AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235. The AMD part wins 5 of 15 comparisons, while Intel takes 10. However, the magnitude of the victories matters as much as the count.

The biggest gap comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 scores 2872 against Intel's 1488. That is a 93% advantage, the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set. The AMD chip also leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 18759 versus 14769, a 27% edge, and in Cinebench R15 single-core with 298 versus 210, a 41.9% margin.

Intel's counterattack centers on PassMark workloads. The Core Ultra 5 235 leads in floating-point math by a wide margin, scoring 117951 versus 72722, a 38.3% deficit for AMD. Intel also dominates prime-number finding with 371 versus 145, a 60.9% advantage. Data encryption favors Intel too, with 29293 against AMD's 20092, a 31.4% swing.

The PassMark multi-thread test goes to Intel, 37816 versus 33486, an 11.5% lead, even though AMD wins Cinebench multi-core. That divergence suggests different workload sensitivities. Intel also wins PassMark physics (2570 versus 1843, a 28.3% edge) and random string sorting (48980 versus 43196, an 11.8% lead).

Single-thread results are split. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 2085 versus 1960, a 6% margin, and PassMark single-thread with 4516 versus 4185, a 7.3% edge. AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core, but that test appears less representative given the R23 result.

Close calls include data compression, where AMD edges Intel 400887 to 390711, a 2.6% margin, and extended instructions, where Intel leads by a razor-thin 0.1% (32752 versus 32719). Integer math goes to AMD, 109588 versus 87948, a 24.6% advantage.

Overall average benchmark scores place AMD at 49796 against Intel's 46062. AMD sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while Intel holds the 89th percentile. AMD's nearest rival, the Intel Core 9 273PE, scores 49845, just 0.1% higher, and the Intel Core i5-14600KF trails by 0.8%. Intel's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 at 46030, a 0.1% gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and process nodes. AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process for the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo. Intel also uses TSMC, but at 3 nm, with the Arrow Lake architecture for its Core Ultra Series 2.

Core counts diverge sharply. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Intel's chip lacks simultaneous multithreading, which explains the thread count matching the core count. AMD's core count is lower but each core supports two threads.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3. Intel gives 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on Intel may help single-thread performance, while AMD's larger shared L3 supports its multi-core Cinebench results.

Die size and transistor counts tell a different story. Intel's die measures 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors. AMD's die is reported as two 70.6 mm² segments, totaling roughly 141 mm², though the transistor count is not recorded in the database. The smaller process node and dual-die design give AMD a density advantage, but Intel has more total silicon area.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. AMD supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Intel uses DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s. AMD's bandwidth is exactly 2.5 times Intel's, which likely feeds its integrated Radeon 8060S graphics and helps in bandwidth-sensitive workloads.

PCIe connectivity also differs. AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Intel's newer PCIe standard and higher lane count favor expansion and discrete GPU bandwidth. AMD's integrated graphics is the Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU.

ECC memory support is another split: AMD supports ECC, Intel does not. This positions AMD for workstation-adjacent reliability scenarios, despite both being non-unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 388 dominates in multi-core rendering. Cinebench R15 and R23 multi-core scores show 93% and 27% leads respectively. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration with 32 MB of shared L3 and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth appears well-suited to sustained all-core workloads. Integer math also favors AMD, with a 24.6% advantage in PassMark, suggesting strength in general-purpose computation and database-style operations.

Data compression is a narrow AMD win, 2.6% ahead. This aligns with the memory bandwidth advantage, as compression algorithms often benefit from fast data movement. The quad-channel LPDDR5X interface likely helps here.

Intel's Core Ultra 5 235 excels in floating-point math, a 38.3% lead. This points toward scientific computing, physics simulation, and financial modeling workloads. Prime-number finding shows a 60.9% Intel advantage, indicating strong scalar integer performance per thread.

Encryption workloads heavily favor Intel, with a 31.4% margin. The 14 cores without hyperthreading may reduce contention in this workload, or the per-core cache configuration helps. PassMark physics also goes to Intel by 28.3%, suggesting better performance in simulation-style tasks.

Single-thread tasks generally favor Intel. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 6% lead, and PassMark single-thread shows 7.3%. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute. Random string sorting favors Intel by 11.8%, which may reflect better memory latency characteristics in the dual-channel DDR5 setup for pointer-chasing workloads.

The overall PassMark multi-thread result goes to Intel despite AMD's Cinebench wins, indicating that PassMark's multi-thread suite weights different operation types. Intel wins 10 of 15 direct comparisons, but AMD's average benchmark score is 7.3% higher because its wins in Cinebench are so large.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 388 uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel's Core Ultra 5 235 uses 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are close: 3.60 GHz for AMD versus 3.40 GHz for Intel. Both boost to 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power differs, with AMD rated at 55 W and Intel at 65 W. AMD's lower TDP comes despite higher memory bandwidth, suggesting the 4 nm process helps efficiency. Intel's higher TDP pairs with a desktop market segment, while AMD targets mobile.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel Socket 1851. AMD's architecture is Zen 5 with the Strix Halo codename, while Intel uses Arrow Lake with the Arrow Lake-S codename. AMD's generation is listed as Ryzen AI Max, Intel's as Ultra 5.

Process nodes differ by one step: 4 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel. Both use TSMC as the foundry. Intel's die is 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors; AMD's die is listed as two 70.6 mm² segments without a transistor count.

Cache configurations are distinct. AMD has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. Intel has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Intel's per-core caches are larger in both L1 and L2, while AMD's shared L3 is 8 MB larger.

Memory support splits completely: LPDDR5X quad-channel with 256.0 GB/s for AMD versus DDR5 dual-channel with 102.4 GB/s for Intel. ECC is supported on AMD only. PCIe generation and lanes also differ: Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for Intel.

Integrated graphics differ in naming and presumably capability. AMD uses the Radeon 8060S; Intel uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier. AMD's release date is 2026-01-05, Intel's is 2025-01-06. Intel's launch MSRP is $257; AMD's launch MSRP is not recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel has more physical cores, but AMD supports simultaneous multithreading, so AMD's thread count is higher than its core count.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: AMD provides 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus. Intel provides 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. AMD's bandwidth is 2.5 times higher.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: AMD wins both recorded Cinebench multi-core tests. In R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2872 versus Intel's 1488, a 93% lead. In R23 multi-core, AMD scores 18759 versus 14769, a 27% lead.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark advantage for Intel?

A: Intel's biggest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 371 versus AMD's 145, a 60.9% advantage. Intel also leads floating-point math by 38.3% and data encryption by 31.4%.

Q: Do both processors use the same process node?

A: No. AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm process, while Intel uses TSMC's 3 nm process. Intel's die measures 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors; AMD's die is two 70.6 mm² segments.

Q: Which processor has higher average benchmark scores?

A: AMD has a higher average benchmark score of 49796 versus Intel's 46062. AMD sits at the 90th percentile among all CPUs, Intel at the 89th. AMD's nearest rival is the Intel Core 9 273PE at 49845, a 0.1% difference.