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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F, with the AMD part winning 9 of 15 head-to-head comparisons and the Intel part winning 6. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story about each processor's strengths.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 delivers its largest win in PassMark integer math, scoring 109,588 against 66,417 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F, a 65% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison. Data compression follows the same pattern: the AMD chip scores 400,887 versus 310,843, a 29% lead. Extended instructions also favor AMD at 32,719 versus 28,027, a 16.7% edge. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 43,196 versus 37,325, a 15.7% improvement.

The Cinebench results reinforce AMD's multi-threaded dominance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 18,759 against 16,467 for the Intel part, a 13.9% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a narrower gap: 2,872 versus 2,660, an 8% advantage. PassMark multithread matches that 8% margin, with scores of 33,486 and 31,004. Single-core Cinebench results are closer, with AMD ahead by 3.8% in R15 (298 versus 287) and 3.5% in R23 (1,960 versus 1,893).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F counters in several specialized workloads. The largest Intel win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 352 versus 145, a 58.8% margin. Floating point math also favors Intel decisively: 92,554 versus 72,722, a 21.4% lead. Physics simulation goes to Intel at 2,430 versus 1,843, a 24.2% advantage. Data encryption shows Intel ahead at 22,648 versus 20,092, an 11.3% margin. Finally, PassMark single-thread scores put Intel on top at 4,397 versus 4,185, a 4.8% edge that appears twice in the data under both the "single_thread" and "singlethread" test names.

Looking at the overall averages, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 posts an average benchmark score of 49,796, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F averages 37,313. The AMD part sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 85th. The AMD chip's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core 9 273PE (average 49,845, delta of -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-14600KF (49,394, +0.8%), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49,228, +1.2%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49,196, +1.2%). The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F, by contrast, sits closest to the Intel Core i9-13900HK (37,425, -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H (37,161, +0.4%), the Intel Core i7-13700 (37,135, +0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 160 (37,117, +0.5%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is a mobile part built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename. It uses 8 cores and 16 threads, enabling simultaneous multi-threading. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is a desktop part based on Arrow Lake, the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, with 10 cores and 10 threads, meaning no hyper-threading on this model. The core count difference explains why AMD wins heavily in integer math and compression despite having fewer physical cores: its 16 threads can keep more work in flight.

The process nodes differ. AMD uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 3 nm process from the same foundry. The Intel die is significantly larger at 243 mm² versus AMD's dual-die layout of 2x 70.6 mm². Intel also lists a transistor count of 17,800 million, while the AMD data does not specify a transistor count.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. The AMD part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and only 20 MB of shared L3. Despite the smaller L3, Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its single-thread and prime number advantages.

Memory architecture also differs. AMD supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s. This 2.5x bandwidth advantage for AMD directly supports its data compression and integer math performance. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity favors Intel: Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for AMD. The AMD part includes a Radeon 8060S integrated GPU, while the Intel part lists no integrated graphics. Clock speeds are close, with AMD at 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, Intel at 3.30 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. TDP differs as well: 55 W for AMD, 65 W for Intel.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is the stronger multi-threaded compute part. It leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 13.9%, in PassMark multithread by 8%, in integer math by 65%, and in data compression by 29%. Its 90th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 49,796 place it near the Intel Core 9 273PE, the Core i5-14600KF, the Ryzen 9 7900, and the Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, all within 1.2% of its average.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is the specialist in specific math workloads. It dominates prime number finding by 58.8%, floating point math by 21.4%, and physics by 24.2%. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4,397 is 4.8% higher than AMD's 4,185, which is notable for lightly threaded applications. The Intel part's 85th percentile and 37,313 average put it in the company of the Core i9-13900HK, Ryzen 7 7735H, Core i7-13700, and Ryzen 7 160, all within 0.5%.

Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, and both are active in production. The AMD part is a mobile processor on Socket FP11, while the Intel part is a desktop processor on Socket 1851. The launch MSRP for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F is $231; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. The AMD chip's integrated Radeon 8060S graphics and quad-channel LPDDR5X support make it a self-contained mobile solution, while the Intel chip requires a discrete GPU.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 | Intel Core Ultra 5 225F |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 10 |

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Arrow Lake-S |

| Generation | Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5 (Strix Halo)) | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake) |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 32 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 8060S | N/A |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2026-01-05 | 2025-01-06 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | No |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has an average benchmark score of 49,796, compared to 37,313 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 18,759 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 13.9% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F's 16,467.

Q: In which workloads does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F outperform the AMD part?

A: The Intel part wins in PassMark find prime numbers (352 versus 145, a 58.8% lead), floating point math (92,554 versus 72,722, a 21.4% lead), physics (2,430 versus 1,843, a 24.2% lead), data encryption (22,648 versus 20,092, an 11.3% lead), and single-thread performance (4,397 versus 4,185, a 4.8% lead).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports quad-channel LPDDR5X with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F supports dual-channel DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F does not.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F has 10 cores and 10 threads.