Intel Core 9 273PTE vs Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusually decisive matchup. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 9 273PTE taking a single victory. The average benchmark score difference is stark: the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus records an average of 66,855 across all tests, while the Core 9 273PTE sits at 31,143, a gap that places the two processors in different performance tiers entirely.

The largest margins appear in the PassMark test suite. In data encryption, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 42,144 against 14,253 for the Core 9 273PTE, a delta of 66.2 percent. Find prime numbers shows a 70.8 percent gap, with 486 for the Ultra 5 versus 142 for the 273PTE. Extended instructions follow at 64.2 percent ahead, 44,565 versus 15,952. Floating point math shows the Ultra 5 at 162,692 versus 60,673, a 62.7 percent advantage. Data compression lands at 568,721 versus 258,704, a 54.5 percent lead. Random string sorting favors the Ultra 5 by 58.1 percent, 69,090 versus 28,973.

The Cinebench multi-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30,867 against 20,445, a 33.8 percent lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 18,442 versus 8,586, a 53.4 percent gap. Cinebench R15 multi-core records 4,640 versus 2,060, 55.6 percent ahead. The PassMark multi-thread test shows 51,596 versus 24,054, another 53.4 percent margin. Integer math is closer in relative terms, 125,091 versus 82,411, a 34.1 percent lead for the Ultra 5.

Single-core results are more nuanced. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins PassMark single-thread with 4,757 against 3,433, a 27.8 percent margin. It also takes Cinebench R15 single-core, 328 versus 290, an 11.6 percent lead, and Cinebench R20 single-core, 2,603 versus 1,212, a 53.4 percent margin. However, the Core 9 273PTE wins Cinebench R23 single-core outright: 2,886 versus 2,261, a 27.6 percent advantage. This is the only test where the 273PTE comes out ahead, but it is a meaningful one for lightly threaded workloads that scale with that specific benchmark.

The percentile data reinforces the positioning. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus sits at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Core 9 273PTE sits at the 82nd. The nearest rivals for the Ultra 5 include the AMD EPYC 4465P at 0.1 percent behind and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX at 0.9 percent behind, which places it in company with high-end workstation and enthusiast parts. The Core 9 273PTE, by contrast, trades blows with the Intel Core i7-12700F at 0.2 percent ahead and the Intel Core i7-13700TE at 0.4 percent ahead, firmly in the mid-range desktop tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages with fundamentally different underlying hardware. The Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and belongs to the Core 9 generation, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and belongs to the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 family.

The process nodes tell a major part of the story. The Core 9 273PTE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus moves to a 3 nm process fabricated by TSMC, a significant node advantage that contributes to its higher transistor density and efficiency. The Ultra 5 packs 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the database records no transistor count or die size for the 273PTE. The Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads, using hyper-threading to double its thread count. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads, no hyper-threading, relying on raw core count instead.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Core 9 273PTE offers 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. While the Ultra 5 has less L3 overall, its larger per-core L1 and L2 caches reflect the newer architecture.

Clock speeds and power targets move in opposite directions. The Core 9 273PTE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz with a 45 W TDP. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has a much higher base clock of 4.20 GHz, a boost of 5.30 GHz, and a 125 W TDP. The 273PTE is clearly tuned for lower sustained power draw, while the Ultra 5 is designed to run at higher clocks continuously.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 9 273PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only, dual-channel, with a higher memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the 273PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Socket compatibility is not interchangeable. The Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses Intel Socket 1851. Integrated graphics differ too: the 273PTE carries UHD Graphics 730, while the Ultra 5 carries Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the 273PTE does not. The Ultra 5 also carries a launch MSRP of $199, while the 273PTE carries a launch MSRP of $549.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus dominates the Intel Core 9 273PTE across nearly every recorded benchmark, with multi-threaded workloads showing a 33.8 to 55.6 percent advantage depending on the test. Its 93rd percentile ranking versus the 82nd percentile for the 273PTE confirms that the Ultra 5 competes in a higher performance class, sitting near the AMD EPYC 4465P and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX in the database.

