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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data splits almost evenly, with the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 taking 7 of 15 tests and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T taking 8. The margins, however, are not symmetrical. AMD's victories are often decisive, while Intel's wins range from narrow to substantial.

The largest single delta belongs to AMD in passmark_integer_math, scoring 109,588 against Intel's 59,543, a difference of 84%. This is a massive gap in a core CPU workload. AMD also dominates passmark_data_compression with a score of 400,887 versus 233,998, a 71.3% advantage. The pattern continues with passmark_extended_instructions, where AMD scores 32,719 and Intel 20,083, a 62.9% lead. In passmark_random_string_sorting, AMD's 43,196 beats Intel's 28,774 by 50.1%. AMD also wins passmark_multithread (33,486 vs 25,358, 32.1% ahead) and passmark_data_encryption (20,092 vs 18,289, 9.9% ahead). In cinebench_r15_multicore, AMD scores 2,872 versus Intel's 2,214, a 29.7% edge.

Intel counters with its strongest result in cinebench_r23_singlecore, scoring 3,101 against AMD's 1,960, a 36.8% lead. The r23 multicore test also goes to Intel, 21,971 to 18,759, a 14.6% margin. Intel wins passmark_find_prime_numbers by 48.9% (284 vs 145), passmark_floating_point_math by 12.1% (82,751 vs 72,722), and passmark_physics by 10.2% (2,053 vs 1,843). Intel's single-thread scores are consistently higher: 4,348 vs 4,185 in passmark_single_thread, a 3.7% lead, and 312 vs 298 in cinebench_r15_singlecore, a 4.5% lead.

The data shows a clear split: AMD wins memory-bandwidth-sensitive and integer-heavy tasks by wide margins, while Intel wins single-threaded and floating-point workloads, plus the newer Cinebench multi-core test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses 8 cores and 16 threads on the Zen 5 architecture, codename Strix Halo. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC and has a die size listed as 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses 10 cores and 10 threads on the Arrow Lake architecture, codename Arrow Lake-S, from the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. Intel's chip is on a 3 nm process at TSMC with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ sharply. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches likely contribute to its single-thread advantage. AMD's larger L3 pool, shared across 8 cores, helps its multi-thread integer performance.

Memory architecture also diverges. AMD uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. That 153.6 GB/s difference explains AMD's dominance in data compression and random string sorting, workloads that depend heavily on memory throughput. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

The integrated graphics differ. AMD pairs with Radeon 8060S; Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. Both are active production parts. AMD uses Socket FP11, Intel uses Socket 1851. AMD lists PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only); Intel lists PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Clock speeds are close: AMD's base is 3.60 GHz with a 5.00 GHz boost, Intel's base is 2.50 GHz with a 4.90 GHz boost. AMD's higher base clock helps in sustained integer workloads. Intel's 4.90 GHz boost, combined with its larger caches, supports its single-core wins. The TDP figures differ, 55 watts for AMD and 65 watts for Intel, though the database does not report measured power consumption.

Where Each One Wins

AMD's wins concentrate in tasks that move large amounts of data. Integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and encryption all involve memory access patterns that favor the quad-channel LPDDR5X setup. The 84% integer math lead is the standout. AMD's multithread score of 33,486 against Intel's 25,358 suggests that its 16 threads, versus Intel's 10, provide a real advantage in heavily parallel integer workloads. The r15 multicore result, 29.7% ahead, reinforces this.

Intel's wins appear in two categories. First, single-threaded performance: the r23 singlecore lead of 36.8% is substantial, and the passmark single_thread score confirms it. Second, floating-point and physics: Intel wins floating_point_math by 12.1% and physics by 10.2%. The find_prime_numbers test, which is integer-heavy but not memory-bandwidth-bound, goes to Intel by 48.9%, indicating that raw core efficiency matters there more than memory throughput.

