Intel Core 9 273PTE vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

Intel Core 9 273PTE and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H are two very different processors aimed at different segments, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The Core 9 273PTE is a desktop part with a high boost clock, while the Core Ultra 7 356H is a mobile chip with a higher core count and a much more efficient process node. The recorded data shows the Core Ultra 7 356H dominating the majority of tests, but the Core 9 273PTE has its own specific strengths, particularly in single-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark suite divides cleanly between the two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H wins 15 out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, establishing a clear lead in most computational tasks. Its victories span across all major categories: multi-core rendering, data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, multithreaded performance, physics simulation, random string sorting, and single-threaded PassMark tests. This breadth suggests the Core Ultra 7 356H is the stronger overall performer for general productivity and mixed workloads.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins only two benchmarks, but they are significant. It takes the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 20445 against 18395, a 11.1% advantage. More impressively, it wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 2886 against 2040, a commanding 41.5% lead. These wins indicate the Core 9 273PTE excels in specific rendering scenarios, particularly those that rely on high single-thread clock speeds, while the Core Ultra 7 356H carries the day in nearly everything else.

The pattern is consistent: the Core Ultra 7 356H leads in all older Cinebench versions (R15 and R20) and all PassMark subtests, while the Core 9 273PTE only asserts itself in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. This split suggests the Core 9 273PTE has optimizations or architectural traits that favor the R23 workload specifically, while the Core Ultra 7 356H is more broadly capable across the rest of the suite.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and are built for different physical environments. The Intel Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, is built on a 10 nm process node, and is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H uses the Panther Lake architecture (also its codename), is built on a 3 nm process node, and is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2540. The process node difference is stark: 10 nm versus 3 nm, which explains much of the efficiency and thermal envelope gap.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Core 9 273PTE relies on Hyper-Threading to double its thread count, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has more physical cores but no additional threads. This means the Core Ultra 7 356H has 33% more physical cores, but the Core 9 273PTE has 50% more threads.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Core 9 273PTE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 356H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3. The Core 9 273PTE has twice the L3 cache capacity, which can be a factor in certain workloads, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 9 273PTE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 356H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 356H has a 28.6% memory bandwidth advantage. The Core 9 273PTE supports ECC memory, while the Core Ultra 7 356H does not. PCIe lanes also differ: the Core 9 273PTE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 356H offers Gen 5 with 12 lanes.

Integrated graphics are different: the Core 9 273PTE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The Core 9 273PTE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core 9 273PTE has a TDP of 45 watts, the Core Ultra 7 356H has a TDP of 25 watts. The Core 9 273PTE launched with an MSRP of $549, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, but the margin varies widely by test. The largest win for the Core Ultra 7 356H comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 327 against 142, a 56.6% advantage. This is followed by PassMark data encryption, where it scores 26345 against 14253, a 45.9% lead. PassMark extended instructions shows a 42.8% advantage (27898 versus 15952), and PassMark floating-point math shows a 41.2% lead (103128 versus 60673). These are massive margins that indicate the Core Ultra 7 356H has substantially stronger computational throughput in these specific operations.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 7 356H scores 3055 against 2060, a 32.6% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a similar pattern: 12153 against 8586, a 29.4% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the Core Ultra 7 356H ahead by 29.3% (1715 versus 1212). PassMark multithread shows a 29.2% lead (33978 versus 24054), and PassMark physics shows a 33.8% lead (2895 versus 1917). PassMark random string sorting shows a 29.3% lead (40990 versus 28973). PassMark single-thread shows a 15.7% lead (4072 versus 3433). PassMark data compression shows a 23% lead (336177 versus 258704). PassMark integer math is the closest contest, with the Core Ultra 7 356H winning by only 0.8% (83111 versus 82411).

The Intel Core 9 273PTE has its own notable wins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2886 against 2040, a 41.5% advantage. This is the largest single victory for either processor. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 20445 against 18395, an 11.1% lead. These two wins are the only bright spots for the Core 9 273PTE, but they are meaningful: the R23 single-core result in particular shows the Core 9 273PTE can deliver exceptional performance when a workload is dependent on a single thread and clock speed.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the trend. The Core Ultra 7 356H has an average score of 41215, while the Core 9 273PTE has an average score of 31143. This places the Core Ultra 7 356H in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 9 273PTE sits in the 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 7 356H include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 (delta 0%), Intel Core Ultra 7 366H (delta -0.1%), AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (delta -0.4%), and Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (delta 0.6%). The nearest rivals for the Core 9 273PTE include the Intel Core i7-12700F (delta 0.2%), AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (delta 0.2%), Intel Core i7-13700TE (delta 0.4%), and Intel Core i7-12650HX (delta -0.5%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor performs better in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins by a significant margin, scoring 2886 against the Core Ultra 7 356H's 2040, a 41.5% difference.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has 89.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has 18 MB.

Q: How does the average benchmark score compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H has an average score of 41215, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has an average score of 31143.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core 9 273PTE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, while the Core Ultra 7 356H is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2540. The Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 7 356H uses Panther Lake. The process node is 10 nm for the Core 9 273PTE and 3 nm for the Core Ultra 7 356H.

Core counts differ: 12 cores for the Core 9 273PTE versus 16 cores for the Core Ultra 7 356H. Thread counts differ: 24 threads versus 16. Base clocks differ: 1.40 GHz versus 1.90 GHz. Boost clocks differ: 5.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. TDP differs: 45 watts versus 25 watts.

Cache configurations differ across all levels: L1 is 80 KB per core versus 192 KB per core, L2 is 2 MB per core versus 2.5 MB per core, and L3 is 36 MB shared versus 18 MB shared. Memory support differs: DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth differs: 89.6 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. ECC memory support differs: the Core 9 273PTE supports it, the Core Ultra 7 356H does not. PCIe lanes differ: 16 lanes versus 12 lanes, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 730 versus Intel Xe3 Graphics.

The Core 9 273PTE has a launch MSRP of $549, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has no recorded launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers and both are produced by Intel. The Core 9 273PTE has a release date of 2026-03-08, while the Core Ultra 7 356H has a release date of 2026-01-04.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H is the stronger processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all PassMark subtests and all Cinebench R15 and R20 tests. Its average benchmark score of 41215 is nearly 33% higher than the Core 9 273PTE's 31143. The Core Ultra 7 356H also places higher in the overall percentile ranking at 87% versus 82%. For users focused on multi-threaded productivity, data processing, encryption, physics simulation, or general computational throughput, the Core Ultra 7 356H is the clear choice based on the recorded data.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE should be selected for scenarios where single-thread performance is paramount. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2886 is 41.5% higher than the Core Ultra 7 356H's 2040, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20445 is 11.1% higher. The Core 9 273PTE also offers ECC memory support, a desktop socket, and a larger 36 MB L3 cache. Users who rely on the specific Cinebench R23 workload, or who need ECC memory support, would find the Core 9 273PTE delivers the required capability.

The Core Ultra 7 356H also offers a lower TDP of 25 watts versus 45 watts, which aligns with its mobile market segment. Its 3 nm process node and higher memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s further support its position as the more efficient and memory-savvy part. In contrast, the Core 9 273PTE uses a 10 nm process and has lower memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s.

In summary, the data shows the Core Ultra 7 356H as the better all-around processor, winning the majority of benchmarks and achieving a higher average score. The Core 9 273PTE has specific advantages in single-threaded Cinebench R23 tests and offers ECC support, making it suitable for niche desktop workloads. For most users processing a broad mix of tasks, the Core Ultra 7 356H is the superior option based on the recorded measurements.