AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core i5-14450HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a lopsided contest. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-14450HX takes only 2. The average benchmark score difference is substantial: the AMD chip records 49796 against Intel's 32040, a gap that places the AMD part in the 90th percentile of all CPUs versus the Intel part's 82nd percentile.

The AMD processor's largest victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 32719 against 17207, a 90.1% advantage. That test measures workloads like AVX and other SIMD operations, so the margin indicates a major throughput advantage in vectorized code. Data compression also favors AMD heavily: 400887 versus 278538, a 43.9% lead. Random string sorting follows at 46.1% ahead, with AMD scoring 43196 against 29565. Integer math shows a 39.9% edge (109588 versus 78330), and multithread performance lands at 41.4% ahead (33486 versus 23680). Prime number finding shows a 48% gap (145 versus 98), and data encryption delivers a 29% lead (20092 versus 15574). Floating point math sits at 25.3% ahead (72722 versus 58037), physics at 24.9% (1843 versus 1475), and single-thread PassMark at 14.9% (4185 versus 3643).

Cinebench results tell a more mixed story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD wins decisively: 2872 versus 2026, a 41.8% margin. Single-core R15 also goes to AMD, but narrowly: 298 versus 285, only 4.6% ahead. However, in Cinebench R23, Intel strikes back. The Intel part scores 20108 multicore versus AMD's 18759, a 6.7% lead, and 2838 single-core versus AMD's 1960, a 30.9% advantage. These R23 results are the only two tests Intel wins, and the single-core margin is particularly stark.

The data indicates that the AMD part dominates synthetic integer, encryption, compression, and SIMD workloads, while the Intel part shows a clear advantage specifically in Cinebench R23, which stresses sustained AVX-heavy rendering with a different scaling pattern than R15.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins across most measured categories. Its PassMark multithread score of 33486 versus 23680 shows a 41.4% lead in heavily threaded general-purpose tasks. The 43.9% compression advantage and 46.1% sorting advantage suggest strong memory subsystem behavior and per-core efficiency. The 90.1% extended instructions lead indicates the Zen 5 architecture handles SIMD code far more effectively than Intel's Raptor Lake part in these tests. Encryption, integer math, and floating point all favor AMD by margins between 25% and 40%, which points to consistent throughput across diverse workloads. The single-thread PassMark score of 4185 versus 3643 (14.9% ahead) shows AMD also wins in lightly threaded tasks when measured by PassMark's methodology.

The Intel Core i5-14450HX wins specifically in Cinebench R23. The multicore score of 20108 beats AMD's 18759 by 6.7%, and the single-core score of 2838 beats AMD's 1960 by 30.9%. This suggests that Cinebench R23's specific rendering workload, which is highly dependent on sustained clock speeds and per-core AVX2 performance, plays to Intel's strengths. The Intel part's 10 cores (versus AMD's 8) likely contribute to the R23 multicore win, while its higher per-core clock behavior under this workload explains the single-core gap. However, this does not translate to other Cinebench versions: R15 multicore favors AMD by 41.8%, and R15 single-core favors AMD by 4.6%. The divergence between R15 and R23 results is notable, indicating that the two processors scale differently across rendering generations.

For use-case planning, the data shows AMD as the better choice for general-purpose computing, data processing, encryption, and SIMD-heavy applications. Intel wins specifically in Cinebench R23-style rendering, which may matter for users running that exact benchmark or similar workloads that mirror its behavior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 records an average benchmark score of 49796, while the Intel Core i5-14450HX records 32040. The AMD part also sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the Intel part's 82nd percentile.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-14450HX wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 20108 versus AMD's 18759, a 6.7% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in PassMark single-thread tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 4185 in PassMark single-thread, beating the Intel Core i5-14450HX's 3643 by 14.9%.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 32719 against 17207, a 90.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-14450HX wins Cinebench R23 multicore (20108 versus 18759) and Cinebench R23 single-core (2838 versus 1960).

Q: How many head-to-head tests does each processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins 13 tests, and the Intel Core i5-14450HX wins 2 tests out of the 15 recorded comparisons.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: AMD runs at 3.60 GHz, Intel at 2.40 GHz. Boost clocks are closer: AMD at 5.00 GHz, Intel at 4.80 GHz. Both have a TDP of 55 watts.

Memory support diverges: AMD uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no recorded memory bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics are different: AMD includes a Radeon 8060S, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 710. The AMD part has a locked multiplier, while the Intel part has an unlocked multiplier. Sockets differ: AMD uses AMD Socket FP11, Intel uses Intel BGA 1964. Part numbers are 100-000001980 for AMD and SRMXK for Intel. Release dates differ: AMD was released on 2026-01-05, Intel on 2024-01-07.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 80 KB L1 per core, but L2 is 1 MB per core on AMD versus 2 MB per core on Intel. L3 is 32 MB shared on AMD versus 20 MB shared on Intel.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, built on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core i5-14450HX uses the Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-HX, built on a 10 nm process by Intel. The die size is 257 mm². The process node difference is substantial: 4 nm versus 10 nm, which contributes to the AMD part's efficiency characteristics.

The generation labels differ: AMD is listed as "Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5 (Strix Halo))", while Intel is "Core i5 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh)". The AMD part is part of the Strix Halo family, while Intel is part of the Core 14th Gen series.

The memory architecture is a major differentiator. AMD uses quad-channel LPDDR5X with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 with no recorded bandwidth figure. This memory bandwidth advantage likely explains AMD's large wins in data compression and random string sorting, which are memory-sensitive workloads.

The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the AMD part does not. Intel also provides PCIe Gen 5 support versus AMD's Gen 4, which matters for storage and GPU connectivity. The integrated graphics solutions are distinct: Radeon 8060S versus UHD Graphics 710, with the AMD solution expected to deliver far more graphical compute based on the product class, though no specific graphics benchmarks are recorded in this data.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 as the stronger overall processor for most workloads. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests, has a 55.4% higher average benchmark score (49796 versus 32040), and sits 8 percentile points higher in the all-CPU ranking. Its advantages in compression (43.9%), encryption (29%), integer math (39.9%), floating point (25.3%), and extended instructions (90.1%) make it the clear choice for data processing, scientific computing, and SIMD-heavy applications. The quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is a structural advantage that shows up across multiple memory-bound tests.

The Intel Core i5-14450HX wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 6.7% and single-core by 30.9%. For users whose primary workload is exactly that benchmark or an application with identical scaling behavior, the Intel part is preferable. The 10-core configuration and higher per-core R23 performance matter there. The unlocked multiplier also gives Intel an overclocking option that AMD does not offer.

For general-purpose mobile computing, the AMD part is the data-backed recommendation. For Cinebench R23-specific rendering tasks, the Intel part holds the edge. The choice depends on which workload matches the user's primary use case, and the benchmark split makes that distinction clear.