AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 vs Intel Core 5 213PE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split between two very different processors. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 213PE wins 6. The Intel part dominates every Cinebench workload, both single-core and multi-core, by a consistent margin of roughly 30%. The AMD part counters with substantial wins across the Passmark suite, particularly in data compression, encryption, extended instruction throughput, and prime number finding. The overall average benchmark scores confirm the separation: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 records an average score of 44309 against 35428 for the Intel Core 5 213PE, a difference of about 25%. The AMD chip sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits at the 85th percentile.

For workloads built around Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel Core 5 213PE is the clear choice. Its multi-core scores are uniformly about 30% higher across R15, R20, and R23, and its single-core scores show the same 30% advantage. For workloads involving data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and integer math, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is the stronger part, with margins ranging from 16.2% to 73.1%. The single-thread Passmark score is a dead heat at 4060 for both processors, which makes the Cinebench single-core gap all the more striking.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design lineages. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 213PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. Both parts have 8 cores and 16 threads, so thread counts match exactly. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs: AMD uses 1 MB per core, Intel uses 2 MB per core. L3 cache also differs, with AMD providing 32 MB shared versus Intel's 24 MB shared.

Memory support separates the two clearly. The AMD part uses LPDDR5X memory across a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 across a dual-channel bus, delivering 76.8 GB/s. That is a 3.3x bandwidth advantage for the AMD chip in memory throughput. Both support ECC memory. PCIe generations differ as well: AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ substantially: AMD pairs the CPU with a Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730.

The sockets and market segments diverge. AMD uses Socket FP11 and is classified as a mobile part. Intel uses Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop part. The base clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for AMD and 5.20 GHz for Intel. TDP ratings are 55 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates are roughly a year apart: the AMD part launched on 2025-01-05, the Intel part on 2026-03-08.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core 5 213PE wins every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 2264 against AMD's 1579, a 30.3% advantage. In R15 single-core, Intel scores 319 against 222, a 30.4% advantage. R20 multi-core shows Intel at 9436 versus 6583, a 30.2% gap. R20 single-core shows 1332 versus 929, a 30.3% gap. R23 multi-core shows 22468 versus 15674, a 30.2% gap. R23 single-core shows 3172 versus 2212, a 30.3% gap. The consistency is notable: every Cinebench margin sits within a narrow band around 30%, suggesting a fundamental per-clock or per-core efficiency difference in that workload.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins the remaining tests, often by large margins. The biggest win is in Passmark extended instructions, where AMD scores 33873 against Intel's 19565, a 73.1% advantage. Data compression shows AMD at 406505 versus 298804, a 36% advantage. Random string sorting shows 43725 versus 32027, a 36.5% advantage. Find prime numbers shows 165 versus 114, a 44.7% advantage. Data encryption shows 19926 versus 15916, a 25.2% advantage. Passmark multithread shows 33705 versus 26434, a 27.5% advantage. Physics shows 1889 versus 1624, a 16.3% advantage. Integer math shows 107046 versus 92089, a 16.2% advantage. Floating point math is the closest AMD win: 71105 versus 68587, just 3.7% apart. The single-thread Passmark scores are identical at 4060 for both, recorded as a 0% delta with AMD listed as the nominal winner.

The pattern that emerges is that Intel wins heavily in Cinebench, while AMD wins broadly across the Passmark suite. The Cinebench results suggest Intel has an edge in the specific rendering and ray-tracing workloads that Cinebench exercises. The Passmark results suggest AMD has an edge in general-purpose computing, especially around data movement, encryption, and extended instruction sets. The floating point math result being nearly tied at 3.7% indicates that raw FP throughput is similar, which makes the Cinebench gap more likely related to workload-specific execution rather than raw compute capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has an average benchmark score of 44309, compared to 35428 for the Intel Core 5 213PE. The AMD part sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 85th percentile.

Q: How large is the Intel advantage in Cinebench?

A: The Intel Core 5 213PE leads by approximately 30% in every Cinebench test. The margins are 30.2% to 30.4% across R15, R20, and R23, for both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Q: What is the AMD processor's largest win over Intel?

A: The largest AMD win is in Passmark extended instructions, where the Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 33873 against 19565 for Intel, a 73.1% advantage.

Q: Do the two processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads. They also share the same L1 cache size of 80 KB per core. However, AMD uses 1 MB of L2 per core and 32 MB of shared L3, while Intel uses 2 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3.

Q: How do the memory systems compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses LPDDR5X memory on a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 213PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

Q: Are the single-thread Passmark scores different?

A: No, both processors score exactly 4060 in Passmark single-thread and Passmark singlethread tests. The recorded delta is 0%, with AMD listed as the nominal winner.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 213PE wins exclusively in Cinebench workloads. This covers R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The consistent 30% margin across all six Cinebench tests points to a strong architectural advantage in that specific rendering workload. The Intel part also has a higher boost clock at 5.20 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, and double the L2 cache per core at 2 MB versus 1 MB, which may contribute to its Cinebench performance. Being a desktop part with a 65 watt TDP and Socket 1700, it fits into a conventional desktop platform.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins in the broader Passmark suite. Data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting all favor AMD. The margins range from a narrow 3.7% in floating point math to a dominant 73.1% in extended instructions. The memory bandwidth advantage is likely a major factor: 256.0 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s gives AMD a 3.3x raw bandwidth edge, which helps in data-heavy workloads like compression, encryption, and sorting. The AMD part also uses a newer 4 nm process versus Intel's 10 nm, which may explain its efficiency in these tasks. The Radeon 8050S integrated graphics also outclass Intel's UHD Graphics 730, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 213PE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD and 2.70 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for AMD and 5.20 GHz for Intel. TDP is 55 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel. AMD uses Socket FP11 and is a mobile part; Intel uses Socket 1700 and is a desktop part. The AMD die size is recorded as 2x 70.6 mm², while no die size is recorded for Intel.

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core. AMD has 1 MB of L2 per core, Intel has 2 MB per core. AMD has 32 MB of shared L3, Intel has 24 MB of shared L3. Memory support differs: AMD uses LPDDR5X on a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth; Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are listed as Active in production status. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $221; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. The release dates are 2025-01-05 for AMD and 2026-03-08 for Intel.