AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Arc G3 Comparison

The Verdict

The data in the database places the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and the Intel Arc G3 in entirely different performance tiers. The Ryzen AI Max 390 holds a 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Intel Arc G3 sits at the 50th percentile. The AMD part has a comprehensive set of recorded benchmark scores, whereas the Intel part has no recorded benchmark entries in the database, resulting in an average benchmark score of zero for the Arc G3. Based on the recorded data, the Ryzen AI Max 390 is the clear choice for any workload that relies on CPU compute, as it is the only one of the two with measurable performance data. The Arc G3, with no benchmark scores, cannot be positioned as a competitive alternative in any of the tested categories.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing processes and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is built on TSMC's 4 nm process node, while the Intel Arc G3 uses Intel's 3 nm node. The AMD part is based on the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, whereas the Intel part uses the Panther Lake codename. The AMD processor features 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel processor has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning the Intel chip has more physical cores but no simultaneous multithreading, so its thread count is equal to its core count. The AMD part operates with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to the Intel part's base clock of 1.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Arc G3 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the AMD processor a substantial advantage in total L3 cache capacity, which can benefit workloads with large working sets.

Memory support also diverges. Both processors support LPDDR5X memory, but the AMD part uses a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, while the Intel part uses a dual-channel bus with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD processor also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 25 watts.

The integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 includes a Radeon 8050S, while the Intel Arc G3 includes an Arc B370. Both are mobile-market segments, with the AMD part using AMD Socket FP11 and the Intel part using Intel BGA 2540. The AMD part launched earlier and remains in active production, as does the Intel part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins in every measurable category. The database contains 17 benchmark scores for the AMD part, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core tests, as well as a range of PassMark tests including data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating point math, integer math, multithreading, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. The Intel Arc G3 has no recorded scores in any of these tests.

For multi-threaded productivity workloads, the AMD part delivers strong results. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36064 indicates robust performance for rendering and content creation tasks. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 5091 shows solid per-thread performance for lightly threaded applications. The PassMark multithread score of 41737 and integer math score of 146519 further support its capability in parallel compute tasks.

The Intel Arc G3, with no benchmark data, cannot claim wins in any workload category. The absence of recorded scores means the database cannot validate any performance claims for the Intel part. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 thus dominates the available performance landscape.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Arc G3's boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Arc G3 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The AMD part has fewer physical cores but more threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Arc G3 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports ECC memory. The Intel Arc G3 does not support ECC memory.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s via a quad-channel bus, while the Intel Arc G3 has 136.5 GB/s via a dual-channel bus.

Q: Are there any benchmark scores recorded for the Intel Arc G3?

A: No, the database contains no benchmark scores for the Intel Arc G3. Its average benchmark score is recorded as zero.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark section in the database lists no direct comparison entries between the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and the Intel Arc G3, and the win counts for both parts are zero. This means there are no recorded side-by-side test results to walk through numerically. The available data, however, still allows for meaningful comparison through the AMD part's absolute scores and the Intel part's absence of scores.

For the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36064 represents its strongest multi-threaded result in the Cinebench suite. The R20 multi-core score of 15146 and the R15 multi-core score of 3635 show a consistent scaling pattern across these rendering benchmarks. In single-core tests, the R23 score of 5091, the R20 score of 2138, and the R15 score of 513 all point to strong per-thread performance.

The PassMark suite adds further granularity. The AMD part scores 487145 in data compression, 25097 in data encryption, and 38716 in extended instructions. Its floating point math score is 90594, and its integer math score is 146519. The multithread score of 41737, physics score of 2761, and random string sorting score of 53113 round out the productivity picture. Single-thread performance is recorded at 4028 in the PassMark single-thread test.

The Intel Arc G3 has no scores in any of these tests. Its percentile ranking of 50 and average benchmark score of zero reflect the lack of recorded data. Comparing the two parts directly is therefore not possible from the database's measurements. The only conclusion the data supports is that the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has measurable performance across a wide range of tests, while the Intel Arc G3 does not yet have any validated performance metrics in this database. The AMD part's nearest rivals, which include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 with an average score of 56306 and a delta of -0.1 percent, the Intel Core i9-14900HX with 56004 and a delta of 0.5 percent, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX with 56555 and a delta of -0.5 percent, and the Intel Core 7 253PQE with 55919 and a delta of 0.6 percent, all sit within a narrow band around the AMD part's average score of 56273, confirming that the Ryzen AI Max 390 is competitive with established high-end mobile and workstation processors. The Intel Arc G3, by contrast, has no rival data to contextualize its performance.