AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 3 201E. The margins are substantial across every workload category, ranging from a 15.7% advantage in single-threaded tests to a 454.4% lead in prime number finding.

The Cinebench suite reveals the scale of the performance gap. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36,064 against 12,613 for the Intel part, a 185.9% difference. The single-core results follow the same pattern: 5,091 versus 1,780, a 186% delta. The R20 tests show nearly identical ratios, with the AMD chip delivering 15,146 versus 5,297 in multicore (185.9% ahead) and 2,138 versus 747 in single-core (186.2% ahead). Even the older R15 benchmark confirms the trend, with the AMD processor scoring 3,635 versus 1,271 in multicore and 513 versus 179 in single-core, both representing 186% leads.

The Passmark suite tells the same story with even larger margins in some tests. The most extreme result appears in Passmark find prime numbers: the Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 316 versus 57, a 454.4% advantage. Extended instructions show a 250.8% lead (38,716 versus 11,035), while integer math demonstrates a 233.8% gap (146,519 versus 43,894). Data compression shows the AMD part at 487,145 against 164,160, a 196.8% difference. Random string sorting follows at 53,113 versus 17,783, a 198.7% lead. Data encryption (25,097 versus 8,931) and multithread (41,737 versus 14,839) both show 181% advantages. Floating point math delivers a 172.4% lead with scores of 90,594 versus 33,260, while physics testing shows the narrowest multicore gap at 142% (2,761 versus 1,141).

The only comparatively close result is Passmark single-thread, where the AMD chip scores 4,028 against 3,482, a 15.7% advantage. That margin still favors the Ryzen AI Max 390 decisively, but it indicates that the Intel Core 3 201E is less distant in lightly threaded workloads than in heavily parallel ones.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 outperforms the Intel Core 3 201E in every measured category. The 17-0 win count is unambiguous. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 56,273, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 3 201E averages 19,056, putting it in the 73rd percentile. That is a 37-point percentile gap and a roughly threefold difference in average score.

The AMD processor's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 (average score 56,306, 0.1% higher), the Intel Core i9-14900HX (56,004, 0.5% lower), the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX (56,555, 0.5% higher), and the Intel Core 7 253PQE (55,919, 0.6% lower). The Ryzen AI Max 390 sits comfortably within that cluster, trading fractions of a percent with high-end desktop and mobile parts.

The Intel Core 3 201E, by contrast, matches the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19,047, 0% delta), the Intel Core i5-12400F (19,039, 0.1% higher), the Intel Core i5-1335U (18,982, 0.4% higher), and the AMD EPYC 7773X (18,979, 0.4% higher). These are mainstream or older-generation parts, and the Core 3 201E lands squarely among them.

Where Each One Wins

Given the 17-0 sweep, there is no benchmark category where the Intel Core 3 201E takes the lead. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins every recorded test. The use-case split must therefore be framed around the magnitude of the AMD advantage and the platform context rather than any Intel victory.

For heavily threaded workloads, the Ryzen AI Max 390 is in a different class. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 36,064 is nearly triple the Intel part's 12,613. Rendering, video encoding, compilation, and scientific computing that scale across cores will see the largest relative gains. The Passmark multithread result (41,737 versus 14,839) reinforces this, as does the physics score (2,761 versus 1,141).

For security and data-heavy tasks, the AMD part again dominates. Data encryption scores 25,097 versus 8,931, while data compression reaches 487,145 versus 164,160. Integer math (146,519 versus 43,894) and extended instructions (38,716 versus 11,035) follow the same pattern. These workloads benefit from the AMD processor's larger core count and cache allocation.

The narrowest AMD advantage appears in single-threaded performance. The Passmark single-thread score of 4,028 versus 3,482 (15.7% gap) is the closest contest in the entire dataset. Users running lightly threaded applications, such as basic office productivity or web browsing, will still see better responsiveness from the AMD chip, but the difference is far less dramatic than in multicore scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 averages 56,273, while the Intel Core 3 201E averages 19,056. The AMD part sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel part sits in the 73rd percentile.

Q: How large is the Cinebench R23 multicore difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36,064 versus 12,613 for the Intel Core 3 201E, a 185.9% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 201E win any benchmark comparisons?

A: No. The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel part recording 0 wins.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports LPDDR5X memory with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 201E supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the integrated graphics solutions?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Radeon 8050S graphics. The Intel Core 3 201E uses UHD Graphics 730.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The die consists of 2x 70.6 mm² chiplets. It uses AMD Socket FP11 and is classified as a mobile segment part. The processor includes 64 MB of shared L3 cache, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 80 KB of L1 per core.

The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename with a 10 nm process manufactured by Intel. The die measures 163 mm². It uses Intel Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop segment part. The cache hierarchy consists of 12 MB of shared L3, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 80 KB of L1 per core.

Both processors support ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor features a quad-channel memory bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Intel processor uses a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 3.60 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for AMD and 4.80 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 55 watts for the AMD part and 60 watts for the Intel part.

The AMD processor uses LPDDR5X memory, while the Intel processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 256.0 GB/s for AMD versus 76.8 GB/s for Intel. The L3 cache is 64 MB shared for AMD versus 12 MB shared for Intel. L2 cache is 1 MB per core for AMD versus 1.25 MB per core for Intel, and both use 80 KB of L1 per core.

The process nodes differ: 4 nm for AMD (TSMC) versus 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The AMD part has a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel part has a single 163 mm² die. Release dates are close: January 5, 2025 for AMD and January 12, 2025 for Intel. The AMD part number is 100-000001423, and the Intel part number is SRVTR. The Intel Core 3 201E has a launch MSRP of $134.