Intel Core 9 273PTE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 9 273PTE, which claims 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V takes the remaining 3, but the margins in the Core 9's favor are frequently substantial.

The most dramatic separation occurs in PassMark integer math, where the Core 9 273PTE scores 82411 against the Ultra 7 266V's 41558, a 98.3% advantage. This near-doubling of performance aligns with the Core 9's larger core and thread count, though the gap is larger than the raw core disparity alone would suggest. Data compression also shows a wide gulf: 258704 for the Core 9 versus 187050 for the Ultra 7, a 38.3% delta. Random string sorting follows a similar pattern at 28973 versus 22905, a 26.5% difference.

The Cinebench suite is uniformly one-sided. Multi-core results across R15, R20, and R23 all show the Core 9 leading by 23.6%. The single-core Cinebench tests are nearly identical in margin, with deltas of 23.4% in R15, 23.7% in R20, and 23.6% in R23. The consistency of these figures suggests a systematic advantage in sustained rendering workloads rather than a test-specific quirk. The PassMark multithread score confirms the trend at 24054 versus 19461, again a 23.6% delta.

The Ultra 7 266V's wins are narrower and more specialized. In PassMark single-thread, it posts 3943 against the Core 9's 3433, a 12.9% advantage. The find prime numbers test is its largest victory: 191 versus 142, a 25.7% margin. These two results indicate that the Ultra 7 handles certain integer-heavy single-thread workloads with greater efficiency. The remaining tests are close calls: extended instructions show a virtual tie at 15952 versus 15928 (0.2% delta), data encryption is a narrow Core 9 win at 3.1%, and floating point math goes to the Core 9 by 6.6%.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this hierarchy. The Core 9 273PTE sits at 31143, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 7 266V averages 23297, good for the 76th percentile. The Core 9's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31081 (0.2% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS at 31074 (0.2% behind), placing it in a tight cluster of high-performing desktop chips. The Ultra 7's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H at 23277, a 0.1% difference, with the Intel Core i9-11900F close behind at 23254.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 9 273PTE dominates in any workload that scales with core count, thread count, or sustained multi-threaded execution. The Cinebench multi-core results, the PassMark multithread score, integer math, and data compression all belong to this category. The 45 watt TDP and 12-core, 24-thread configuration give it headroom for rendering, compilation, and heavy batch processing. The 36 MB shared L3 cache likely contributes to the strong compression and sorting results, as these workloads benefit from large data residency in cache.

The Ultra 7 266V wins in single-thread responsiveness. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3943 is notably higher than the Core 9's 3433, and the find prime numbers result shows a 25.7% edge in a specific integer workload. This suggests the Lunar Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm TSMC process, achieves higher instructions per clock in lightly threaded scenarios. The 17 watt TDP also indicates a fundamentally different power envelope, one suited to mobile operation where sustained peak performance is less critical than efficiency.

The intermediate tests are telling. Data encryption favors the Core 9 by only 3.1%, and extended instructions are effectively tied. These near-parity results show that when the workload does not heavily utilize the Core 9's additional cores, the architectural efficiency of the Ultra 7 narrows the gap considerably. Floating point math is a Core 9 win at 6.6%, but that margin is far smaller than the multi-core deltas, again pointing to the Ultra 7's per-core strength.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process node, built in Intel's own foundry. It is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm TSMC process, and is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833. The generational framing differs as well: the Core 9 is listed under "Core 9 (Bartlett Lake)" while the Ultra 7 belongs to "Core Ultra Series 2" and "Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake)".

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 9 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Ultra 7 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Ultra 7 has no hyper-threading, which explains why its thread count equals its core count. Cache hierarchies also differ per core. The Core 9 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, while the Ultra 7 has 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is a major differentiator: 36 MB on the Core 9 versus 12 MB on the Ultra 7.

Memory support reflects their market positions. The Core 9 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 uses LPDDR5X with capacity depending on the motherboard. The Ultra 7 has a higher recorded memory bandwidth at 136.5 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core 9. The Core 9 supports ECC memory; the Ultra 7 does not. PCIe lane allocation also differs, with the Core 9 offering 16 CPU lanes of Gen 5 versus 4 Gen 5 lanes on the Ultra 7. Integrated graphics are different as well: UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 9 versus Arc 140V on the Ultra 7.

Specification Differences

The launch dates set them apart by nearly a year and a half. The Ultra 7 266V was released on 2024-09-23, while the Core 9 273PTE arrived on 2026-03-08. The Core 9 carries a launch MSRP of $549; the Ultra 7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Clock speeds show a mixed picture: the Core 9 has a 1.40 GHz base clock and 5.50 GHz boost clock, while the Ultra 7 has a 2.20 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock. The Ultra 7 starts higher but peaks lower.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Core 9 is rated at 45 watts, the Ultra 7 at 17 watts. This 28 watt gap reflects their intended environments: a desktop socket with active cooling versus a mobile BGA package designed for laptops. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking. The Core 9's part number is SA4QJ; the Ultra 7's is SRPMMSRPMY. Both are listed as Active in production status. Neither processor has recorded transistor counts or die sizes in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins every multi-core benchmark in the recorded data. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 20445 versus 16544 for the Ultra 7 266V, a 23.6% delta. The PassMark multithread score follows the same pattern at 24054 versus 19461.

Q: Does the Ultra 7 266V win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins three recorded tests: PassMark single-thread (3943 versus 3433, a 12.9% advantage), PassMark singlethread (same scores), and PassMark find prime numbers (191 versus 142, a 25.7% advantage).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 9 273PTE has an average benchmark score of 31143, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. The Ultra 7 266V averages 23297, placing it in the 76th percentile. The Core 9's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-12700F at 31081, while the Ultra 7's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H at 23277.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Ultra 7 does not use hyper-threading, so its thread count equals its core count.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, three times the 12 MB on the Ultra 7 266V. The Ultra 7 does have larger per-core L1 and L2 caches: 192 KB and 2.5 MB per core respectively, versus 80 KB and 2 MB per core on the Core 9.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Core 9 273PTE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Ultra 7 266V supports LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split by workload type and platform. The Intel Core 9 273PTE is the choice for multi-threaded desktop workloads. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with 36 MB of L3 cache, deliver consistent 23.6% advantages across the Cinebench suite and a 98.3% lead in integer math. The 45 watt TDP and Socket 1700 compatibility position it for desktop systems where sustained performance is the priority. Its launch MSRP of $549 places it in the upper desktop tier.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the better option for single-thread efficiency in a mobile context. Its 17 watt TDP, 3 nm TSMC process, and 8-core, 8-thread configuration yield a 12.9% single-thread PassMark advantage and a 25.7% win in find prime numbers. The 136.5 GB/s memory bandwidth and Arc 140V integrated graphics suggest a focus on integrated system performance rather than raw compute throughput.

For users prioritizing rendering, compilation, or any workload that scales across cores, the Core 9 273PTE is the clear pick from the recorded data. For users prioritizing lightweight single-thread responsiveness in a low-power mobile package, the Ultra 7 266V offers specific advantages. The near-tie in extended instructions and the small 3.1% delta in data encryption show that the Ultra 7 can match the Core 9 in certain narrow niches, but the overall benchmark record favors the Core 9 by a wide margin across the majority of tests.