Intel Core 9 273PQE Falls 8% Behind i9-13900K in Gaming
A German hardware publication's testing reveals that Intel's latest embedded-focused processor lags behind an older consumer chip in gaming, highlighting the critical role of platform and memory configuration.
Performance Comparison
According to testing by PC Games Hardware across approximately 15 game titles, the Core 9 273PQE delivered an average of 72.2 FPS in one report, while another cited 64.8 FPS. Both sources agree on the key metric: the Core i9-13900K achieved a consistent 69.9 FPS on the same platform.
This makes the older i9-13900K approximately 8% faster in gaming workloads. Specific titles tested included Cyberpunk 2077, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Spider-Man 2, and Resident Evil Requiem.
The Core 9 273PQE test system was built on an ASRock Industrial IMB-X1714 motherboard with a W680 chipset and 32 GB of DDR5-5600 C46 memory.
Processor Specifications
The Core 9 273PQE is a unique design: a pure Performance-core (P-Core) processor with 12 P-Cores and zero Efficiency-cores (E-Cores). It carries a maximum advertised clock speed of 5.9 GHz, though it was measured at 5.3 GHz during these tests.
Key specs include:
- L3 Cache: 36 MB
- Base TDP: 125 W
- Architecture: Raptor Cove (Bartlett Lake family)
Target Market and Context
Intel has positioned the Bartlett Lake processor family for the embedded and edge computing sectors, not the consumer desktop market. This professional orientation heavily influenced the test results.
One source noted that the test platform's restrictive DDR5-5600 C46 memory support likely throttled performance. Prior modded tests on a consumer Z790 motherboard with faster memory reportedly showed the 273PQE outperforming the Core i9-14900K by up to 10%.
The results suggest two key takeaways:
- An all-P-core 12-core chip may not consistently outperform an older 8-P-core consumer chip in gaming.
- Games may not meaningfully benefit from more than eight P-Cores.
Due to its professional focus, availability of the Core 9 273PQE remains limited.