AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core i5-14400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results present a striking split. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 claims 12 of the 15 recorded benchmark wins, while the Intel Core i5-14400 takes only 3. The scale of those wins, however, tells a more complicated story about what each processor is built for.

Starting with the AMD side, its most dominant performance comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 32719 against Intel’s 19816, a 65.1% advantage. That is the largest single delta in the entire comparison. Prime number finding also heavily favors AMD: 145 versus 80, a 81.3% lead. These two results point to a processor that handles specialized, high-throughput workloads with unusual efficiency.

In the broader PassMark suite, AMD’s wins are consistent and substantial. Data compression shows 400887 against 314995, a 27.3% edge. Integer math delivers 109588 versus 82017, a 33.6% lead. Floating point math lands at 72722 versus 61549, an 18.2% advantage. The multithread score is 33486 versus 25080, a 33.5% gap, and physics follows with 1843 against 1396, a 32% lead. Random string sorting also favors AMD, with 43196 versus 32346, a 33.5% delta. Data encryption shows 20092 versus 16731, a 20.1% win.

The single-thread PassMark result is closer but still goes to AMD: 4185 versus 3741, an 11.9% advantage. The same delta appears in the duplicate singlethread entry, confirming the result.

Cinebench R15 multicore also belongs to AMD. The score is 2872 against 2148, a 33.7% lead. That aligns with the pattern seen across most of the PassMark suite.

Intel’s three wins are concentrated in Cinebench. The R23 multicore score goes to Intel: 21315 versus 18759, a 12% margin in Intel’s favor. The R23 singlecore result is even more lopsided: 3009 versus 1960, a 34.9% lead for Intel. The R15 singlecore is a narrow Intel win, 303 versus 298, a 1.7% delta.

What this suggests is an architectural divergence. AMD dominates in raw throughput tasks, especially those that involve extended instruction sets, compression, encryption, and integer math. Intel’s wins come in Cinebench, which is a rendering workload that rewards sustained single-core frequency and specific IPC characteristics.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The AMD part sits at 49796 average, while Intel is at 32115. That is a substantial gap in aggregate performance. The AMD processor also ranks in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 82nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14400 uses Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, on a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry.

Core counts differ. AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel has 10 cores and 16 threads. Both expose the same thread count, but Intel achieves that with additional physical cores. The core configuration is not listed in the data, but the higher core count on Intel likely explains its Cinebench R23 multicore win despite AMD’s overall throughput advantage.

Cache layouts are distinct. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel also has 80 KB of L1 per core, but 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 20 MB of shared L3. AMD’s larger L3 pool may contribute to its strong compression and encryption results, where larger working sets benefit from more on-chip cache.

Clock speeds tell a different story. AMD’s base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz. Intel’s base is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 4.70 GHz. Intel’s lower clocks but higher Cinebench singlecore score suggest that its cores are more efficient per clock in that specific workload, or that the boost behavior differs under sustained load.

Memory access is another major divergence. AMD supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. The quad-channel, high-bandwidth memory configuration on AMD is notable for a mobile processor and likely feeds its strong multithreaded throughput.

PCIe support also differs. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The newer PCIe standard on Intel matters for storage and expansion, though the benchmark data does not directly test that.

Integrated graphics are not comparable. AMD pairs with a Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, but the Radeon part is clearly a different class of integrated solution.

Die size and process node are also relevant. AMD’s die is listed as 2x 70.6 mm² on 4 nm. Intel’s die is 215 mm² on 10 nm. The smaller, denser AMD process explains how it fits 8 Zen 5 cores plus a large cache and a Radeon graphics block into a mobile socket.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to a clear use-case split. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins in every PassMark test that appears in the head-to-head list. That includes compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime finding, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. It also wins Cinebench R15 multicore. This pattern suggests workloads that involve data transformation, number crunching, and parallel execution across many threads will favor AMD.

The Intel Core i5-14400 wins in Cinebench R23 multicore and both singlecore tests. The R23 multicore win is notable because it goes against the broader trend. Despite AMD’s dominance in PassMark multithread, Intel’s 10-core design takes the R23 multicore crown. That could indicate that Cinebench’s rendering workload responds to Intel’s specific core arrangement and clock behavior more than to AMD’s memory bandwidth or cache layout.

