Intel's OEM-Only Bartlett Lake CPU Modded to Run on Consumer Z790 Motherboard Beats AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X3D in Cinebench Multi-Core Test — Core 9 273QPE Has 12 Cores, 24 Threads, and Hits 5.4GHz

Why It Matters

Enabling OEM‑only CPUs on mainstream motherboards expands performance options and showcases the flexibility of Intel’s LGA 1700 ecosystem, potentially reshaping enthusiast overclocking and supply‑chain dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Bartlett Lake CPU now boots on consumer Z790 boards
• 12 P‑core, 24‑thread chip reaches 5.4 GHz boost
• Cinebench scores exceed Ryzen 9 9900X3D, near i9‑13900K
• Power consumption steadied at ~286 W after tuning
• Secure Boot enabled gaming proved feasible

Pulse Analysis

The breakthrough stems from a BIOS modification originally crafted by community member kryptonfly, which injects code to recognize twelve physical performance cores. Consumer firmware traditionally caps P‑core count at eight, causing crashes when encountering the Bartlett Lake’s architecture. By overriding this hard‑coded limit and adjusting voltage and LLC settings, enthusiasts unlocked full core utilization, proving that Intel’s LGA 1700 socket can accommodate more than its advertised core configurations.

Performance metrics illustrate the practical impact of the mod. In Cinebench R23, the Core 9 273QPE consistently posted multi‑core scores between 32,000 and 33,800 points, edging out AMD’s Ryzen 9 9900X3D and rivaling the flagship i9‑13900K. The chip sustained a 5.4 GHz boost across all twelve cores while drawing roughly 286 watts, a notable efficiency gain compared to earlier runs that spiked above 320 watts due to voltage droop. These results highlight the latent performance headroom in Intel’s OEM‑only silicon when paired with appropriate BIOS tweaks and high‑speed DDR5 memory.

The broader implications reach beyond raw scores. By repurposing industrial‑grade processors for enthusiast use, the mod challenges traditional supply‑chain constraints and opens a niche market for high‑performance, cost‑effective builds. It also signals to motherboard vendors that firmware flexibility could become a competitive differentiator, encouraging more open BIOS architectures. For overclockers and system builders, the ability to harness a 12‑core, 24‑thread CPU without E‑cores offers a unique blend of single‑thread speed and parallel throughput, potentially reshaping benchmark hierarchies and influencing future platform decisions.