AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 15 head-to-head comparisons between the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, and the result is lopsided. The Ryzen 9 8945HX wins 13 of those tests, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 takes only two. The scale of the victories, however, varies wildly across workload types.

The largest single margin comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 6030 against 1960 for the Ryzen AI Max+ 388, a 207.7% advantage. That is the biggest delta in the entire head-to-head set. Cinebench R15 single-core tells a similar story: 607 versus 298, a 103.7% lead. These results indicate that the 8945HX's Zen 4 cores, clocked to a 5.40 GHz boost, deliver far higher single-thread performance than the Zen 5 cores in the AI Max+ 388, which boost to only 5.00 GHz. The gap is so large that it cannot be explained by clock speed alone; the recorded data suggests the two processors are tuned for very different objectives.

Multi-core workloads also favor the 8945HX decisively. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 8945HX posts 42713 versus 18759, a 127.7% edge. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 4305 against 2872, a 49.9% advantage. This pattern reflects the core-count difference: the 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AI Max+ 388 has only 8 cores and 16 threads. The extra cores translate directly into higher throughput in fully threaded rendering tasks.

PassMark's integer math test reinforces the picture. The 8945HX scores 195180, the AI Max+ 388 scores 109588, a 78.1% gap. Floating-point math shows a 61.5% lead for the 8945HX (117453 versus 72722). Data compression favors the 8945HX by 69.1% (677755 versus 400887). Random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive workload, gives the 8945HX an 82.4% edge (78781 versus 43196). The 8945HX also leads in data encryption by 103.2% (40836 versus 20092) and in extended instructions by 52.3% (49823 versus 32719). Prime number finding shows an 80.7% gap (262 versus 145). The multithread score, a composite of several PassMark workloads, favors the 8945HX by 53.5% (51405 versus 33486).

The one bright spot for the AI Max+ 388 is PassMark single-thread performance. It scores 4185 against 3907 for the 8945HX, a 6.6% advantage. That is the only test where the Zen 5 architecture's newer design shows through in the recorded data. It is a narrow win, though, and it does not offset the losses elsewhere. Even in PassMark physics, a workload that often favors newer architectures, the 8945HX wins 2168 to 1843, a 17.6% margin.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the 8945HX sits at 76212, while the AI Max+ 388 sits at 49796. The 8945HX ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the AI Max+ 388 ranks in the 90th percentile. The 8945HX's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (avg score 76155, a 0.1% difference), the AMD EPYC Embedded 8224P (76492, -0.4%), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX (76513, -0.4%). The AI Max+ 388's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 9 273PE (49845, -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-14600KF (49394, 0.8%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49228, 1.2%). These rival comparisons place the two processors in entirely different performance tiers.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the faster processor in nearly every recorded workload. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, and its victories are often by wide margins, exceeding 100% in three tests and approaching 50% or more in several others. Its average benchmark score of 76212 is 53% higher than the AI Max+ 388's 49796. For any workload that depends on multi-core throughput, single-core speed, encryption, compression, or math operations, the 8945HX delivers substantially more performance.

The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has one clear advantage: PassMark single-thread performance, where it leads by 6.6%. That is a real but modest edge, and it is the only category where the Zen 5 architecture demonstrates superiority in this comparison. The AI Max+ 388 also brings a different set of platform features, including a more capable integrated GPU, ECC memory support, and quad-channel LPDDR5X memory, which matter for specific use cases. But on raw CPU benchmark scores, the 8945HX dominates.

Who should pick which? From the recorded data alone, the 8945HX suits users who prioritize CPU compute performance above all else: rendering, compilation, encryption, data processing, and heavy multitasking. The AI Max+ 388 suits users who need its unique platform attributes, particularly the integrated graphics and memory bandwidth, and who can accept lower CPU scores in exchange. The benchmark results do not support choosing the AI Max+ 388 for CPU-bound tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built on different process nodes. The Ryzen 9 8945HX uses Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, and is manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, and is manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process. The 8945HX's process node is less dense, yet it delivers far higher benchmark scores.

