AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 vs Intel Core i7-14701E 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, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-14701E averages 33206, which sits in the 83rd percentile.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E scores 22195 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 15674. The Intel part leads by 29.4% in this workload.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD processor show its largest advantage?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 leads by 82.8% in Passmark extended instructions, scoring 33873 versus 18528 for the Intel Core i7-14701E. It also wins data compression by 43.7% and random string sorting by 50%.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor according to the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 sits within 0.6% of the Intel Core i9-13950HX, Intel Core i5-13600, Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, and AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D. The Intel Core i7-14701E is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H, and within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS, AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, and Intel Core i7-13650HX.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E boosts to 5.40 GHz, whereas the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 boosts to 5.00 GHz. The AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 2.60 GHz for the Intel chip.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and the Intel Core i7-14701E list ECC memory support as enabled.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm². This is a mobile-market part on AMD Socket FP11. The Intel Core i7-14701E belongs to the Raptor Lake Refresh generation, using the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with a die size of 257 mm². It targets the desktop segment on Intel Socket 1700.

Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads, so the thread count is identical. The L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs: the AMD chip provides 1 MB per core, while the Intel chip provides 2 MB per core. The L3 cache also differs slightly: the AMD part has 32 MB shared, the Intel part has 33 MB shared.

Memory support diverges notably. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-14701E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics separate the two as well. The AMD part carries a Radeon 8050S, while the Intel part carries UHD Graphics 770. The AMD processor was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel processor on 2024-06-30. Production status for both is listed as active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-14701E wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins 7. The pattern is clear: Intel dominates the Cinebench suite, and AMD dominates most Passmark workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 2237 against 1579 for AMD, a 29.4% lead. The single-core R15 result shows the same margin: Intel at 315 versus AMD at 222, also 29.5% ahead. Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats the pattern: Intel scores 9321, AMD scores 6583, a 29.4% gap. The R20 single-core test shows Intel at 1315 versus AMD at 929, again 29.4% ahead. Cinebench R23 multi-core continues the trend: Intel at 22195, AMD at 15674, another 29.4% margin. The R23 single-core result is 3133 for Intel and 2212 for AMD, with the same 29.4% difference.

The Passmark results tell a different story. In data compression, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 406505 versus 282939 for Intel, a 43.7% advantage. Data encryption shows AMD at 19926 versus Intel at 14862, a 34.1% lead. Extended instructions favor AMD heavily: 33873 against 18528, an 82.8% margin. Floating point math goes to AMD at 71105 versus 61873, a 14.9% win. Integer math shows AMD at 107046 versus 81325, a 31.6% advantage. The multithread test gives AMD 33705 against Intel's 26112, a 29.1% win. Random string sorting is another AMD victory: 43725 versus 29158, a 50% margin.

The Intel processor takes the remaining Passmark tests. Find prime numbers shows Intel at 176 versus AMD at 165, a 6.2% edge. Physics favors Intel at 2399 against 1889, a 21.3% lead. Single-thread performance goes to Intel at 4305 versus 4060, a 5.7% advantage.

The benchmark data indicates a clear split: the Intel Core i7-14701E delivers consistently higher scores in rendering workloads across all Cinebench versions, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 excels in data processing, encryption, math operations, and sorting tasks.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward choice based on workload priorities. For users running Cinebench-class rendering or physics simulations, the Intel Core i7-14701E is the stronger option. Its 29.4% lead across every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, both single-core and multi-core, is consistent and substantial. The 21.3% advantage in Passmark physics reinforces this.

For users handling data-heavy tasks, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is the better performer. The 43.7% win in data compression, 34.1% win in data encryption, and 50% win in random string sorting indicate strong throughput in data manipulation. The 82.8% margin in extended instructions suggests a major advantage in workloads that use specialized instruction sets.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The AMD part averages 44309, which is 88th percentile, while the Intel part averages 33206, which is 83rd percentile. The AMD processor's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13950HX and Intel Core i5-13600, all within 0.6%. The Intel processor's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H and AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS, all within 0.4%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications beyond the benchmark results. The base clock is 3.60 GHz for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and 2.60 GHz for the Intel Core i7-14701E. The boost clock is 5.00 GHz for AMD and 5.40 GHz for Intel. Thermal design power is 55 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel.

The process node is 4 nm for AMD at TSMC, versus 10 nm for Intel's own foundry. The die size is 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD, versus 257 mm² for Intel. The L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD and 2 MB per core for Intel. The L3 cache is 32 MB shared for AMD and 33 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support differs: AMD uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth; Intel uses DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no recorded bandwidth. PCIe generation is Gen 4 for AMD and Gen 5 for Intel, both with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for AMD and UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. The socket is AMD Socket FP11 for the Ryzen AI Max 385 and Intel Socket 1700 for the Core i7-14701E. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 wins in workloads centered on data throughput and mathematical computation. The 43.7% lead in data compression points to file archiving and database workloads. The 34.1% lead in data encryption indicates strong performance in security and cryptographic tasks. The 82.8% lead in extended instructions suggests applications that leverage SIMD or specialized instruction paths. The 31.6% lead in integer math and 14.9% lead in floating point math cover general numerical processing. The 29.1% lead in multithread and 50% lead in random string sorting round out a profile suited to server-style data handling.

The Intel Core i7-14701E wins in rendering and single-threaded responsiveness. The 29.4% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both multi-core and single-core, indicates a clear advantage in 3D rendering and CPU-bound creative workloads. The 21.3% lead in physics points to simulation and game physics engines. The 5.7% lead in single-thread tests and 6.2% lead in prime number finding suggest slightly better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications.

The overall win count favors Intel at 10 wins versus 7 for AMD, but the magnitude of AMD's wins is often larger. AMD's largest margin is 82.8%, while Intel's largest margin is 29.5%. Users should weigh the consistency of Intel's Cinebench dominance against the larger peak advantages AMD shows in data tasks.