassMark multi-thread by 37.3%.

Q: Do the two processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 235A uses Intel Socket 1851.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 235A does not support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category recorded in the database.

Cores and threads: The Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Clock speeds: The Core 9 273PTE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

TDP: The Core 9 273PTE is rated at 45. The Core Ultra 5 235A is rated at 65.

Socket: The Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700. The Core Ultra 5 235A uses Intel Socket 1851.

Process node and foundry: The Core 9 273PTE uses a 10 nm process at Intel. The Core Ultra 5 235A uses a 3 nm process at TSMC.

Transistors and die size: The Core 9 273PTE has no recorded transistor count or die size. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

Cache: The Core 9 273PTE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 235A has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3.

Memory support: The Core 9 273PTE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235A supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

ECC memory: The Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory. The Core Ultra 5 235A does not.

PCIe: The Core 9 273PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 235A provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics: The Core 9 273PTE uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core Ultra 5 235A uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

Release date: The Core 9 273PTE has a release date of March 2026. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a release date of July 2025.

Launch MSRP: The Core 9 273PTE has a launch MSRP of $549. The Core Ultra 5 235A has a launch MSRP of $269.

Part numbers: The Core 9 273PTE is listed as SA4QJ. The Core Ultra 5 235A is listed as SRWPN. Both processors have locked multipliers.