AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core 3 N350 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 records an average benchmark score of 49,796, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 N350 averages 9,903, which lands in the 66th percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 18,759 versus 6,274 for the Intel Core 3 N350, a 199% advantage. The PassMark multi-thread test shows a 353.6% difference, with scores of 33,486 and 7,382 respectively.

Q: Are both processors based on the same manufacturing node?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core 3 N350 uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The AMD part also uses a different CPU architecture (Zen 5, codename Strix Halo) versus Intel's Twin Lake architecture.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same thread count?

A: No. Both have 8 cores, but the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports 16 threads while the Intel Core 3 N350 supports only 8 threads. This means each AMD core can handle two threads concurrently, whereas each Intel core handles one.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has a quad-channel memory bus delivering 256.0 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 N350 uses a single-channel bus providing 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 sits near the Intel Core 9 273PE (0.1% lower average score), Intel Core i5-14600KF (0.8% higher), AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (1.2% higher), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (1.2% higher). The Intel Core 3 N350 sits near the Intel Core i7-3770 (2% higher), Intel Core i5-1035G1 (2.3% higher), AMD EPYC 7F52 (2.5% lower), and Intel Xeon Platinum 8280 (3.2% lower).

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename, part of the Ryzen AI Max generation. It uses a 4 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm². This is a mobile processor with a thermal design power of 55 watts. It uses an AMD Socket FP11.

The Intel Core 3 N350 uses the Twin Lake architecture, belonging to the Core 3 generation based on Alder Lake-N. It is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. The processor has a 7 watt thermal design power and uses an Intel BGA 1264 socket. The die size is not recorded in the database.

Cache organization differs significantly. The AMD processor has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD part a substantial L3 advantage, though the Intel part has slightly larger L1 per core.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel interface with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth and ECC capability. The Intel Core 3 N350 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 over a single-channel interface with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD processor offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel processor offers Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are the Radeon 8060S on the AMD side versus UHD Graphics 770 on the Intel side.

Clock speeds show a wide gap. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 0.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Release dates differ by roughly a year. The Intel Core 3 N350 was released on 2026-01-05, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 was released on 2025-01-06. Both are listed as active production parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The largest margin appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD part scores 32,719 versus 3,981, a 721.9% advantage. This indicates a very large difference in SIMD and specialized instruction performance.

PassMark find prime numbers shows a 625% difference, with scores of 145 and 20. Data compression delivers a 398.3% gap, with the AMD part scoring 400,887 versus 80,444. The AMD processor also leads by 353.6% in PassMark multithread, 354.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and 327.6% in random string sorting.

Single-thread performance shows a smaller but still decisive gap. Cinebench R23 single-core has the AMD part at 1,960 versus 885, a 121.5% difference. PassMark single-thread shows 4,185 versus 1,974, a 112% difference. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 298 versus 89, a 234.8% difference.

In floating-point math, the AMD processor scores 72,722 against 17,781, a 309% advantage. Integer math shows 109,588 versus 27,669, a 296.1% difference. Physics tests show 1,843 versus 446, a 313.2% gap. Data encryption shows 20,092 versus 5,693, a 252.9% difference.

Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the AMD part a 199% lead with scores of 18,759 and 6,274. The smallest margins are in single-thread tests, but even there the AMD part holds at least a 112% advantage. The data consistently places the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 far ahead across every measured workload.

For context, the AMD processor's nearest rival, the Intel Core 9 273PE, has an average score of 49,845, just 0.1% higher. The Intel Core 3 N350's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-3770, has an average score of 9,706, which is 2% higher. This places the two processors in entirely different performance tiers.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and Intel Core 3 N350 differ in several key specification fields. Core count is identical at 8, but thread count differs: 16 for AMD, 8 for Intel. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD and 0.10 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for AMD and 3.90 GHz for Intel.

Thermal design power differs substantially: 55 watts for AMD, 7 watts for Intel. Socket types are AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel BGA 1264. Architecture is Zen 5 (Strix Halo) for AMD versus Twin Lake for Intel. Process nodes are 4 nm (TSMC) for AMD versus 10 nm (Intel) for Intel.

Cache layouts differ. AMD has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. Intel has 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR5X with quad-channel and 256.0 GB/s for AMD versus DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 with single-channel and 38.4 GB/s for Intel.

ECC memory support is true for AMD, false for Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD versus Gen 3 with 9 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8060S for AMD versus UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. Both parts are mobile segments, active production, and have locked multipliers.

The part numbers differ: 100-000001980 for AMD, SRPNS for Intel. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP. The AMD processor has a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 delivers an average score of 49,796, placing it in the 90th percentile. The Intel Core 3 N350 averages 9,903, placing it in the 66th percentile. The gap is roughly fivefold in average performance.

The AMD part wins every single head-to-head benchmark, with margins ranging from 112% in single-thread tests to 721.9% in extended instructions. The nearest rivals for the AMD part are modern high-end processors like the Intel Core 9 273PE and Intel Core i5-14600KF. The nearest rivals for the Intel part are older or lower-tier parts like the Intel Core i7-3770 and Intel Core i5-1035G1.

The Intel Core 3 N350 has one clear advantage: power consumption. Its 7 watt TDP is dramatically lower than the AMD part's 55 watts. This makes it suitable for fanless or ultra-low-power designs. But in raw compute, the AMD processor dominates across all recorded tests.

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the choice for applications requiring high throughput, heavy multi-threading, or memory bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 N350 is the choice for scenarios where power draw is the primary constraint and modest performance is acceptable. The performance differential is so large that the two parts serve fundamentally different market segments.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins in every measured benchmark category. Its strongest relative advantage appears in extended instructions (721.9% ahead), prime number finding (625% ahead), and data compression (398.3% ahead). These results indicate workloads involving cryptography, scientific computing, or data-heavy operations would see the largest benefit from choosing the AMD part.

Multi-threaded rendering tasks favor the AMD processor heavily. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 354.4% advantage, and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 199% advantage. The 16 threads versus 8 threads, combined with the higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache, explain this pattern. The AMD part's 32 MB L3 versus 6 MB L3 provides a substantial working set advantage.

Memory-intensive workloads also favor the AMD processor. The quad-channel LPDDR5X interface with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth far exceeds the Intel part's single-channel 38.4 GB/s. This affects any workload that streams data through memory, including compression, sorting, and encryption tasks where the AMD part leads by 252.9% to 398.3%.

The Intel Core 3 N350 wins only in the power efficiency domain. Its 7 watt TDP is one-eighth of the AMD part's 55 watts. For devices with minimal cooling, limited battery capacity, or strict thermal envelopes, the Intel part is the only viable option. The lower base clock of 0.10 GHz suggests aggressive power management capabilities.

Single-thread performance still favors AMD, with 121.5% and 112% advantages in Cinebench R23 and PassMark single-thread tests respectively. Even in lightly threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 maintains a decisive lead. The Intel part's nearest rivals are older processors, indicating it competes at a much lower performance tier.

The data does not show any workload category where the Intel Core 3 N350 outperforms the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388. The AMD part holds the advantage in every recorded test, with the smallest margin being 112% in single-thread performance. The choice between these two processors depends almost entirely on power constraints versus performance requirements.