AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 vs AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 records an average benchmark score of 44309, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 scores 39485. The Max 385 sits in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, one percentile higher than the Ryzen AI 7 450 at 87.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The results are mixed. The Ryzen AI 7 450 leads in Cinebench R23 multicore with 18316 versus 15674, a 16.9% advantage. However, the Ryzen AI Max 385 wins PassMark multithread with 33705 against 26350, which is a 21.8% lead.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 reaches 5.00 GHz. The base clocks differ more substantially: 2.00 GHz for the 450 versus 3.60 GHz for the Max 385.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Ryzen AI Max 385 uses a quad-channel LPDDR5X interface delivering 256.0 GB/s. The Ryzen AI 7 450 has a dual-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X setup with 89.6 GB/s. That gives the Max 385 roughly 2.86 times the theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen AI Max 385 wins 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The Ryzen AI 7 450 wins only two, both in Cinebench multicore tests.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen AI 7 450 uses the Radeon 860M, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Radeon 8050S. No graphics benchmark data is recorded in the database for either chip.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Zen 5 architecture and manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process, but they come from different product families. The Ryzen AI 7 450 uses the Gorgon Point codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI 400 generation, which mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Strix Halo codename and belongs to the Ryzen AI Max generation, based purely on Zen 5.

The socket differs, with the Ryzen AI 7 450 using AMD Socket FP8 and the Ryzen AI Max 385 using AMD Socket FP11. This means they are not drop-in interchangeable in a system design. The die layout also differs: the Ryzen AI 7 450 has a single 195 mm² die, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 uses a dual-die configuration with two 70.6 mm² chips.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is different. The Ryzen AI 7 450 has 8 MB of L3, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 has 32 MB of shared L3. That is a 4x difference in the last-level cache, which affects memory latency and data reuse patterns.

Memory support also separates the two. The Ryzen AI 7 450 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a dual-channel bus. The Ryzen AI Max 385 supports only LPDDR5X but on a quad-channel bus. The bandwidth figures reflect this: 89.6 GB/s for the 450 versus 256.0 GB/s for the Max 385. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity is identical: Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes. The production status for both is Active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen AI 7 450 has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 has a TDP of 55 watts, which explains some of the performance differences in sustained workloads.

The Verdict

The data shows two distinct usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 delivers higher Cinebench multicore scores despite a lower TDP of 28 watts. It wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 71.8% (2713 versus 1579) and Cinebench R23 multicore by 16.9% (18316 versus 15674). This suggests the Ryzen AI 7 450 is the stronger choice for short, bursty rendering tasks where power limits are constrained.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 dominates the broader PassMark suite. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, with leads ranging from 3.2% in Cinebench R15 singlecore to 46.1% in PassMark find prime numbers. Its average benchmark score of 44309 places it alongside Intel Core i9-13950HX, which scores 44342 (a 0.1% difference). The Max 385 also has 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, which benefits data-heavy workloads.

Users who need sustained compute across a wide range of integer, floating point, encryption, compression, and physics tasks should favor the Ryzen AI Max 385. Users who prioritize Cinebench-style multicore rendering and lower power draw (28 watts versus 55 watts) should consider the Ryzen AI 7 450. The Ryzen AI 7 450's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS, scores 39603, a 0.3% difference, which positions it in a similar performance class.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 | AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 55 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | AMD Socket FP11 |

| Codename | Gorgon Point | Strix Halo |

| Generation | Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c) | Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5) |

| Die Size | 195 mm² | 2x 70.6 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 32 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 256.0 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 860M | Radeon 8050S |

| Release Date | 2026-01-04 | 2025-01-05 |

| Part Number | 100-000001868 | 100-000001424 |

Both chips share 8 cores, 16 threads, 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, 4 nm process node, TSMC foundry, ECC support, Gen 4 PCIe with 16 lanes, and a locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win belongs to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 in Cinebench R15 multicore. It scores 2713 against 1579 for the Max 385, a 71.8% lead. This is an outlier in the dataset, as the R23 multicore gap is much smaller at 16.9% (18316 versus 15674). The R15 result suggests the Ryzen AI 7 450 can sustain higher short-duration multicore throughput, possibly due to its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz.

The Ryzen AI Max 385 wins every other recorded test. Its largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers: 165 versus 89, a 46.1% advantage. This workload is highly sensitive to memory bandwidth and cache size, both of which favor the Max 385 (256.0 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s, 32 MB L3 versus 8 MB L3).

In floating point math, the Max 385 scores 71105 against 54447, a 23.4% lead. Data compression shows 406505 versus 315906, a 22.3% advantage. Extended instructions yield 33873 versus 22400, a 33.9% gap. Integer math comes in at 107046 versus 88531, a 17.3% difference.

The single-thread results are closer. PassMark single thread shows 4060 for the Max 385 versus 3901 for the Ryzen AI 7 450, a 3.9% lead. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 2212 versus 2038, a 7.9% lead for the Max 385. Cinebench R15 singlecore is the tightest at 222 versus 215, a 3.2% difference.

The Ryzen AI Max 385 also wins in multithread (33705 versus 26350, 21.8%), physics (1889 versus 1578, 16.5%), data encryption (19926 versus 16247, 18.5%), and random string sorting (43725 versus 35648, 18.5%).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 wins in Cinebench multicore tests, both R15 and R23. These are rendering workloads that benefit from the chip's higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz and its lower TDP of 28 watts, which allows sustained boost in thermally constrained mobile chassis. The 71.8% R15 margin is the single biggest win in the entire comparison.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins everywhere else. Its 32 MB shared L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth give it clear advantages in memory-intensive PassMark tests. The 46.1% lead in find prime numbers and the 33.9% lead in extended instructions show that its cache and bandwidth advantages translate directly into compute throughput.

For encryption and compression, the Max 385 leads by 18.5% and 22.3% respectively. These workloads rely on the memory subsystem and benefit from the quad-channel interface. Physics simulation shows a 16.5% lead, which matters for gaming or physics-based applications. Random string sorting, a memory-latency sensitive task, shows an 18.5% lead.

The single-thread results favor the Max 385 but by smaller margins. The 3.9% PassMark single-thread lead and the 7.9% Cinebench R23 singlecore lead indicate that the Max 385's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz helps in lightly threaded tasks, despite the 450's higher boost clock.

For users running short-duration multicore renders, the Ryzen AI 7 450 is the data-supported pick. For users running a broader mix of compute tasks, especially those with large data sets, the Ryzen AI Max 385 is the consistently faster option across the recorded benchmarks.