AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins 6 of 15 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins 9. The AMD part claims the average benchmark crown with a score of 49796 against Intel's 36938, a gap driven by AMD's dominance in integer-heavy and data-oriented workloads. However, the Intel processor takes every single-core test in the comparison, plus the heavily threaded Cinebench R23 multi-core test. The database places the AMD part at the 90th percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 85th percentile. The AMD processor's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core 9 273PE (0.1% lower average), Intel Core i5-14600KF (0.8% lower), AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (1.2% lower), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (1.2% lower). The Intel Core Ultra 5 225's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0% difference), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (0.2% higher), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (0.4% higher), and Intel Core i9-12900T (0.5% higher). The data indicates the AMD part is the choice for compression, encryption-adjacent integer work, and extended instruction throughput. The Intel part is the choice for single-thread latency, prime number computation, and floating-point math. The Intel processor's launch MSRP is $246; the AMD processor has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins in tasks that stress integer throughput and data manipulation. Its PassMark integer math score is 109588 against Intel's 65345, a 67.7% advantage, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression follows with a 32.4% lead (400887 vs 302811). Extended instructions deliver a 20.5% win (32719 vs 27162). Random string sorting shows an 18.1% edge (43196 vs 36590). The PassMark multithread score favors AMD by 9.9% (33486 vs 30459). Cinebench R15 multi-core also goes to AMD with 2872 against 2609, a 10.1% margin. These wins cluster around workloads where the AMD part's 16 threads and 32 MB of shared L3 cache can be fed by 256.0 GB/s of quad-channel LPDDR5X memory bandwidth.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins in single-core performance and in specific math categories. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 3655 against AMD's 1960, a 46.4% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core gives Intel a 19% win (368 vs 298). PassMark single-thread favors Intel by 5.1% (4412 vs 4185). Prime number finding is massively Intel-favored: 358 vs 145, a 59.5% margin. Floating-point math goes to Intel at 92038 vs 72722, a 21% lead. Physics simulation scores 2342 vs 1843 for Intel, a 21.3% advantage. Data encryption also favors Intel by 9.8% (22285 vs 20092). The Cinebench R23 multi-core test is Intel's largest multi-threaded win: 25891 vs 18759, a 27.5% margin, despite the Intel part having only 10 threads and no SMT.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design schools. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with base clock 3.60 GHz and boost clock 5.00 GHz. The package is listed as 2x 70.6 mm² dies, and the TDP is 55 watts. It uses AMD Socket FP11 and targets the mobile market segment. Cache is split as 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is supported. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8060S. The production status is active, with a release date of 2026-01-05.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arrow Lake architecture on the Arrow Lake-S codename, built on a 3 nm TSMC process. It has 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, with base clock 3.30 GHz and boost clock 4.90 GHz. The die is 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors, and the TDP is 65 watts. It uses Intel Socket 1851 and targets the desktop segment. Cache is 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory is not supported. PCIe is Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The release date is 2025-01-06.

The architectural split explains the benchmark distribution. AMD pairs more threads with substantially more memory bandwidth (256.0 vs 102.4 GB/s) and a larger shared L3 (32 vs 20 MB), which benefits integer and data workloads. Intel pairs fewer but higher-clocked cores with a denser process node (3 nm vs 4 nm) and larger per-core L2 (3 MB vs 1 MB), which benefits single-thread and floating-point tasks. The Intel part also has more PCIe Gen 5 lanes (20 vs 16 Gen 4), which matters for platform connectivity but does not appear directly in the recorded CPU benchmark scores. The AMD part has ECC support and a quad-channel memory bus, while the Intel part lacks ECC and uses dual-channel. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

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 Ultra 5 225 scores 36938. The AMD part sits at the 90th percentile against all CPUs, and the Intel part sits at the 85th percentile.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any multi-threaded tests?

A: Yes. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 25891 against AMD's 18759, a 27.5% lead. However, the AMD part wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (2872 vs 2609) and PassMark multithread (33486 vs 30459).

Q: How large is the single-core gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 leads in every single-core test. The largest margin is Cinebench R23 single-core at 46.4% (3655 vs 1960). Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 19% lead (368 vs 298), and PassMark single-thread shows a 5.1% lead (4412 vs 4185).

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin in either direction?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 wins PassMark integer math by 67.7% (109588 vs 65345). The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins PassMark find prime numbers by 59.5% (358 vs 145), the second-largest margin overall.

Q: How do memory systems differ between the two?

A: The AMD part uses LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC. The Intel part uses DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has 10 cores and 10 threads. Despite fewer threads, the Intel part wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a wide margin.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest AMD victory is PassMark integer math. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 109588 against the Intel Core Ultra 5 225's 65345, a 67.7% delta. This result reflects the AMD part's 16 threads and high memory bandwidth, which allow integer operations to scale more effectively. The second-largest AMD win is data compression at 400887 vs 302811, a 32.4% margin. Compression workloads are often memory-bound, and the AMD part's 256.0 GB/s quad-channel LPDDR5X bus provides more than double the Intel part's 102.4 GB/s dual-channel DDR5 bandwidth. Extended instructions follow at 32719 vs 27162, a 20.5% win. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 43196 vs 36590, an 18.1% margin. PassMark multithread gives AMD a 9.9% win (33486 vs 30459). Cinebench R15 multi-core rounds out AMD's wins at 2872 vs 2609, a 10.1% lead.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 counters with a dominant showing in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 25891 vs 18759, a 27.5% margin. This is notable because the Intel part has only 10 threads against AMD's 16, but its 3 nm process and higher base clock of 3.30 GHz contribute to a higher sustained multi-core score in this specific test. The single-core tests are uniformly Intel-favored. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the largest gap at 3655 vs 1960, a 46.4% difference. Cinebench R15 single-core is 368 vs 298, a 19% lead. PassMark single-thread is 4412 vs 4185, a 5.1% margin. Prime number finding is heavily Intel-favored at 358 vs 145, a 59.5% delta, which suggests the Intel architecture handles this branch-heavy workload more efficiently per thread. Floating-point math goes to Intel at 92038 vs 72722, a 21% win. Physics simulation favors Intel at 2342 vs 1843, a 21.3% margin. Data encryption is Intel's narrowest win at 22285 vs 20092, a 9.8% delta.

The overall win count is 9 for Intel and 6 for AMD, but the average benchmark score tells a different story. AMD's average of 49796 exceeds Intel's 36938 by roughly 34.8%. The explanation is that AMD's wins tend to come in high-magnitude tests with large absolute scores, such as integer math and data compression, while Intel's wins are concentrated in lower-magnitude single-core tests. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the exception, where Intel's win is both large in percentage and high in absolute score. Still, the database's nearest-rival analysis places the AMD part in the company of high-end desktop processors like the Intel Core i5-14600KF and AMD Ryzen 9 7900, while the Intel part sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Intel Core i9-12900T. The AMD part's 90th percentile ranking versus Intel's 85th percentile confirms that the aggregate data favors AMD, even though the Intel part wins more individual tests.