Core counts differ significantly. The 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads, exactly half. Clock speeds also differ: the 8945HX has a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock, while the AI Max+ 388 has a 3.60 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. The 8945HX boosts higher, which helps explain its single-core dominance despite the architectural age.

Cache configurations are not comparable. The 8945HX has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The AI Max+ 388 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8945HX holds twice the L3 capacity, another factor in its multi-core and latency-sensitive workload leads.

Memory support diverges sharply. The 8945HX supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, providing 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AI Max+ 388 supports LPDDR5X on a quad-channel bus, providing 256.0 GB/s, over three times the bandwidth. The AI Max+ 388 also supports ECC memory, which the 8945HX does not. The higher bandwidth and ECC support make the AI Max+ 388 better suited to memory-intensive or reliability-critical tasks, though the benchmark data does not show a CPU score advantage from this.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The 8945HX uses PCIe Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the AI Max+ 388 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The 8945HX offers newer and more numerous PCIe lanes for expansion.

Integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The 8945HX pairs with a Radeon 610M, while the AI Max+ 388 pairs with a Radeon 8060S. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either processor, so the comparison here is qualitative. The sockets differ as well: the 8945HX uses AMD Socket FL1, the AI Max+ 388 uses AMD Socket FP11.

The 8945HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the AI Max+ 388 does not. This means the 8945HX supports overclocking, which could further extend its benchmark lead in the hands of users who push beyond stock settings. The AI Max+ 388 is locked.

The 8945HX is an 8000 series part, released on 2025-04-22, and remains in active production. The AI Max+ 388 is part of the Ryzen AI Max line, released on 2026-01-05, and is also active. The 8945HX's die size is listed as 2x 71 mm², while the AI Max+ 388's is 2x 70.6 mm². The 8945HX has 13,140 million transistors; the AI Max+ 388's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX boosts to 5.40 GHz. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 provides 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus. The Ryzen 9 8945HX provides 83.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus.

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 4185, beating the Ryzen 9 8945HX's 3907 by 6.6%.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 9 8945HX has an average benchmark score of 76212. The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average of 49796.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 9 8945HX does not.

Q: Which processor is built on the smaller process node?

A: The Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses TSMC's 4 nm process. The Ryzen 9 8945HX uses TSMC's 5 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in every multi-threaded and most single-threaded CPU workload recorded in the database. Its 13 head-to-head victories include Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, PassMark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, find prime numbers, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. The margins range from 17.6% in physics to 207.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This makes it the clear choice for CPU-bound applications: rendering, video encoding, software compilation, scientific computing, encryption, and any workload that scales with core count or high boost clocks. Its unlocked multiplier adds overclocking headroom, and its PCIe Gen 5 support with 28 lanes provides more expansion capability.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins only in PassMark single-thread performance, where its 4185 score edges out the 8945HX's 3907 by 6.6%. That is a narrow lead and it does not indicate overall CPU superiority. However, the AI Max+ 388 has platform strengths that are not reflected in CPU benchmark scores. Its Radeon 8060S integrated graphics are far more capable than the Radeon 610M in the 8945HX, based on the product naming and tier. Its 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, over three times the 8945HX's 83.2 GB/s, benefits workloads that are memory-bound rather than compute-bound, such as large data set manipulation or certain AI inference tasks. Its ECC memory support suits reliability-sensitive environments. Its quad-channel LPDDR5X memory bus is a different class of memory subsystem.

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on workload type. CPU compute: the 8945HX wins decisively. Graphics, memory bandwidth, and ECC: the AI Max+ 388 offers capabilities the 8945HX lacks. The benchmark database records no graphics or memory bandwidth tests for either processor, so those strengths remain qualitative. On the recorded CPU scores, the 8945HX is the superior processor in 13 of 15 tests, and its average score is 53% higher.