The Core 9 273PTE has one significant counterpoint: its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,886 beats the Ultra 5's 2,261 by 27.6 percent. For workloads that favor that specific benchmark's characteristics, the 273PTE is the stronger part. But that single win does not offset the 16 other tests, which include the PassMark single-thread score where the Ultra 5 leads by 27.8 percent.

The 45 W TDP of the 273PTE versus the 125 W TDP of the Ultra 5 suggests different deployment scenarios. The 273PTE is positioned for lower-power desktop builds, while the Ultra 5 is a higher-power part that uses its larger core count and newer process node to deliver substantially more throughput. The 273PTE's support for DDR4 also makes it a more flexible option for builders reusing older memory, while the Ultra 5 requires DDR5.

For raw performance across the broad benchmark suite, the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the clear choice. The Core 9 273PTE remains relevant only for the narrow case where its Cinebench R23 single-core advantage matters and where its lower TDP and DDR4 compatibility are priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus records an average benchmark score of 66,855, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE records 31,143.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins 1 test, Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 30,867 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE scores 20,445, a 33.8 percent advantage for the Ultra 5.

Q: Which processor has the higher core and thread count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus has 18 cores and 18 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Do the two processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core 9 273PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus supports DDR5 only.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz versus 5.30 GHz for the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The Ultra 5 has a much higher base clock at 4.20 GHz versus 1.40 GHz for the 273PTE.

Q: What is the difference in data encryption performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus scores 42,144 in PassMark data encryption, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE scores 14,253, a 66.2 percent advantage for the Ultra 5.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus wins in nearly every workload category represented in the data. Multi-threaded rendering, represented by the three Cinebench multi-core tests, goes to the Ultra 5 by margins from 33.8 percent to 55.6 percent. PassMark data compression favors the Ultra 5 at 568,721 versus 258,704, a 54.5 percent lead. Data encryption shows the largest practical gap at 66.2 percent, which matters for storage encryption and secure communications workloads. The extended instructions test, often relevant for cryptography and signal processing, goes to the Ultra 5 by 64.2 percent. Floating point math, integer math, physics simulation, random string sorting, and the PassMark multi-thread test all favor the Ultra 5 with margins from 34.1 percent to 70.8 percent.

The Core 9 273PTE wins exactly one recorded test: Cinebench R23 single-core, where its 2,886 score beats the Ultra 5's 2,261 by 27.6 percent. This result suggests that for a narrow set of lightly threaded workloads that respond to the 273PTE's 5.50 GHz boost clock and architectural tuning, the older part can deliver higher per-thread performance. However, the PassMark single-thread test tells the opposite story, with the Ultra 5 leading by 27.8 percent, so this advantage does not generalize across all single-threaded benchmarks.

The 273PTE also holds advantages outside raw benchmark scores. Its 45 W TDP is significantly lower than the 125 W TDP of the Ultra 5, which matters for compact builds with limited cooling and power delivery. Its support for DDR4 memory allows builders to reuse existing memory kits, while the Ultra 5 requires DDR5. The 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, which is compatible with a broader range of existing motherboards, whereas the Ultra 5 requires the newer Intel Socket 1851 platform.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification. The Intel Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename and the Core 9 generation, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename and the Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) generation. The 273PTE is built on a 10 nm Intel process; the Ultra 5 uses a 3 nm TSMC process. The Ultra 5 records 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die size, while the database has no transistor or die size data for the 273PTE.

Core and thread counts differ: 12 cores and 24 threads for the 273PTE, 18 cores and 18 threads for the Ultra 5. Base clocks are 1.40 GHz versus 4.20 GHz, boost clocks are 5.50 GHz versus 5.30 GHz. TDP is 45 W versus 125 W. L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core versus 3 MB per core, and L3 is 36 MB shared versus 30 MB shared.

Memory support differs: DDR4 and DDR5 for the 273PTE, DDR5 only for the Ultra 5. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes are Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes versus Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Sockets are Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel Socket 1851. The Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier; the 273PTE does not. Launch MSRP is $549 for the 273PTE and $199 for the Ultra 5. Both are active desktop parts with ECC memory support, released within two days of each other in March 2026.