AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 3 305 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive sweep: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with no wins for the Intel Core 3 305. The margins, however, vary widely depending on workload type.

The largest gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD part scores 146,519 against 32,295 for the Intel chip, a 353.7% advantage. This reflects the massive core-count and threading disparity between the two processors. Data compression shows a similarly lopsided result: 487,145 versus 146,857, a 231.7% lead. Random string sorting also favors the AMD heavily at 201.4% (53,113 versus 17,623).

In the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 consistently delivers roughly 175% higher scores across all versions. For example, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 36,064 versus 13,123, a 174.8% difference. Single-core R23 yields 5,091 versus 1,852, a 174.9% gap. The R15 and R20 runs tell the same story, with deltas between 174.8% and 175.8%. This uniformity across Cinebench versions suggests that the performance advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

The narrowest margin appears in PassMark single-thread tests, where the AMD scores 4,028 against 3,977 for the Intel, a modest 1.3% lead. This is notable: despite the Intel part having a much lower boost clock, the two are nearly identical in pure single-threaded PassMark throughput. The AMD still wins, but the gap is trivial compared to the multi-threaded tests.

Other PassMark workloads show substantial but less extreme leads. Extended instructions: 38,716 versus 13,543, a 185.9% delta. Floating point math: 90,594 versus 42,284, a 114.3% advantage. Physics: 2,761 versus 1,233, a 123.9% lead. Data encryption: 25,097 versus 11,019, a 127.8% gap. Prime number finding: 316 versus 115, a 174.8% delta.

The average benchmark score for the AMD is 56,273, while the Intel sits at 18,302. The AMD ranks in the 91st percentile among all CPUs, whereas the Intel lands in the 72nd percentile. The AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 (delta -0.1%), Intel Core i9-14900HX (delta 0.5%), AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX (delta -0.5%), and Intel Core 7 253PQE (delta 0.6%). The Intel Core 3 305's nearest rivals are all within 0.4% of its average score, including the Intel Core i3-14100 (delta -0.1%), Intel Core 5 330 (delta -0.2%), Intel Core 7 360 (delta -0.4%), and AMD Ryzen 5 2600E (delta 0.4%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36,064, which is 174.8% higher than the Intel Core 3 305's 13,123.

Q: How close are the two in single-thread PassMark performance?

A: Very close. The AMD scores 4,028, and the Intel scores 3,977, a 1.3% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: PassMark integer math shows the biggest delta: 146,519 versus 32,295, a 353.7% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 305 win any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: How do the two compare in overall CPU percentile ranking?

A: The AMD ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel ranks in the 72nd percentile.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 averages 56,273, while the Intel Core 3 305 averages 18,302.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Zen 5, codenamed Strix Halo, on a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core 3 305 uses Wildcat Lake on a 3 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The AMD chip features 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel part has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading on the Intel side.

Cache hierarchies differ sharply. The AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel offers 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD's L3 is more than ten times larger, which helps explain its dominance in data-heavy workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only on a single-channel bus, with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD also supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not. PCIe lanes differ: the AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes, the Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes.

The integrated graphics are another major difference. The AMD pairs with a Radeon 8050S, while the Intel includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The AMD's TDP is 55 watts, versus 15 watts for the Intel. Clock speeds also differ: the AMD runs at 3.20 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, while the Intel runs at 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost.

The release dates are far apart: the AMD launched on 2025-01-05, and the Intel on 2026-04-15. The AMD uses an AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1516. Part numbers are 100-000001423 for the AMD and SAE3L for the Intel. Both have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking via multiplier adjustment.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 outperforms the Intel Core 3 305 in every recorded benchmark, often by triple-digit percentages. In multi-threaded workloads, the AMD's 12 cores with 24 threads overwhelm the Intel's 6 cores with 6 threads. The Cinebench results, consistently around 175% higher for the AMD, show that the advantage holds across rendering and CPU-bound tasks.

The AMD also leads in memory bandwidth, cache size, PCIe lanes, and integrated graphics capability. Its 91st percentile ranking versus the Intel's 72nd confirms that the AMD is positioned in a much higher performance tier. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the AMD trades blows with processors like the Intel Core i9-14900HX and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, while the Intel Core 3 305 sits alongside entry-level parts like the Intel Core i3-14100 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600E.

The only area where the Intel comes close is PassMark single-thread, where the 1.3% gap is negligible. However, this does not change the overall picture. For workloads that leverage many cores, high memory bandwidth, or large caches, the AMD is the clear choice. The Intel's lower TDP (15 watts versus 55 watts) suggests it is designed for efficiency, and its single-thread PassMark score is respectable, but the benchmark data shows no scenario where the Intel wins.

The Intel Core 3 305 does have a launch MSRP of $309, but the performance differential is so large that price normalization would not change the verdict. The AMD delivers roughly three times the average benchmark score (56,273 versus 18,302) and occupies a percentile rank 19 points higher. The recorded data supports only one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the superior processor in nearly every measurable way, with the single-thread PassMark test being the only near-tie.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 | Intel Core 3 305 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 24 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not listed |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Wildcat Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5, Strix Halo) | Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8050S | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-04-15 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001423 | SAE3L |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $309 |