AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and the Intel Core i5-14401E shows a clear split across the four shared Cinebench tests. The AMD part takes three of the four head-to-head wins, while the Intel part claims one decisive victory.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 2872 against 1830 for the Intel Core i5-14401E. That is a 56.9% advantage, the largest margin in any shared test. The AMD processor's eight cores and sixteen threads are fully utilized here, and the result reflects the advantage in raw parallel throughput. The Intel part, with six cores and twelve threads, cannot keep pace in this heavily threaded workload.

Cinebench R15 single-core also goes to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, with a score of 298 versus 258. This is a 15.5% lead. The Zen 5 architecture delivers a solid single-thread improvement over the Raptor Lake design in this older benchmark. The delta is meaningful but not overwhelming, indicating that the AMD core design holds a clear edge in this legacy test.

Cinebench R23 multi-core is much closer. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 18759, while the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161. The AMD part wins by just 3.3%. This smaller margin suggests that the Intel processor scales better in the more modern R23 workload relative to R15, likely due to its higher boost clock and different core efficiency profile. Still, the AMD part maintains the lead, confirming its multi-core superiority across both Cinebench versions.

The one test where the Intel Core i5-14401E wins is Cinebench R23 single-core. Here the Intel part scores 2564 against 1960 for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388, a 23.6% advantage for Intel. This is a substantial reversal. The Raptor Lake refresh core, running at a 4.70 GHz boost clock, outperforms the Zen 5 core at 5.00 GHz in this specific benchmark. The result indicates that Intel's single-thread performance in the newer R23 test is notably stronger, despite the AMD part's higher clock speed and newer process node.

The overall benchmark win tally is 3-1 in favor of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388. However, the single-core R23 result is significant because it shows where the Intel part can compete, and it highlights a workload category where the AMD processor lags.

Where Each One Wins

The data supports a clear division of strengths. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins in multi-threaded and older single-thread workloads. The Intel Core i5-14401E wins in the newer single-thread test.

For multi-core productivity, the AMD part is the stronger choice. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result (2872 vs 1830, 56.9% ahead) and the R23 multi-core result (18759 vs 18161, 3.3% ahead) both favor AMD. Applications that scale across cores, such as rendering, video encoding, and compilation, will benefit from the AMD part's eight cores and sixteen threads. The margin in R15 is particularly large, suggesting that legacy multi-threaded software sees a major improvement on the AMD processor.

For single-core workloads, the picture is mixed. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part leads by 15.5% (298 vs 258). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part leads by 23.6% (2564 vs 1960). The newer R23 test is generally more representative of modern application performance, so the Intel part's win there carries weight. Tasks that rely heavily on single-thread latency, such as certain simulation tools or lightly threaded applications, may favor the Intel Core i5-14401E.

The database also records broader benchmark data for the AMD part. PassMark tests show strong scores across integer math (109588), floating point math (72722), and multithread (33486). These figures are not directly comparable to the Intel part, which lacks equivalent PassMark entries in the recorded data. However, they place the AMD processor at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 60th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 49796, versus 5253 for the Intel Core i5-14401E. This large difference in average score is driven by the broader PassMark suite available only for the AMD part, so direct comparison should be treated with caution.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process node, with a two-die design totaling 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core i5-14401E uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with a single 215 mm² die. The AMD part is built on a more advanced process, which contributes to its higher core count and lower power envelope.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the AMD processor a 33% advantage in core count and thread count, which directly supports its multi-core benchmark wins.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has more total L3 cache, while the Intel part has slightly more L2 per core. The larger shared L3 on the AMD part may help with data-heavy workloads.

Memory support is another major division. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The AMD part's quad-channel LPDDR5X setup provides substantially higher memory bandwidth, which can benefit integrated graphics and memory-intensive tasks.

Socket and platform differ as well. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP11, a mobile socket, and the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. The AMD part is classified as a mobile processor, while the Intel part is a desktop processor. PCIe support also differs: the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part offers a newer PCIe generation.

Integrated graphics differ sharply. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 includes a Radeon 8060S, while the Intel Core i5-14401E includes UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part's Radeon 8060S, combined with the high memory bandwidth, positions it as a more capable graphics solution. Both processors support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The release dates also differ. The AMD part was released on 2026-01-05, while the Intel part was released on 2024-06-30. The AMD part is the newer design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 18759, while the Intel Core i5-14401E scores 18161. The AMD part is 3.3% ahead.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E wins with a score of 2564, compared to 1960 for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388. The Intel part is 23.6% ahead.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus.

Q: What are the integrated graphics on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Radeon 8060S. The Intel Core i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730.

Q: How do the two processors rank globally?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is at the 90th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel Core i5-14401E is at the 60th percentile.

The Verdict

The recorded data draws a consistent picture. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the stronger multi-threaded processor. It wins both Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core tests, with a decisive 56.9% margin in R15 and a smaller 3.3% margin in R23. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth support this result.

The Intel Core i5-14401E is the stronger part for the newer single-thread test. Its 23.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest single win in the head-to-head data. This suggests that applications relying on modern single-thread performance will favor the Intel part.

The AMD processor also carries a higher global percentile (90th vs 60th) and a much higher average benchmark score (49796 vs 5253), though the latter figure is influenced by the broader PassMark suite available only for the AMD part. The AMD part uses a more advanced 4 nm process and offers quad-channel LPDDR5X memory, while the Intel part uses 10 nm and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5.

The choice depends on workload. For multi-core rendering, heavy computation, or tasks that scale across threads, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the clear pick based on the data. For single-thread-heavy modern applications, the Intel Core i5-14401E shows a measurable advantage in R23. The AMD part is also the newer release (2026-01-05 vs 2024-06-30) and includes a more capable integrated GPU. The Intel part offers PCIe Gen 5 support, which the AMD part does not. Each processor serves a distinct segment: the AMD part as a mobile processor with high bandwidth and graphics, the Intel part as a desktop processor with strong single-thread performance.