AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 5 220H. The margins vary considerably across workloads, revealing where each architecture's strengths and weaknesses lie.

The largest single victory comes in PassMark's extended instructions test, where the AMD part scores 32,719 against Intel's 14,642, a delta of 123.5%. This measures specialized instruction throughput, and the gap here is more than double, indicating a substantial advantage in vectorized or encryption-related workloads.

Multi-core rendering shows a similar story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 delivers 18,759 points versus 11,198 for the Intel Core 5 220H, a 67.5% advantage. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test confirms the trend with 2,872 versus 1,835, a 56.5% delta. These results indicate that the AMD processor sustains higher throughput under prolonged all-core loads.

Data compression favors AMD heavily as well. The PassMark data compression score of 400,887 versus 247,921 represents a 61.7% lead. Integer math follows with 109,588 versus 73,555, a 49% difference. Floating-point math shows a 40.7% gap (72,722 versus 51,671), while random string sorting lands at 51.9% (43,196 versus 28,438).

Prime number finding, a test sensitive to both core efficiency and memory latency, shows a 76.8% delta (145 versus 82). Multithreaded PassMark scores are 33,486 versus 21,884, a 53% difference. Physics simulation in PassMark yields a 24.7% lead (1,843 versus 1,478).

Single-thread performance is closer but still firmly AMD's. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1,960 versus 1,853, a 5.8% margin. PassMark single-thread scores are 4,185 versus 3,405, a 22.9% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 298 versus 262, a 13.7% delta. Data encryption shows a 32% gap (20,092 versus 15,216).

The overall average benchmark score reflects the magnitude of this difference: the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 averages 49,796 points, while the Intel Core 5 220H averages 28,574. The AMD part sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the Intel chip lands in the 80th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H, on a 10 nm process at Intel.

Core counts differ significantly. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has 12 cores and 16 threads. Despite having 50% more physical cores, the Intel part still loses all multi-threaded benchmarks, which points to substantial per-core efficiency advantages for the AMD Zen 5 design.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel has 2 MB per core. The L3 cache totals 32 MB shared on the AMD side versus 18 MB shared on the Intel side. The larger L3 pool on AMD likely contributes to its strong data compression and integer performance.

Memory support is another clear separator. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses LPDDR5X memory with a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 220H supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. The memory bandwidth advantage is enormous and helps explain the AMD processor's dominance in memory-sensitive tasks like random string sorting and prime finding.

The AMD chip also includes ECC memory support, which the Intel part lacks. PCIe capabilities differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are also different: the AMD part uses Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

Clock speeds favor AMD. The base clock is 3.60 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, and the boost clock is 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. The thermal design power is 55 watts for AMD and 45 watts for Intel. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FP11, while Intel uses the Intel BGA 1744.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average benchmark score of 49,796, while the Intel Core 5 220H has an average of 28,574.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 220H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the manufacturing process nodes?

A: The AMD processor is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel processor uses a 10 nm process at Intel.

Q: Does ECC memory support differ?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 220H does not.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 | Intel Core 5 220H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Raptor Lake-H |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 8060S | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |

| Release date | 2026-01-05 | 2024-12-17 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $342 |

The two processors share the same thread count of 16, the same L1 cache of 80 KB per core, both target the mobile market segment, both are actively in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows no wins for the Intel Core 5 220H in any direct comparison. Every single test, from single-core rendering to multi-core throughput to specialized instruction workloads, goes to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388.

For workloads that depend on raw single-thread speed, the AMD part leads by 5.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core and 22.9% in PassMark single-thread. This suggests the Zen 5 architecture delivers higher instructions per clock despite the Intel chip having more cores.

In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD advantage grows. The 67.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 53% lead in PassMark multithread indicate that the AMD processor scales better across its 16 threads. The Intel chip's extra 4 cores do not compensate for the lower per-core efficiency and the narrower memory bus.

For memory-intensive workloads like data compression (61.7% lead) and random string sorting (51.9% lead), the quad-channel LPDDR5X memory subsystem on the AMD side provides a clear edge. The 256.0 GB/s bandwidth figure dwarfs what the dual-channel Intel configuration can offer.

For encryption and specialized instructions, the AMD processor shows its strongest relative performance. The 123.5% lead in extended instructions and the 32% lead in data encryption point to robust SIMD and crypto acceleration capabilities.

The Intel Core 5 220H does hold one advantage: power consumption. Its 45 W TDP is lower than the AMD part's 55 W. However, no efficiency benchmark data is recorded, so the practical impact remains unmeasured.

The Verdict

The recorded data paints an unambiguous picture. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 outperforms the Intel Core 5 220H in every benchmark category present in the database. The AMD part's average benchmark score of 49,796 places it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip's 28,574 average sits in the 80th percentile.

The nearest rivals to the AMD processor include the Intel Core 9 273PE with an average score of 49,845 (0.1% below), the Intel Core i5-14600KF with 49,394 (0.8% above), and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 with 49,228 (1.2% above). The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 fits into a performance tier occupied by desktop-class processors.

The Intel Core 5 220H's nearest rivals are much lower in the stack. The AMD EPYC 7203P scores 28,583 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850HS scores 28,549 (0.1% above), and the Intel Xeon E-2436 scores 28,530 (0.2% above). The Intel Core i5-12600 scores 28,646, which is 0.3% above the Intel Core 5 220H.

For users selecting a mobile processor based strictly on the benchmark evidence, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the clear choice for any compute-heavy workload. Its 15 direct benchmark wins with deltas ranging from 5.8% to 123.5% demonstrate a comprehensive advantage. The Intel Core 5 220H offers a lower TDP and a lower launch MSRP of $342, but no performance metric in the recorded data favors it.