AMD Ryzen 5 150 vs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a one-sided comparison. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins all 11 recorded head-to-head tests, with no victories for the AMD Ryzen 5 150. The largest margin appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 145 against 47 for the Ryzen 5 150, a difference of 67.6 percent. That result signals a substantial advantage in workloads that stress integer iteration and branching logic.

The gap narrows somewhat in single-threaded performance, but the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 still leads by 24.6 percent. It records 4185 in the PassMark single thread test, while the Ryzen 5 150 manages 3155. This is the closest contest in the entire comparison, yet it remains a clear margin. The extended instructions test shows the opposite extreme: the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 32719, which is 55.1 percent ahead of the Ryzen 5 150's 14675. That workload benefits from the newer architecture's instruction set capabilities.

Data compression follows a similar pattern. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 delivers 400887 in PassMark data compression, nearly double the 211289 posted by the Ryzen 5 150. The delta sits at 47.3 percent. Floating point math also tilts heavily toward the Ryzen AI Max+ 388, which scores 72722 versus 35118, a 51.7 percent advantage. Integer math is less lopsided but still decisive: 109588 against 62151, or 43.3 percent ahead.

The multithread score reinforces the overall picture. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 reaches 33486, while the Ryzen 5 150 stops at 17492, a 47.8 percent gap. Physics calculations, often a proxy for simulation and gaming workloads, show the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 at 1843 versus 806 for the Ryzen 5 150, a 56.3 percent lead. Random string sorting, a test of memory access patterns and branch prediction, favors the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 by 48.2 percent, with scores of 43196 and 22382 respectively.

Data encryption completes the sweep. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 posts 20092, which is 33.2 percent higher than the Ryzen 5 150's 13425. Across all 11 benchmarks, the average score difference is substantial: the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 holds an average benchmark score of 49796, while the Ryzen 5 150 averages 34881. That places the Ryzen 5 150 in the 84th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 sits in the 90th percentile.

Looking at the nearest rivals provides additional context. The Ryzen 5 150's average score of 34881 sits within 0.3 percent of the Intel Core i9-12900HX (35003) and the Intel Core i7-13800H (34988), and effectively matches the Intel Xeon 6349P (34890) and Intel Core 7 253PTE (34962). The Ryzen AI Max+ 388's average of 49796 is 0.1 percent behind the Intel Core 9 273PE (49845), but 0.8 percent ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600KF (49394) and 1.2 percent ahead of both the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49228) and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49196). The recorded data therefore positions the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 as a high-end mobile part that competes with desktop-class silicon, while the Ryzen 5 150 aligns with upper-midrange laptop processors.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split in intended use cases. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the stronger processor in every measured category. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with a 5.00 GHz boost clock and Zen 5 architecture, deliver benchmark results that range from 24.6 percent to 67.6 percent ahead of the Ryzen 5 150. The multithread score of 33486, the data compression result of 400887, and the floating point score of 72722 all indicate that this chip is built for demanding parallel workloads such as content creation, scientific computing, and heavy multitasking. The 90th percentile ranking across all CPUs in the database reinforces that positioning.

The AMD Ryzen 5 150, with 6 cores, 12 threads, a 4.55 GHz boost clock, and the older Zen 3+ architecture, delivers results that are competitive with its immediate rivals but not in the same class as the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. Its single-thread score of 3155 and multithread score of 17492 are respectable for a 35-watt mobile processor, and the 84th percentile ranking shows that it outperforms the majority of CPUs in the database. The data suggests this chip suits lighter workloads: everyday productivity, office applications, and moderate content consumption where power efficiency matters more than peak throughput.

The choice between the two depends entirely on the workload profile. For users who run multi-threaded applications that scale across cores, the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 offers a decisive advantage in every recorded benchmark. For those who prioritize a lower thermal envelope and only need modest compute performance, the Ryzen 5 150 provides adequate results while drawing less power. Neither chip supports an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator. The production status for both is active, meaning both remain available in the current market.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark tests recorded in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 150 does not win any of the 11 comparisons.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 145, while the Ryzen 5 150 scores 47, a difference of 67.6 percent.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 leads by 24.6 percent in the PassMark single thread test, scoring 4185 against 3155 for the Ryzen 5 150. This is the smallest margin in the entire comparison.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average benchmark score of 49796, while the Ryzen 5 150 has an average benchmark score of 34881. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and the Ryzen 5 150 ranks in the 84th percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen 5 150 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 5 150 does not support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The Ryzen 5 150 uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds start at 3.30 GHz for the Ryzen 5 150 and 3.60 GHz for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. Boost clocks reach 4.55 GHz on the smaller chip and 5.00 GHz on the larger one. The thermal design power rating is 35 watts for the Ryzen 5 150 and 55 watts for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388.

The socket interfaces differ as well. The Ryzen 5 150 mounts on AMD Socket FP7, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses AMD Socket FP11. Memory support splits between DDR5 for the Ryzen 5 150 and LPDDR5X for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. The memory bus width also changes: the Ryzen 5 150 runs dual-channel, and the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 runs quad-channel. Peak memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the Ryzen 5 150 and 256.0 GB/s for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388, a 3.3x difference. ECC memory support appears only on the Ryzen AI Max+ 388.

PCIe lane counts differ. The Ryzen 5 150 provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics change from the Radeon 660M on the Ryzen 5 150 to the Radeon 8060S on the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. The part numbers also differ: 100-000000990(FP7r2) for the Ryzen 5 150 and 100-000001980 for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. Release dates are recorded as 2025-09-30 for the Ryzen 5 150 and 2026-01-05 for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between the two is substantial. The Ryzen 5 150 is built on the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename. The manufacturing process differs accordingly: the Ryzen 5 150 is fabricated on a 6 nm node, and the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses a 4 nm node. Both chips come from TSMC, but the die sizes are recorded differently. The Ryzen 5 150 has a single die measuring 210 mm², while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², indicating a chiplet-based design with two smaller dies.

Cache hierarchies diverge in capacity and organization. The Ryzen 5 150 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 raises each level: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. That doubles the shared L3 capacity and doubles the per-core L2 capacity, which helps explain the multithread and data compression advantages. The larger L1 per core also contributes to the single-thread lead.

The generation labels reflect the architectural shift. The Ryzen 5 150 is classified under the Ryzen 5 generation with Zen 3+ (Rembrandt) noted, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 falls under the Ryzen AI Max generation with Zen 5 (Strix Halo) noted. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Radeon 660M on the Ryzen 5 150 and the Radeon 8060S on the Ryzen AI Max+ 388. These architecture differences, combined with the higher core count and clock speeds, account for the benchmark results observed across the entire test suite.