AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has an average benchmark score of 75488, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 44309. The Intel part sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the AMD part is in the 88th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core rendering tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 wins every Cinebench multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 48945 versus AMD's 15674, a 68% difference. The same 68% delta appears in R20 and R15 multi-core tests.

Q: What about single-core performance?

A: Intel dominates single-core as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 6909 against AMD's 2212, a 68% margin. In PassMark single-thread, Intel leads 4881 to 4060, a 16.8% advantage.

Q: Are there any tests where the AMD processor comes close to Intel?

A: The closest result is PassMark integer math, where Intel leads by 35.1% (164869 versus 107046). The smallest delta overall is the 16.8% gap in PassMark single-thread performance.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 has 24 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel does not use Hyper-Threading, while AMD's 8 cores each support two threads.

Q: What are the memory configurations?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. The die is composed of two chiplets, each measuring 70.6 mm². It is a mobile processor designed for AMD Socket FP11. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285 uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, fabricated on a 3 nm TSMC process. The single die measures 243 mm² and contains 17,800 million transistors. Intel targets the desktop segment with Socket 1851.

The core configurations diverge sharply. AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Intel provides 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The absence of simultaneous multithreading on Intel means each of its 24 cores handles one thread, while AMD's 8 cores each handle two threads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on Intel reflect its hybrid core design, while AMD's shared L3 is slightly smaller.

Memory support is a major architectural split. AMD uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is typical for integrated graphics-heavy mobile parts. Intel uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, but the bandwidth advantage belongs to AMD.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD pairs with Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep: Intel wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The largest margins appear in Cinebench tests, where Intel consistently leads by 68%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 4933 versus AMD's 1579, a 68% delta. The same pattern holds for R20 multi-core (20556 versus 6583) and R23 multi-core (48945 versus 15674). Single-core Cinebench tests show identical 68% deltas: R15 single-core is 696 versus 222, R20 single-core is 2901 versus 929, and R23 single-core is 6909 versus 2212.

PassMark tests reveal a range of margins. The smallest gap is in single-thread performance, where Intel scores 4881 against AMD's 4060, a 16.8% delta. Intel also leads by 25.3% in extended instructions (45357 versus 33873). Data compression shows a 32.5% gap (602121 versus 406505). Integer math is 35.1% ahead for Intel (164869 versus 107046). Multithread performance is 40.5% higher on Intel (56602 versus 33705). Random string sorting has a 40.6% delta (73651 versus 43725). Physics tests show Intel ahead by 47.5% (3598 versus 1889). Data encryption has a 57.6% gap (46949 versus 19926). Floating point math is 63.5% higher (194988 versus 71105). Prime number finding shows a 64.1% delta (459 versus 165).

The pattern is consistent: Intel's advantage grows with workload intensity. Single-thread tests show the smallest gap, while multi-thread and rendering workloads show the largest. The 68% Cinebench margins align with Intel's core count advantage and higher boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads; Intel has 24 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for AMD and 5.60 GHz for Intel. TDP ratings are 55 W for AMD and 65 W for Intel.

Process nodes differ: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 3 nm, both from TSMC. Die sizes are 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD versus 243 mm² for Intel. The transistor count is listed only for Intel at 17,800 million.

Cache specifications diverge: L1 is 80 KB per core for AMD versus 192 KB per core for Intel. L2 is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 3 MB per core for Intel. L3 is 32 MB shared for AMD versus 36 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support differs by type and bus: AMD uses LPDDR5X with quad-channel, Intel uses DDR5 with dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is 256.0 GB/s for AMD versus 102.4 GB/s for Intel. Both support ECC.

PCIe specifications differ: AMD has Gen 4 with 16 lanes, Intel has Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for AMD and Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel Socket 1851. Market segments are mobile for AMD and desktop for Intel. Release dates are 2025-01-05 for AMD and 2024-12-31 for Intel. Intel has a launch MSRP of $579; AMD has no listed launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows Intel wins in every measured category, but the magnitude of the win varies by workload. For single-threaded tasks, the gap is relatively modest. The PassMark single-thread score shows Intel at 4881 versus AMD at 4060, a 16.8% margin. This indicates that AMD's Zen 5 cores are competitive on a per-thread basis, though Intel's higher boost clock of 5.60 GHz provides the edge.

For integer-heavy workloads, Intel leads by 35.1% in PassMark integer math. This is a moderate gap that reflects core count advantages rather than architectural superiority per core. Similarly, data compression shows a 32.5% lead for Intel, and random string sorting shows a 40.6% lead.

The biggest wins for Intel come in rendering and floating-point workloads. Cinebench multi-core tests show 68% margins, and PassMark floating point math shows a 63.5% delta. These workloads scale with core count, and Intel's 24 cores versus AMD's 8 cores create an insurmountable gap.

AMD's strongest showing is in single-thread performance, where the delta narrows to 16.8%. For applications that are lightly threaded and sensitive to clock speed, AMD's 5.00 GHz boost clock keeps the gap manageable. The 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth on AMD also provides a theoretical advantage for integrated graphics workloads, though the benchmark data does not directly measure that.

In practical terms, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering, physics simulation, encryption, and prime number calculations. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, as a mobile part with lower TDP, delivers competitive single-thread performance but trails significantly in all multi-thread tests. The 17-0 win count in head-to-head benchmarks confirms Intel's dominance across the entire test suite.