AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins every single head-to-head test against the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164. Across all 11 recorded comparisons, Intel holds a positive delta, with margins ranging from a narrow 3.2% in integer math to a dominant 80.2% in prime number finding. The AMD part trails in every category, including single-thread performance, where Intel leads by 5.9%. For workloads that prioritize raw throughput, encryption, physics simulation, or floating-point math, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is the clear choice based on the measurements.

The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head set. Its average benchmark score of 52901 places it at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part scores 44466 on average, sitting at the 88th percentile. The AMD processor’s higher average score is driven by its closer proximity to other high-scoring chips; its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X, which scores 53288, just 0.7% above it. The Intel part’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D at 44573, only 0.2% higher, and the Intel Core i9-13950HX at 44342, 0.3% lower. The Intel chip is therefore positioned in a denser performance cluster, while the AMD part sits slightly above the pack.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded performance, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H delivers a 29.7% advantage in the PassMark multithread test. For any workload involving encryption, the Intel part is 43.6% faster. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164, however, offers ECC memory support, a feature absent on the Intel part, which may matter for certain embedded or reliability-focused deployments. The AMD processor also uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to Intel’s 153.6 GB/s, but the Intel part’s bandwidth advantage does not translate into a win for AMD in any measured test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and process nodes. The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses Intel’s 3 nm process. AMD’s codename is Gorgon Point, and it belongs to the Ryzen AI Embedded generation based on Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Intel’s part, codenamed Panther Lake, is part of the Core Ultra Series 3 generation, specifically Panther Lake-H. The AMD die size is 233 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD P164 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel X9 388H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part therefore has twice as many physical cores but no hyperthreading, resulting in equal thread counts. Base clocks are similar: AMD runs at 2.00 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, while Intel runs at 2.10 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost. The Intel part has a slight clock advantage at both ends.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of L3. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, combined with more than double the L3 capacity, likely contribute to its lead in cache-sensitive workloads such as random string sorting, where it wins by 20.9%. The AMD part’s total L3 is 8 MB, while Intel’s shared L3 is 18 MB.

Memory support differs as well. AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while Intel supports only LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but Intel’s bandwidth is 153.6 GB/s versus AMD’s 89.6 GB/s, a 71.4% higher figure. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are the Radeon 880M on AMD and the Arc B390 on Intel. The AMD part uses Socket FP8, while Intel uses BGA 2540. Both processors are marked as Active in production status, with the AMD part released on 2026-03-08 and the Intel part on 2026-01-04. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the head-to-head data, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins every benchmark category, so the practical question is not whether Intel wins but by how much in each domain.

In integer math, Intel leads by only 3.2%, the smallest margin of any test. This suggests that the two processors are nearly equivalent for basic integer arithmetic workloads, and the AMD part’s Zen 5 cores are competitive in this narrow area. In single-thread performance, Intel leads by 5.9%, a moderate margin that indicates a clear but not overwhelming advantage in lightly threaded applications.

The largest Intel wins come in compute-heavy tasks. The prime number finding test shows an 80.2% advantage, and physics simulation shows a 62.5% advantage. Floating-point math is 50.4% in Intel’s favor. These three tests dominate the performance gap and indicate that the Intel part has substantially stronger computational throughput per thread or per core for mathematically intensive workloads.

Data encryption shows a 43.6% Intel lead, while extended instructions are 19.2% ahead on Intel. Data compression is 9.4% ahead on Intel, and random string sorting is 20.9% ahead. The multithread test, which is the best overall summary of parallel performance, shows Intel ahead by 29.7%.

For the AMD part, there is no workload in the recorded set where it takes the lead. Its closest performance is in integer math and single-thread tests, where it trails by 3.2% and 5.9% respectively. The AMD processor’s ECC memory support is its only functional differentiator in the data, along with its higher average benchmark score relative to the Intel part’s rivals. The AMD part also has a higher percentile ranking (91st versus 88th), but this reflects its position among all CPUs rather than its direct comparison to the Intel part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has 16 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H provides 153.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 provides 89.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but Intel supports only LPDDR5X, while AMD supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: How close is the single-thread performance?

A: The Intel part scores 4280 in single-thread tests, while the AMD part scores 4029, giving Intel a 5.9% lead. This is one of the smaller margins in the comparison.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 has an average benchmark score of 52901, placing it at the 91st percentile. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H has an average score of 44466, placing it at the 88th percentile. Despite this, Intel wins all direct head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest gap is in the prime number finding test, where the Intel part scores 358 versus AMD’s 71, an 80.2% advantage for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The PassMark multithread test provides the clearest overall performance comparison. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H scores 36811, while the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P164 scores 25889. This is a 29.7% difference, and it reflects the Intel part’s advantage in parallel workloads. The Intel processor’s 16 physical cores, compared to AMD’s 8, are the likely driver, though the Intel part does not use simultaneous multithreading.

In floating-point math, Intel scores 112550 versus AMD’s 55799, a 50.4% advantage. This is one of the largest single-test gaps and indicates a substantial difference in FPU throughput. The physics test shows a similar pattern: Intel scores 3226, AMD scores 1210, for a 62.5% gap. Both tests are compute-intensive and reward the Intel part’s architecture.

Data encryption is another strong Intel win. The Intel part scores 28490, while AMD scores 16055, a 43.6% difference. This suggests that the Intel processor has significantly better cryptographic instruction throughput. Extended instructions follow a similar pattern: Intel scores 29943, AMD scores 24193, a 19.2% difference.

The prime number test is the most lopsided result. Intel scores 358, while AMD scores 71, an 80.2% gap. This test is highly sensitive to integer division and branch prediction, and the Intel architecture demonstrates a clear advantage here. Random string sorting shows Intel ahead by 20.9%, with scores of 44010 and 34801 respectively. Data compression is closer, with Intel at 361763 and AMD at 327891, a 9.4% gap.

Integer math is the closest test in the set. Intel scores 90882, while AMD scores 87940, a 3.2% gap. This indicates that for pure integer operations, the two processors are nearly matched, and the AMD part’s Zen 5 cores are competitive in this specific domain. Single-thread performance is also relatively close: Intel scores 4280, AMD scores 4029, a 5.9% gap. The singlethread test, which is a duplicate measurement in the database, shows the same scores.

Across all 11 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H wins every one. The AMD part’s best relative showing is in integer math, where it trails by just 3.2%, and its worst is in prime number finding, where it trails by 80.2%. The data does not show any test where the AMD processor outperforms the Intel processor. The Intel part’s larger cache hierarchy, higher memory bandwidth, faster clocks, and greater core count all contribute to its sweep of the benchmark suite.