AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core i9-13900F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a sweeping victory for the Intel Core i9-13900F across every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Out of 15 tested workloads, the Intel part wins all 15, with margins ranging from a narrow 5.3% to a dominant 194.8%. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 does not claim a single win in any shared test.

The most lopsided result appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core i9-13900F scores 5778 against the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388's 1960, a delta of 194.8%. This is not a small gap; it is nearly three times the score. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test is similarly one-sided: Intel scores 40928 versus 18759, a 118.2% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel leads 4125 to 2872, a 43.6% margin, and in R15 single-core, Intel leads 582 to 298, a 95.3% margin.

The Passmark suite reinforces the pattern. In data compression, Intel scores 635147 versus 400887, a 58.4% lead. Data encryption shows Intel at 38214 versus 20092, a 90.2% gap. Floating point math favors Intel at 131007 versus 72722, an 80.1% difference, while integer math shows Intel at 188022 versus 109588, a 71.6% advantage. The multithread Passmark score has Intel at 49693 versus 33486, a 48.4% lead. Physics testing gives Intel 2766 versus 1843, a 50.1% margin. Random string sorting sees Intel at 70441 versus 43196, a 63.1% gap. Find prime numbers shows Intel at 204 versus 145, a 40.7% lead. Extended instructions are closer, with Intel at 36525 versus 32719, an 11.6% margin. The single-thread Passmark tests show the tightest race: 4406 versus 4185, only a 5.3% difference.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the trend, though the gap narrows considerably. The Intel Core i9-13900F has an average benchmark score of 51730, placing it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average score of 49796, placing it in the 90th percentile. The difference in average score is roughly 3.9%. This is far smaller than the individual head-to-head deltas, largely because the average includes tests that are not shared, and the AMD part has its own strengths outside this comparison set.

Looking at nearest rivals for context, the Intel Core i9-13900F sits within 0.8% of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285T, and trails the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X by only 0.4%, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX by 0.7%, and the AMD EPYC 8124P by 0.7%. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is within 0.1% of the Intel Core 9 273PE, and leads the Intel Core i5-14600KF by 0.8%, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 by 1.2%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G by 1.2%. These nearest-rival figures show both CPUs are competitive within their respective peer groups, even though the direct comparison is lopsided.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. For any workload represented by these 15 shared benchmarks, the Intel Core i9-13900F is the faster processor. It wins every test, and in most tests it wins by a wide margin. The largest single-core delta, 194.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core, is decisive for applications that depend on single-thread performance. The 118.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is equally decisive for heavily threaded rendering or compute tasks.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is not without merit, but its merits do not show up in this head-to-head set. Its average benchmark score of 49796, though lower than Intel's 51730, places it in the 90th percentile, meaning it still outperforms the vast majority of CPUs in the database. However, when compared directly to the Intel Core i9-13900F, it loses every single shared test. The closest result is the Passmark single-thread test, where AMD trails by only 5.3%. That is the only benchmark where the AMD part comes within striking distance.

Given the recorded measurements, the Intel Core i9-13900F is the clear pick for users who prioritize raw CPU performance across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 should be selected by users who value its other characteristics, such as its integrated graphics, memory bandwidth, or mobile form factor, but those are not reflected in these head-to-head CPU benchmark scores. From a pure benchmark standpoint, the Intel part wins outright.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13900F wins in every category represented by the shared benchmarks. Its strongest areas are single-core performance, where it leads by 95.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core and 194.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and multi-core throughput, where it leads by 43.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 118.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also dominates encryption workloads, with a 90.2% lead, and floating point math, with an 80.1% lead. These results point to strengths in rendering, scientific computing, data compression, and security-related tasks.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its closest performance comes in the Passmark single-thread test, where it scores 4185 against Intel's 4406, a 5.3% deficit. It also comes relatively close in Passmark extended instructions, where it trails by 11.6%. These are the only two tests where the AMD part stays within single-digit percentage territory. For users considering the AMD part, the strengths would have to come from outside these CPU benchmarks: it integrates a Radeon 8060S GPU, supports LPDDR5X memory with a 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and uses a quad-channel memory bus. None of those features are measured in the shared CPU tests.

For use-case planning, the Intel Core i9-13900F is the better choice for CPU-bound tasks like video rendering, code compilation, data encryption, and high-frequency single-threaded applications. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 could be considered for systems where integrated graphics and high memory bandwidth matter more than raw CPU benchmark scores, but the data shows no CPU compute advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core benchmark?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900F scores 40928, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 18759. Intel leads by 118.2%.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 beats the Intel Core i9-13900F?

A: No. Across all 15 shared head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core i9-13900F wins every test. The closest result is the Passmark single-thread test, where AMD trails by only 5.3%.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-core performance?

A: Intel leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 582 versus 298, a 95.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 5778 versus 1960, a 194.8% lead. In Passmark single-thread, Intel scores 4406 versus 4185, a 5.3% lead.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores and percentiles for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900F has an average benchmark score of 51730 and sits in the 91st percentile. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average benchmark score of 49796 and sits in the 90th percentile.

Q: How close is the AMD part to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is within 0.1% of the Intel Core 9 273PE, and it leads the Intel Core i5-14600KF by 0.8%, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 by 1.2%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G by 1.2%.

Q: Does the AMD CPU have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 includes a Radeon 8060S integrated GPU. The Intel Core i9-13900F does not list integrated graphics in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-13900F is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-S, and uses a 10 nm process node from Intel. It has a die size of 257 mm² and fits the Intel Socket 1700. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses Zen 5 architecture under the codename Strix Halo, built on a 4 nm process node from TSMC. Its die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², and it uses the AMD Socket FP11.

The core and thread counts differ substantially. The Intel part has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: Intel has 2 MB per core, while AMD has 1 MB per core. The L3 cache is 36 MB shared on Intel versus 32 MB shared on AMD.

Memory support also differs. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD part supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel memory bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Both CPUs support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel Core i9-13900F provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part includes an integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, while the Intel part does not list any integrated graphics.

The market segments differ: Intel is a desktop processor, while AMD is a mobile processor. The Intel part was released on 2023-01-03, and the AMD part on 2026-01-05. Both are listed as active production and both have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference is core count: the Intel Core i9-13900F has 24 cores and 32 threads, compared to 8 cores and 16 threads for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388. Base clocks differ as well, with Intel at 2000.00 MHz and AMD at 3600.00 MHz. Boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 5.60 GHz and AMD at 5.00 GHz. The TDP differs, with Intel at 65 W and AMD at 55 W.

The process node shows Intel at 10 nm versus AMD at 4 nm, and the foundry is Intel versus TSMC. Die size is 257 mm² for Intel and 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD. Cache sizes differ at L2 and L3: Intel has 2 MB per core L2 and 36 MB shared L3, while AMD has 1 MB per core L2 and 32 MB shared L3. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core.

Memory support and bus width differ: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, while AMD supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. PCIe generation and lane count differ: Intel has Gen 5 with 20 lanes, AMD has Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are present on AMD (Radeon 8060S) and absent on Intel.

The socket, architecture, codename, and market segment all differ. Intel uses Socket 1700 and targets the desktop segment; AMD uses Socket FP11 and targets the mobile segment. Release dates are 2023-01-03 for Intel and 2026-01-05 for AMD. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $524, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers and support ECC memory.