AMD EPYC 4344P vs AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 4344P and AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 are both 8-core, 16-thread parts that land within 0.7% of each other in average benchmark score, yet they target very different platforms. The EPYC 4344P, a Zen 4 server/workstation chip on Socket AM5, carries a launch MSRP of $329 and posts an average score of 45,586; the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385, a Zen 5 mobile part on Socket FP11, averages 45,260. Both sit at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. The head-to-head data shows the EPYC winning 12 of 17 tests, while the Ryzen takes 5, but the margins and workload character tell a more nuanced story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across every Cinebench iteration, the EPYC 4344P leads by a uniform 0.7%: R15 multi-core 2,886 vs 2,865, R20 multi-core 12,027 vs 11,938, R23 multi-core 28,636 vs 28,424, and the single-core versions by the same margin. This consistency suggests a small but real frequency advantage in these workloads. The EPYC's boost clock of 5.30 GHz against the Ryzen's 5.00 GHz likely explains the edge, though the architecture change to Zen 5 helps the Ryzen close the gap.

The EPYC's biggest win is in data encryption, where it scores 24,648 vs 19,947, a 23.6% advantage. It also dominates random string sorting by 18% (49,001 vs 41,537) and physics by 14.3% (2,025 vs 1,772). Data compression goes to the EPYC by 2% (407,933 vs 399,839). These are classic server workloads that reward memory latency and cache efficiency.

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 counters with a decisive 12.1% win in PassMark's single-thread test (4,052 vs 3,560) and in floating-point math, where it scores 72,648 vs 64,245, an 11.6% margin. Extended instructions also favor the Ryzen by 11% (33,915 vs 30,170), and integer math goes to it by 2.2% (108,717 vs 106,272). The Ryzen's Zen 5 architecture and higher L1 cache (80 KB vs 64 KB per core) likely contribute to these wins.

The overall win count (12 vs 5) is flattering to the EPYC, but the Ryzen's victories come in areas that matter for mobile and AI-adjacent workloads. The average benchmark scores are close: EPYC 45,586 vs Ryzen 45,260, a 0.7% difference, and both are listed as 92nd percentile. The nearest rivals list places the EPYC just ahead of the Ryzen by 0.7%, while the Ryzen is 0.7% behind the EPYC in its own list. For context, the EPYC's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-14600 (average score 45,594, 0% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7303 (45,960, -0.8%); the Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-12900KS (45,023, 0.5%) and the Intel Core i9-13950HX (44,747, 1.1%). This is a statistical tie in overall performance, with workload-specific winners.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs share a core count and thread count (8/16), but the underlying silicon diverges. The EPYC 4344P uses Zen 4 on TSMC's 5 nm process, with a die size of 71 mm² and 6,570 million transistors. The Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 moves to Zen 5 on 4 nm, though its transistor count and die size are not listed. The process shrink and new architecture give the Ryzen a higher L1 cache per core (80 KB vs 64 KB), while L2 and L3 remain identical at 1 MB per core and 32 MB shared.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The EPYC uses dual-channel DDR5 with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s; the Ryzen uses quad-channel LPDDR5X and reaches 256.0 GB/s, a threefold increase. Both support ECC, but the Ryzen's mobile-oriented design prioritizes bandwidth density over raw capacity. PCIe connectivity also differs: the EPYC offers 28 Gen 5 lanes (CPU only) while the Ryzen provides 16 Gen 4 lanes. For server/expansion-heavy workloads, the EPYC's lane count and generation are clear advantages.

The sockets are incompatible: AM5 for the EPYC, FP11 for the Ryzen. The EPYC is a server/workstation part with a 65 W TDP and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz; the Ryzen is a mobile part with 55 W TDP and 5.00 GHz boost. The base clocks are 3.80 GHz and 3.60 GHz respectively. Integrated graphics differ: the EPYC carries Radeon Graphics, while the Ryzen has the Radeon 8050S. Both are active production parts, but the EPYC launched on 2024-05-20, the Ryzen on 2025-01-05. The EPYC's part number is 100-000001479, the Ryzen's 100-000001422.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded PassMark?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 scores 4,052 in PassMark single-thread, a 12.1% lead over the EPYC 4344P's 3,560.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare?

A: The Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 uses quad-channel LPDDR5X and achieves 256.0 GB/s, while the EPYC 4344P's dual-channel DDR5 provides 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Which part wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The EPYC 4344P scores 28,636 vs 28,424, a 0.7% advantage.

Q: Are there any workloads where the Ryzen is significantly ahead?

A: Yes, the Ryzen leads by 11.6% in floating-point math (72,648 vs 64,245) and by 12.1% in single-thread PassMark.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe lanes?

A: The EPYC offers 28 Gen 5 lanes, while the Ryzen has 16 Gen 4 lanes.

**Q: Do both support ECC memory