AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results split 6 wins for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and 11 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, but the margin distribution tells a more nuanced story. Intel takes the Cinebench R15 and R20 suites by a wide margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel leads 2504 to 1579, a 36.9% advantage. The single-core R15 result shows Intel ahead 305 to 222, a 27.2% gap. Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern: Intel wins multicore 10213 to 6583 and single-core 1441 to 929, both at 35.5% deltas.

The Cinebench R23 results compress the picture. Intel still wins multicore, 16331 to 15674, but the margin shrinks to just 4%. The single-core R23 test flips to AMD: the Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 2212 against Intel's 2044, an 8.2% advantage. This reversal suggests the AMD architecture holds an advantage in lightly threaded, modern workloads that is masked by the older R15 and R20 single-core tests.

PassMark results show a clear split by workload type. AMD dominates integer-heavy and memory-oriented tasks. PassMark integer math goes to AMD 107046 to 64934, a massive 64.9% delta. Data compression favors AMD 406505 to 276539, a 47% margin. Extended instructions also land with AMD, 33873 to 23906, a 41.7% edge. Random string sorting completes the AMD sweep of these throughput tasks, 43725 to 34082, a 28.3% win.

Intel wins the floating-point and physics-oriented PassMark tests. Floating point math goes to Intel 84067 to 71105, a 15.4% lead. Physics favors Intel 2697 to 1889, a 30% margin. Prime number finding is the largest Intel win: 304 to 165, a 45.7% delta. Data encryption shows a narrow Intel edge, 21367 to 19926, a 6.7% margin. PassMark multithread goes to AMD 33705 to 28717, a 17.4% advantage. PassMark single-thread results are close: Intel leads 4180 to 4060, a 2.9% margin.

The overall database average benchmark score places the AMD part at 44309 against Intel's 33989. AMD sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, Intel at the 84th. The nearest rival data reinforces the positioning: AMD's closest competitor is the Intel Core i9-13950HX with an average score of 44342, a 0.1% delta, while Intel's closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H at 34083, a 0.3% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different design strategies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture and codename, built on a 3 nm Intel process. AMD integrates 8 cores with 16 threads, while Intel provides 12 cores with 12 threads. The core counts produce different threading models: AMD relies on simultaneous multithreading, Intel ships physical cores only.

Cache hierarchies differ in both organization and size. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The L3 total favors AMD by 14 MB, but Intel's per-core L2 is 2.5 times larger.

Memory subsystems diverge sharply. Both support LPDDR5X, but AMD uses a quad-channel memory bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses a dual-channel bus with 136.5 GB/s. AMD also supports ECC memory; Intel does not. AMD's bandwidth advantage aligns with its wins in data compression and integer math, tasks that scale with memory throughput.

PCIe connectivity favors AMD in lane count but Intel in generation. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), Intel provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 8050S, Intel uses the Arc B370. Clock behavior varies, with AMD's base clock at 3.60 GHz and boost at 5.00 GHz, while Intel's base is 1.90 GHz and boost is 4.70 GHz. The TDP envelope differs substantially: AMD is rated at 55, Intel at 25.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FP11, Intel uses Intel BGA 2540. AMD's die size is recorded as 2x 70.6 mm², Intel's die size is not recorded in the database. AMD's production status is Active with a release date of 2025-01-05; Intel's production status is Active with a release date of 2026-01-04. Neither part has a recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

AMD's wins concentrate in integer-heavy, memory-bandwidth-bound, and multithreaded workloads. The 64.9% integer math advantage and the 47% data compression lead indicate that the Ryzen AI Max 385 handles throughput-oriented tasks with a large margin. The passmark multithread score of 33705 against 28717 confirms the AMD part sustains parallel performance across many threads. The 28.3% random string sorting win and the 41.7% extended instructions win reinforce this pattern.

The single-core Cinebench R23 result, where AMD leads by 8.2%, suggests that Zen 5's per-thread efficiency is competitive in modern rendering workloads despite the lower core count. The 5.00 GHz boost clock and the 32 MB shared L3 likely contribute to this result.

Intel wins in several distinct categories. The Cinebench R15 and R20 sweeps, including single-core margins of 27.2% and 35.5%, indicate strong legacy workload performance. The 45.7% prime number finding advantage and the 30% physics lead show that Intel's Panther Lake architecture handles algorithmic and simulation workloads effectively. The 15.4% floating-point math win points to strong FPU throughput. The 12-core configuration with 12 threads delivers higher multicore scores in Cinebench R15 and R20 because those tests scale with physical core count.

The data encryption result, a narrow Intel win at 6.7%, and the single-thread PassMark result, a 2.9% Intel win, represent close calls. The overall average benchmark score of 44309 for AMD versus 33989 for Intel places the Ryzen AI Max 385 ahead by roughly 30%, but the workload-specific results show that neither part dominates universally.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 records an average benchmark score of 44309, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H records 33989. AMD sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, Intel at the 84th.

Q: How large is the Intel advantage in Cinebench R20 multicore?

A: Intel scores 10213 against AMD's 6583, a 35.5% lead. The same 35.5% delta applies to Cinebench R20 single-core, where Intel scores 1441 against AMD's 929.

Q: Where does the AMD processor show its largest margin over Intel?

A: The largest AMD win is PassMark integer math, where AMD scores 107046 against Intel's 64934, a 64.9% delta. Data compression follows at 47% (406505 versus 276539).

Q: Does the Intel processor win any single-core benchmark?

A: Yes, Intel wins Cinebench R15 single-core (305 versus 222, a 27.2% lead), Cinebench R20 single-core (1441 versus 929, a 35.5% lead), and PassMark single-thread (4180 versus 4060, a 2.9% lead). AMD wins Cinebench R23 single-core (2212 versus 2044, an 8.2% lead).

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses a dual-channel LPDDR5X bus with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ?

A: AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel provides 12 cores and 12 threads. Intel has no simultaneous multithreading, while AMD doubles its thread count through SMT.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 | Intel Core Ultra 5 338H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 | 25 |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel BGA 2540 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Panther Lake |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Panther Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5 (Strix Halo)) | Ultra 5 (Panther Lake-H) |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 32 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 136.5 GB/s |

| ECC memory | True | False |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 8050S | Arc B370 |

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

| Part number | 100-000001424 | SA4REQ9EW |

Both processors are mobile parts, have locked multipliers, and share LPDDR5X memory support. The database records no launch MSRP for either unit. The AMD part uses a 4 nm TSMC process; the Intel part uses a 3 nm Intel process. Neither part has recorded transistor counts, and Intel's die size is not recorded.