AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core 9 273PTE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins 12 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE takes 3. The AMD part is the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads, with particularly large margins in extended instructions (105.1% ahead), data compression (55% ahead), and random string sorting (49.1% ahead). It also posts a higher average benchmark score of 49796 against 31143 for the Intel chip, and sits at the 90th percentile of all CPUs versus the Intel part's 82nd percentile.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE, however, is not without its own territory. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 8.2% and single-core by 32.1%, plus PassMark physics by 3.9%. That single-core dominance in Cinebench R23 is substantial, and it indicates the Intel part has a meaningful advantage in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks. The data suggests the AMD processor is the pick for math, encryption, compression, and general parallel throughput. The Intel processor is the pick for single-core Cinebench performance and physics simulation. Buyers should note the Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $549.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 records an average benchmark score of 49796, which is significantly higher than the Intel Core 9 273PTE's 31143.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins that test. It scores 20445 against the AMD part's 18759, a delta of 8.2% in Intel's favor.

Q: Which chip is faster in PassMark single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 4185 versus 3433 for the Intel part, a 21.9% margin.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses quad-channel LPDDR5X with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 9 273PTE uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the socket requirements?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE uses Intel Socket 1700.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Strix Halo, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm process at Intel. The die size for the AMD part is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel part has no recorded die size.

Cache layouts differ as well. Both parts share the same L1 cache at 80 KB per core, but the AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 per core versus 2 MB per core on the Intel chip. The shared L3 cache favors Intel: 36 MB shared against 32 MB shared on the AMD part. The AMD processor has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel processor has 12 cores and 24 threads, a 50% core advantage for Intel.

Memory architecture is a major split. The AMD part supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe interface also differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are another point of divergence. The AMD chip pairs with a Radeon 8060S, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730.

The market segments differ too. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is a mobile processor, and the Intel Core 9 273PTE is a desktop processor. The release dates are both in 2026, with the AMD part on January 5 and the Intel part on March 8. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, Intel has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are far apart. The AMD chip runs at 3.60 GHz base and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip runs at 1.40 GHz base and boosts to 5.50 GHz. The boost advantage goes to Intel by 0.50 GHz, but the base clock advantage is heavily in AMD's favor.

Thermal design power also splits. The AMD part is rated at 55 W, while the Intel part is rated at 45 W. The AMD chip is 10 W higher. Socket compatibility is completely different: AMD Socket FP11 for the AMD part, Intel Socket 1700 for the Intel part.

Cache specifications show the Intel chip with more L2 and L3. L1 is identical at 80 KB per core. L2 is 1 MB per core on AMD versus 2 MB per core on Intel. L3 is 32 MB shared on AMD versus 36 MB shared on Intel. Memory bandwidth is a decisive difference: 256.0 GB/s on the AMD part versus 89.6 GB/s on the Intel part. The AMD part uses quad-channel LPDDR5X, the Intel part uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5.

The process node and foundry differ. AMD is on 4 nm at TSMC, Intel is on 10 nm at Intel. The production status for both is Active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $549, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers are 100-000001980 for AMD and SA4QJ for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 dominates the head-to-head results. In PassMark extended instructions, the AMD chip scores 32719 against 15952 for Intel, a 105.1% lead. That is the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression shows a 55% win for AMD, 400887 against 258704. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 49.1%, 43196 against 28973. Data encryption goes to AMD by 41%, 20092 against 14253. PassMark multithread goes to AMD by 39.2%, 33486 against 24054. Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to AMD by 39.4%, 2872 against 2060. Integer math goes to AMD by 33%, 109588 against 82411. PassMark single-thread goes to AMD by 21.9%, 4185 against 3433. Floating point math goes to AMD by 19.9%, 72722 against 60673. Cinebench R15 single-core is a narrow AMD win at 2.8%, 298 against 290. Find prime numbers is also close, 2.1% for AMD, 145 against 142.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE takes three wins. Cinebench R23 single-core is the biggest, with Intel scoring 2886 against AMD's 1960, a 32.1% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core goes to Intel by 8.2%, 20445 against 18759. PassMark physics goes to Intel by 3.9%, 1917 against 1843.

The narrowest margins in the entire set are the find prime numbers test at 2.1% and the Cinebench R15 single-core at 2.8%, both won by AMD. The physics win for Intel at 3.9% is also close. The data shows a clear pattern: AMD wins the majority of throughput and math workloads, while Intel wins the newer Cinebench R23 tests and physics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins in 12 of 15 benchmarks. Its strongest categories are instruction-heavy workloads, encryption, compression, and parallel math. The extended instructions result, 105.1% ahead, makes it the clear pick for SIMD-heavy code. Data compression at 55% ahead and random string sorting at 49.1% ahead point to strong memory and sorting throughput. The 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and quad-channel LPDDR5X support likely feed these wins. The PassMark multithread score of 33486 versus 24054, a 39.2% margin, confirms the AMD chip handles sustained multi-threaded loads well despite having fewer cores and threads than the Intel part. The AMD chip also wins single-thread PassMark by 21.9%, which suggests its per-core efficiency at 4 nm is strong.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE wins in 3 of 15 benchmarks. The Cinebench R23 single-core result, 32.1% ahead, is its most decisive victory. This indicates the Intel chip has a higher peak clock advantage in that specific workload, consistent with its 5.50 GHz boost clock. The Cinebench R23 multi-core win at 8.2% shows the Intel part can leverage its 12 cores and 24 threads in that render test. The PassMark physics win at 3.9% is narrow but consistent, indicating a slight edge in physics simulation.

The use-case split follows the benchmark results. For rendering in Cinebench R23, the Intel part is the stronger option. For physics workloads, the Intel part has a small edge. For everything else in the measured set, including encryption, compression, integer and floating point math, multithreaded PassMark, and single-thread PassMark, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the faster processor. The AMD chip's average benchmark score of 49796 against 31143 reinforces that overall, the AMD part delivers more performance across the measured workload mix. The Intel part's 82nd percentile versus AMD's 90th percentile places the AMD chip higher in the overall CPU distribution.