AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core 5 120HL Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 as the significantly stronger processor in almost every measurable category. The AMD part holds a 90th percentile ranking across all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 5 120HL sits at the 50th percentile. The benchmark results for the Intel chip are incomplete in the database, with no recorded scores for any standard test, making direct numerical comparison impossible. The AMD processor delivers 8 cores with 16 threads, while the Intel chip offers 12 cores with 16 threads, yet the Intel part lacks any scored entries to evaluate its actual performance.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the clear choice for workloads that depend on multithreaded throughput and single-core responsiveness, based on its extensive benchmark record. The Intel Core 5 120HL, with its 45 W TDP and LGA 1700 socket, targets desktop systems, but the absence of benchmark data leaves its performance unquantified. Users requiring validated performance metrics should select the AMD processor, as the database contains 15 separate scored tests for it. The Intel part, despite its higher core count, cannot be recommended on the strength of measured results because no such results exist in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher benchmark percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 5 120HL ranks in the 50th percentile.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 120HL has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for both processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 120HL boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 120HL have any benchmark scores in the database?

A: No, the Intel Core 5 120HL has an empty benchmark array, and its average benchmark score is recorded as 0.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 120HL does not support ECC memory.

Q: What integrated graphics do the two processors use?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses a Radeon 8060S, and the Intel Core 5 120HL uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 5 120HL uses the older Raptor Lake architecture under the Raptor Lake-PS codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The die size for the Intel part is not recorded.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially between the two. 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 also has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but doubles the L2 allocation to 2 MB per core, while its shared L3 cache is smaller at 18 MB. The AMD chip therefore provides more total L3 capacity, which can benefit workloads with large working sets.

Memory architecture separates the two parts clearly. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, and it includes ECC memory support. The Intel Core 5 120HL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded, and it lacks ECC support. The AMD part's quad-channel configuration and higher bandwidth capacity give it a structural advantage in memory-intensive tasks.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The AMD processor provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides Gen 4 with only 8 lanes (CPU only). This gives the AMD chip double the PCIe lane count for attached devices. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the AMD processor featuring a Radeon 8060S and the Intel processor featuring Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Both processors are actively in production, but the AMD part was released later, with a release date of January 2026, while the Intel part came out in April 2024.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and Intel Core 5 120HL differ across nearly every specification field in the database. Clock speeds diverge significantly: the AMD processor has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel processor has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD chip runs at a higher TDP of 55 W, compared to 45 W for the Intel chip.

Socket compatibility is entirely different. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is classified as a mobile segment chip, whereas the Intel part is classified as a desktop segment chip. Process nodes differ by generation: the AMD chip uses 4 nm TSMC fabrication, and the Intel chip uses 10 nm Intel fabrication.

Memory support is another distinguishing field. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X only, with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure recorded. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part. PCIe lanes are 16 for the AMD chip and 8 for the Intel chip, both at Gen 4.

The integrated graphics units differ, with the AMD processor using Radeon 8060S and the Intel processor using Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The AMD processor has a part number of 100-000001980, while the Intel processor has a part number of SRPFR. The Intel processor has a launch MSRP of $279, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD processor. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Benchmark records are the most striking difference: the AMD processor has 15 recorded benchmark scores, while the Intel processor has zero. The AMD processor's average benchmark score is 49796, and the Intel processor's average benchmark score is 0. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 9 273PE (average score 49845, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-14600KF (average score 49394, 0.8% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (average score 49228, 1.2% behind). The Intel Core 5 120HL has no listed rivals.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 versus the Intel Core 5 120HL. The Intel processor has an empty benchmark array, so no scores exist for any test. The AMD processor, by contrast, has a full set of 15 recorded scores across Cinebench and PassMark tests.

Cinebench results for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 show a multicore score of 2872 in Cinebench R15 and a single-core score of 298 in the same test. In Cinebench R23, the AMD processor scores 18759 in multicore and 1960 in single-core. These scores establish the AMD part's capability in both threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads. The Intel Core 5 120HL has no comparable scores, so the data cannot confirm whether its 12-core configuration would outperform the AMD chip's 8-core design.

PassMark tests for the AMD processor cover a wide range of operations. Integer math scores 109588, floating point math scores 72722, and extended instructions score 32719. Data compression scores 400887, data encryption scores 20092, and random string sorting scores 43196. The multithread score is 33486, and the single-thread score is 4185. Physics scores 1843, and find prime numbers scores 145. Each of these results constitutes a measurable data point for the AMD chip, while the Intel chip contributes no data points.

Since the Intel Core 5 120HL lacks any scores, the head-to-head comparison is one-sided by necessity. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388's nearest rivals provide context for its standing. The Intel Core 9 273PE scores 49845 on average, which is 0.1% above the AMD chip's average. The Intel Core i5-14600KF scores 49394, which is 0.8% below. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, which is 1.2% below. These rival comparisons show that the AMD processor sits comfortably within the range of high-performing desktop and mobile CPUs, despite its mobile classification.

The wins tally in the recorded data shows zero wins for both the AMD and Intel parts, confirming the absence of any direct comparison. The AMD processor's percentile ranking of 90 against the Intel processor's percentile ranking of 50 reinforces the gap in measured performance, even without identical test conditions. The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is a validated performer across multiple benchmark suites, while the Intel Core 5 120HL remains an unmeasured quantity in the database.