AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall in the database's aggregated benchmark results?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 holds a decisive lead. Its average benchmark score is 56,273, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 315 averages 18,188 and sits in the 72nd percentile.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The data shows the AMD chip is nearly identical in average score to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470, which is 0.1% behind, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, which is 0.5% behind. It also edges out the Intel Core i9-14900HX by 0.5% and the Intel Core 7 253PQE by 0.6%.

Q: Where does the Intel Core 5 315 stand among its nearest competitors?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 is effectively tied with the AMD EPYC 9274F and the Intel Core i7-9700, both showing a 0% delta. It is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-1365U and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, each by 0.1%.

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 146,519 versus 31,690 for the Intel part, a difference of 362.4% in favor of AMD.

Q: Are there any benchmark results where the Intel Core 5 315 is competitive?

A: The only close result is in PassMark single-thread performance. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 4,028 and the Intel Core 5 315 scores 4,021, a margin of just 0.2% for AMD. Intel wins none of the 17 head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is built on the Zen 5 architecture using the Strix Halo codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on Intel's 3 nm process. AMD's chip is the newer release, with a launch date of January 5, 2025, while Intel's part arrives later, dated April 15, 2026.

The compute resources diverge sharply. AMD provides 12 cores with 24 threads, while Intel offers 6 cores with 6 threads, meaning the Intel part has no hyperthreading support. The cache hierarchy also differs. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a large 64 MB shared L3 pool. Intel specifies a total of 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and only 6 MB of shared L3. This substantial difference in last-level cache is a key factor in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory architecture is another major split. The AMD processor uses LPDDR5X memory in a quad-channel configuration, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but runs in a single-channel configuration, capping bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s. This more than fourfold bandwidth advantage for AMD is critical for memory-intensive tasks. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

The integrated graphics solutions are different as well. AMD pairs its CPU with a Radeon 8050S, while Intel includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. PCIe connectivity is similar in generation but not lane count: both use Gen 4, but AMD provides 16 lanes versus Intel's 6 lanes (CPU only). The AMD socket is AMD Socket FP11, and the Intel socket is Intel BGA 1516. Both processors are locked, with the multiplier not unlocked, and both are marked as active in production.

The power envelopes are far apart. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel Core 5 315 is rated at just 15 watts. Clock speeds reflect this: AMD's base clock is 3.20 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz, while Intel's base is 1.50 GHz and boost is 4.40 GHz. The die size for AMD is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², while no die size is recorded for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all 17 tests. The data does not show a single category where the Intel Core 5 315 comes out ahead. That said, the magnitude of the wins varies, which helps define where each chip is most usable.

For heavily parallel workloads, AMD's advantage is overwhelming. In PassMark integer math, AMD leads by 362.4%, and in data compression, the lead is 233.3%. The multi-core Cinebench results all show AMD ahead by roughly 177.8% to 177.9%. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration with 64 MB of L3 and quad-channel memory allows AMD to dominate rendering, encoding, and scientific computing tasks. The Intel part, with 6 cores and 6 threads, cannot keep pace in any sustained multi-threaded scenario.

For single-threaded work, the gap narrows considerably. PassMark single-thread scores are nearly identical: 4,028 for AMD versus 4,021 for Intel, a 0.2% difference. This indicates that in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive applications, the Intel Core 5 315 is competitive despite its lower clock speeds. The Cinebench single-core tests tell a different story, however, with AMD ahead by 178.8% in R15, 178% in R20, and 177.9% in R23. These conflicting results suggest the PassMark single-thread test is less sensitive to the architectural differences, while Cinebench's rendering workload amplifies AMD's IPC and clock advantages.

The Intel chip's 15 W TDP and single-channel memory point toward fanless or ultra-low-power designs where absolute performance is secondary to efficiency. Its launch MSRP is $340. The AMD chip's 55 W TDP and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth target more capable mobile workstations. The percentile rankings reinforce this split: AMD sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while Intel rests at the 72nd, a gap that places them in different performance tiers even if both are mobile parts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads; the Intel Core 5 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads. AMD's base clock is 3.20 GHz versus 1.50 GHz for Intel, and boost clocks are 5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. TDP is 55 W for AMD and 15 W for Intel.

The socket types are incompatible: AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel BGA 1516. The process nodes differ (4 nm TSMC versus 3 nm Intel), as do the foundries. Cache configurations are entirely different, with AMD using per-core L1 and L2 allocations (80 KB and 1 MB per core) plus 64 MB shared L3, while Intel has fixed totals of 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB L3.

Memory support diverges: AMD uses LPDDR5X exclusively, while Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The memory bus is quad-channel for AMD and single-channel for Intel, resulting in memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on AMD. PCIe lanes are 16 for AMD versus 6 for Intel, both Gen 4.

The integrated graphics are different models: Radeon 8050S for AMD and Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for Intel. Release dates differ by over a year, with AMD launching January 5, 2025, and Intel on April 15, 2026. The part numbers also differ: 100-000001423 for AMD and SAEFC for Intel. Both are locked multipliers, and neither has a recorded series name.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniformly one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 3,635 against Intel's 1,308, a 177.9% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 513 versus 184, a 178.8% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 15,146 for AMD and 5,452 for Intel, a 177.8% difference, while single-core is 2,138 versus 769, a 178% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 36,064 versus 12,981, a 177.8% lead, and single-core is 5,091 versus 1,832, a 177.9% margin.

PassMark tests show even larger spreads in some cases. Data compression yields 487,145 for AMD versus 146,143 for Intel, a 233.3% advantage. Data encryption is 25,097 versus 11,119, a 125.7% lead. Extended instructions show 38,716 versus 13,143, a 194.6% margin. Finding prime numbers is 316 versus 112, a 182.1% difference.

Floating-point math is 90,594 versus 42,441, a 113.5% lead, while integer math is the largest outlier at 146,519 versus 31,690, a 362.4% margin. The multi-thread PassMark score is 41,737 versus 15,272, a 173.3% difference. Physics simulation shows 2,761 versus 1,163, a 137.4% lead. Random string sorting is 53,113 versus 17,551, a 202.6% gap.

The only near-even result is PassMark single-thread, where AMD scores 4,028 and Intel scores 4,021, a 0.2% difference. That single test prevents a clean sweep of triple-digit margins, but it does not change the overall picture. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins all 17 recorded benchmarks, with the Intel Core 5 315 failing to register a single victory. The average benchmark scores, 56,273 versus 18,188, place the AMD part in a different performance class, and the percentile rankings confirm this with 91 versus 72.