AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 and AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 occupy different tiers within AMD’s mobile lineup, and the benchmark data reflects a clear performance hierarchy. The Ryzen 7 170 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3+ architecture, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is a 12-core, 24-thread part built on Zen 5. Across every recorded benchmark, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 holds the advantage, with the Ryzen 7 170 winning zero of the eleven head-to-head tests. The data shows that the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 delivers substantially higher throughput in every measured workload, from data compression to prime number finding, and its average benchmark score of 90541 places it well above the Ryzen 7 170’s 43689. The percentile rankings confirm this separation, with the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 sitting at the 96th percentile of all CPUs while the Ryzen 7 170 sits at the 88th.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 170 does not win any of the eleven recorded head-to-head benchmarks against the Ryzen AI Max+ 392. In every test, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 produces the higher score, so the use-case split is defined entirely by the margins of the Ryzen AI Max+ 392’s victories rather than by any workload where the Ryzen 7 170 takes the lead. For workloads that depend on high core counts and memory bandwidth, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the stronger choice. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with a quad-channel LPDDR5X memory bus and 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, give it a decisive edge in multi-threaded tasks such as physics simulation, where it scores 2887 versus the Ryzen 7 170’s 890. The Ryzen 7 170, with 8 cores, 16 threads, dual-channel DDR5 memory, and 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, is the more modest option for those same workloads, though it remains a functional mobile processor in its own right.

The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 also leads in single-threaded performance, which is relevant for lightly threaded applications and general responsiveness. Its score of 3927 in the single-thread test is 20.3% ahead of the Ryzen 7 170’s 3128. The Ryzen 7 170’s best relative showing comes in this single-thread test, where the gap is the smallest of any benchmark. For integer and floating-point math, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392’s advantage is larger, and for encryption and extended instruction workloads, the lead grows further. The data compression benchmark shows the largest absolute difference, with the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scoring 554760 against the Ryzen 7 170’s 265920. In practical terms, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the appropriate choice for users who need maximum compute throughput across both multi-threaded and single-threaded scenarios, while the Ryzen 7 170 offers a lower-tier alternative with no workload where it outperforms its rival in the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an average benchmark score of 90541, which is more than double the AMD Ryzen 7 170’s average of 43689. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 also sits at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 7 170 sits at the 88th.

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

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 3927 in the passmark single-thread test, which is 20.3% higher than the Ryzen 7 170’s 3128. This is the smallest performance gap between the two processors across all recorded benchmarks.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is better for multi-threaded workloads in every recorded test. In the passmark multithread benchmark, it scores 45231 compared to the Ryzen 7 170’s 20760, a difference of 54.1%. Its physics score of 2887 is 69.2% higher than the Ryzen 7 170’s 890.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Do the two processors use the same memory configuration?

A: No. The Ryzen 7 170 uses dual-channel DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses quad-channel LPDDR5X with 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Ryzen 7 170 has a boost clock of 4.75 GHz. Both processors have the same base clock of 3.20 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent and often large advantage for the Ryzen AI Max+ 392. In the passmark data compression test, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 554760 against the Ryzen 7 170’s 265920, a 52.1% lead. The data encryption benchmark shows a 42.1% gap, with scores of 27784 and 16078 respectively. Extended instructions favor the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 by 60.3%, with scores of 45666 and 18107. The largest percentage margin is in the find prime numbers test, where the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 320 and the Ryzen 7 170 scores 49, a difference of 84.7%. Floating point math results show the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 99548 versus 44979, a 54.8% lead. Integer math follows a similar pattern, with the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scoring 152414 and the Ryzen 7 170 scoring 79738, a 47.7% margin. The multithread benchmark shows the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 45231 against 20760, a 54.1% advantage. Physics scores are 2887 for the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and 890 for the Ryzen 7 170, a 69.2% gap. Random string sorting shows the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 at 59487 and the Ryzen 7 170 at 27804, a 53.3% lead. The single-thread test, as noted, is the closest result, with the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scoring 3927 and the Ryzen 7 170 scoring 3128, a 20.3% margin. The data confirms that the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is ahead in every recorded workload, with its smallest advantage being in single-threaded performance and its largest in prime number finding.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the Ryzen 7 170’s average score of 43689 places it alongside the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 at 43704 and the AMD Ryzen 7 260 at 43717, with the Ryzen 7 170 trailing the latter by 0.1%. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392’s average score of 90541 puts it near the Intel Xeon 654 at 90717, which is 0.2% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX at 91199, which is 0.7% ahead. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 leads the Intel Xeon w7-2575X by 2.7% and the Intel Xeon 6736P by 3%. These figures show that the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 competes in a much higher performance class than the Ryzen 7 170, which is consistent with the head-to-head results.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Both have a base clock of 3.20 GHz, but the boost clocks differ: the Ryzen 7 170 boosts to 4.75 GHz, and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 boosts to 5.00 GHz. The thermal design power also differs, with the Ryzen 7 170 rated at 35 watts and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 rated at 55 watts. The sockets are different as well, with the Ryzen 7 170 using AMD Socket FP7 and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 using AMD Socket FP11. The memory support differs, with the Ryzen 7 170 using dual-channel DDR5 and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 using quad-channel LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the Ryzen 7 170 and 256.0 GB/s for the Ryzen AI Max+ 392. The PCIe configurations are not identical: the Ryzen 7 170 has Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ, with the Ryzen 7 170 featuring a Radeon 680M and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 featuring a Radeon 8060S. Both processors support ECC memory, both are unlocked in terms of multiplier, and both are mobile parts with active production status. The release dates differ, with the Ryzen 7 170 released on 2025-09-30 and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 released on 2026-01-05.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between the two processors is significant. The Ryzen 7 170 is built on the Zen 3+ architecture with the codename Rembrandt-R, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Strix Halo. The process nodes differ, with the Ryzen 7 170 fabricated on a 6 nm process and the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 on a 4 nm process, both by TSMC. The die size is also different: the Ryzen 7 170 has a die size of 210 mm², while the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses a dual-die configuration with 2x 70.6 mm². The cache hierarchies are distinct. The Ryzen 7 170 has 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+ 392 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the Ryzen AI Max+ 392, combined with the newer Zen 5 core design, contributes to its substantial performance lead in the recorded benchmarks. The Ryzen 7 170’s Zen 3+ architecture is older, and the data shows that it trails the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 in every measured workload, with the largest margin occurring in the prime number finding test, where the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 leads by 84.7%.