For single-threaded tasks, Intel has a clear edge in Cinebench R23 singlecore, with a 34.9% lead. The R15 singlecore is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by only 1.7%. The PassMark single thread result, however, goes to AMD by 11.9%. That inconsistency across single-threaded benchmarks is worth noting. It means the answer to “which is faster single-core” depends heavily on the workload. Cinebench favors Intel, while PassMark’s synthetic single-thread test favors AMD.

The AMD processor is a mobile part, in the AMD Socket FP11, with a 55 TDP. The Intel processor is a desktop part, in Intel Socket 1700, with a 65 TDP. That difference in market segment matters. AMD is designed for high-performance laptops and compact systems where power and space are constrained. Intel is a mainstream desktop chip that can draw more power and use a larger cooler.

The production status for both is listed as Active, and both are currently available. Intel’s release date is earlier, and its launch MSRP is $221, which can be stated once as a factual data point.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category.

• Cores: AMD has 8, Intel has 10.
• Threads: Both have 16.
• Base clock: AMD at 3.60 GHz, Intel at 2.50 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD at 5.00 GHz, Intel at 4.70 GHz.
• TDP: AMD at 55, Intel at 65.
• Socket: AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel Socket 1700.
• Architecture: Zen 5 versus Raptor Lake.
• Process node: 4 nm at TSMC versus 10 nm at Intel.
• Die size: 2x 70.6 mm² versus 215 mm².
• L2 cache per core: 1 MB versus 1.25 MB.
• L3 cache shared: 32 MB versus 20 MB.
• Memory support: LPDDR5X versus DDR4/DDR5.
• Memory bus: Quad-channel versus dual-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: 256.0 GB/s recorded for AMD, none recorded for Intel.
• PCIe: Gen 4, 16 lanes versus Gen 5, 16 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: Radeon 8060S versus UHD Graphics 730.
• Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop.
• Release date: AMD later, Intel earlier.
• Launch MSRP: Intel at $221, AMD has none recorded.
• Part number: Different.

Both support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average benchmark score of 49796, while the Intel Core i5-14400 sits at 32115.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-14400 win in Cinebench R23 multicore despite having a lower average score?

A: The R23 multicore result is 21315 for Intel versus 18759 for AMD, a 12% margin. This is one of only three wins for Intel, but it shows that the rendering workload responds better to Intel’s 10-core configuration and clock behavior than to AMD’s overall throughput advantages.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where AMD scores 145 and Intel scores 80, a 81.3% lead for AMD. The extended instructions test also shows a large gap, with AMD ahead by 65.1%.

Q: Does AMD win every single-threaded test?

A: No. Intel wins Cinebench R15 singlecore with 303 versus 298, and Cinebench R23 singlecore with 3009 versus 1960. AMD wins the PassMark single thread test with 4185 versus 3741.

Q: What memory configurations do the two processors support?

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

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: Intel has 10 cores, while AMD has 8. Both have 16 threads.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the stronger all-around performer. It wins 12 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average score, and ranks in the 90th percentile compared to Intel’s 82nd. Its dominance in extended instructions, compression, encryption, and integer math makes it the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads that use the full instruction set and benefit from high memory bandwidth.

The Intel Core i5-14400 is the better choice for Cinebench-style rendering and for single-threaded Cinebench performance. Its R23 singlecore lead of 34.9% is substantial, and its R23 multicore win shows that it can outperform AMD in certain parallel rendering tasks. It also carries a launch MSRP of $221, which is a factual data point, but no pricing analysis is appropriate here.

The market segment difference is decisive in practical terms. AMD is a mobile processor in a 55 TDP envelope, designed for laptops and compact systems. Intel is a desktop processor in a 65 TDP envelope, designed for full-size desktops. Anyone building a desktop with a focus on rendering should look at Intel’s Cinebench results. Anyone needing high-throughput mobile compute should look at AMD’s PassMark suite and its 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. The data does not support a universal winner, but it does support a clear split based on workload and platform.