The r23 multicore result is interesting. Intel wins it by 14.6% despite having 10 threads versus AMD's 16, and despite losing r15 multicore by 29.7%. This suggests that Intel's per-core efficiency in the newer Cinebench version is strong enough to overcome its thread deficit. The data implies that the two chips target different workload profiles: AMD for memory-intensive parallel integer work, Intel for single-thread response and floating-point compute.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: AMD 8, Intel 10
• Threads: AMD 16, Intel 10
• Base clock: AMD 3.60 GHz, Intel 2.50 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD 5.00 GHz, Intel 4.90 GHz
• TDP: AMD 55, Intel 65
• Socket: AMD Socket FP11, Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: AMD Zen 5, Intel Arrow Lake
• Codename: AMD Strix Halo, Intel Arrow Lake-S
• Generation: AMD Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5 Strix Halo), Intel Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake)
• Process node: AMD 4 nm, Intel 3 nm
• Foundry: both TSMC
• Die size: AMD 2x 70.6 mm², Intel 243 mm²
• Transistors: AMD not listed, Intel 17,800 million
• L1 cache: AMD 80 KB per core, Intel 192 KB per core
• L2 cache: AMD 1 MB per core, Intel 3 MB per core
• L3 cache: AMD 32 MB shared, Intel 20 MB shared
• Memory support: AMD LPDDR5X, Intel DDR5
• Memory bus: AMD quad-channel, Intel dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 256.0 GB/s, Intel 102.4 GB/s
• ECC memory: AMD true, Intel false
• PCIe: AMD Gen 4, 16 lanes CPU only, Intel Gen 5, 20 lanes CPU only
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 8060S, Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU
• Market segment: AMD Mobile, Intel Desktop
• Release date: AMD 2026-01-05, Intel 2024-12-31
• Part number: AMD 100-000001980, Intel unknown
• Launch MSRP: neither listed

The remaining fields, such as production status (both Active), multiplier unlocked (both false), and series (Intel has Core Ultra Series 2, AMD has no series listed), show no difference or are only present for one part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 16 threads from 8 cores. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 threads from 10 cores. AMD has 6 more threads.

Q: Why does AMD win integer math by such a large margin?

A: The passmark_integer_math score is 109,588 for AMD versus 59,543 for Intel, an 84% difference. The likely cause is AMD's quad-channel memory bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, which allows faster access to data during integer operations that rely on memory throughput.

Q: How much faster is Intel in single-core performance?

A: In cinebench_r23_singlecore, Intel scores 3,101 versus AMD's 1,960, a 36.8% lead. The passmark_single_thread test shows a smaller gap: 4,348 versus 4,185, a 3.7% difference. Intel's advantage is larger in the Cinebench test than in PassMark.

Q: What memory types do the two chips support?

A: AMD supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. AMD also supports ECC memory, Intel does not.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: AMD has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD has 12 MB more L3, but Intel has larger L1 and L2 caches per core.

Q: What are the process nodes and die sizes?

A: AMD is on a 4 nm process with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². Intel is on a 3 nm process with a die size of 243 mm² and 17,800 million transistors. Both are fabricated by TSMC.

The Verdict

The data points to a workload-dependent choice, not a universal winner. For tasks that stress memory bandwidth and integer parallelism, such as data compression, encryption, string sorting, and integer math, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is clearly superior. Its quad-channel LPDDR5X memory and 16 threads deliver leads between 9.9% and 84% in those tests. The chip also holds a 29.7% edge in cinebench_r15_multicore and a 32.1% lead in passmark_multithread.

For users prioritizing single-thread response, floating-point math, physics simulations, or prime number finding, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T is the stronger option. It wins r23_singlecore by 36.8%, find_prime_numbers by 48.9%, floating_point_math by 12.1%, and physics by 10.2%. Its r23 multicore victory by 14.6% indicates that in newer multi-core workloads, Intel's per-core efficiency can offset its thread deficit.

The average benchmark scores confirm the split. AMD's avgBenchmarkScore is 49,796, placing it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core 9 273PE at 49,845 (0.1% behind). Intel's avgBenchmarkScore is 30,468, at the 82nd percentile, with its nearest rival the Intel Core i5-13600H at 30,548 (0.3% ahead). AMD's overall database position is substantially higher.

The market segments differ, with AMD listed as Mobile and Intel as Desktop. That, combined with the bandwidth and cache differences, suggests AMD targets high-throughput mobile compute while Intel targets a desktop efficiency profile. The recorded data supports selecting AMD for memory-bound integer workloads and Intel for single-thread and floating-point tasks. Neither chip is a universal leader, but the magnitude of AMD's wins in its strongest tests outweighs Intel's narrower margins in most of its victories, except for the 36.8% r23 singlecore gap.