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Yes—a modder has reportedly booted Intel’s 12-P-core Core 9 273PQE on an Asus Z790-AYW OC after extensive custom BIOS work. The result is a community proof of concept, not an official Z790 compatibility upgrade or a dependable method for other boards.
What is the Core 9 273PQE?
The Core 9 273PQE is a Bartlett Lake-S processor aimed at OEM, embedded, or enterprise systems rather than a normal consumer desktop CPU. Unlike many recent desktop Intel processors with a mix of performance and efficiency cores, this model is reported to have 12 performance cores and 24 threads.
| Reported specification | Core 9 273PQE |
|---|---|
| Core and thread layout | 12 P-cores, 24 threads |
| Socket | LGA1700 |
| Base clock | 3.4GHz |
| Maximum single-core boost | Up to 5.9GHz |
| All-core operation | 5.3GHz reported |
| L3 cache | 36MB |
| Memory support | DDR5-5600, up to 192GB |
These specifications are reported for the processor; they do not establish that a consumer motherboard’s firmware can initialize it.
How did the modder get it working?
Overclock.net user Kryptonfly modified firmware for an Asus Z790-AYW OC. Z790 firmware was not designed to initialize Bartlett Lake’s P-core-only configuration, so the work went beyond adding a routine CPU microcode update.
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Firmware and platform changes
Reports describe adapting microcode and platform logic so the board would accept 12 physical P-cores. The mod also addressed memory initialization and presented system-agent and PCIe graphics functions as 13th- or 14th-Gen Raptor Lake devices. Those measures are reported as part of this specific experiment; they are not a verified recipe for other Z790 boards.
PC Gamer’s 2026 coverage quoted Kryptonfly saying, “Claude edited 100% of the bios, no module replacement at all.” That describes the reported use of Claude to rewrite the BIOS, not an automated or vendor-approved compatibility process.
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What did the experiment achieve—and what remains uncertain?
Early reporting said the board recognized the 273PQE and reached POST. Later reports described additional memory and platform-initialization work followed by a Windows boot. This is evidence that one consumer LGA1700 board could be made to boot the CPU after substantial firmware intervention.
The reports also describe a remaining problem entering the BIOS. That can make further firmware changes difficult and may require another compatible CPU. They do not establish stable daily operation, repeatable results on other boards, or motherboard-vendor warranty coverage for the modified firmware.
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- Built for the Next Generation of Gaming. Game and multitask without compromise powered by Intel’s performance hybrid architecture on an unlocked processor.
- Discrete graphics required
- Compatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboards
- The processor features Socket LGA-1700 socket for installation on the PCB
- 30 MB of L3 cache memory provides excellent hit rate in short access time enabling improved system performance
Is this an official upgrade path?
No. The reported result is not a motherboard-vendor compatibility listing or a standard BIOS update. A shared socket alone does not guarantee that a board’s firmware, memory initialization, and platform logic support a processor. Treat the 273PQE-on-Z790 setup as experimental, not as a practical upgrade plan.
Do the reported gaming results show an advantage?
Tom’s Hardware relayed third-party 720p gaming results comparing the 273PQE with Intel’s Core i9-14900K. The figures below are reported YouTuber results, not independent testing.
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- 8 Cores/ 16 Threads
- 3.60 GHz up to 5.00 GHz/ 16 MB Cache
- Compatible only with Motherboards based on Intel 300 Series Chipsets
- Intel Optane Memory supported
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
| Game | Reported 273PQE result versus Core i9-14900K |
|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | +5.4% |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | +6.7% |
| Rainbow Six Siege | -0.4% |
| Outcast | +9.1% |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | +9.2% |
| Counter-Strike 2 | -1.5% |
The results are mixed: the reported figures show gains in four games and small losses in two. They do not establish a general gaming-performance lead, especially without independent verification and broader evidence about stability and test conditions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should enthusiasts take from this?
The experiment is notable because it demonstrates what extensive firmware modification can achieve on one board. It does not turn the 273PQE into a supported consumer Z790 processor. Anyone evaluating the result against an ordinary desktop CPU should distinguish official platform support, firmware and recovery needs, core layout, clock and memory capability, sustained stability, and independently reproducible performance.
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- The processor features Socket LGA-1700 socket for installation on the PCB
- 30 MB of L3 cache memory provides excellent hit rate in short access time enabling improved system performance
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