AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and Intel Core 5 330 occupy completely different tiers of mobile computing. The data is unambiguous: the AMD part wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and does so by margins that often exceed 100%. The Intel Core 5 330’s only victories are in the two PassMark single-thread tests, where it leads by a marginal 1.5%. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is a high-performance processor built for demanding workloads, while the Intel Core 5 330 is a low-power chip that prioritizes efficiency over raw throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the clear winner in every multi-threaded and compute-intensive category. Its largest advantage comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 146,519 against the Intel’s 33,258, a 340.6% advantage. This indicates a massive lead in general arithmetic and logic operations. The AMD part also dominates data compression (487,145 vs. 145,287, a 235.3% lead) and extended instructions (38,716 vs. 12,808, a 202.3% lead), showing superior performance in encryption, media processing, and specialized instruction sets. In Cinebench tests, which render 3D scenes, the AMD part scores 36,064 in R23 multi-core versus 13,150 for Intel, a 174.3% lead, confirming its strength in content creation.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only the two identical PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 4,088 against AMD’s 4,028. The 1.5% margin is within noise and does not represent a meaningful advantage in everyday responsiveness. However, that single-thread result, combined with its 15W TDP, points to the Intel part’s intended role: a highly efficient processor for light, battery-conscious workloads. The AMD chip, with a 55W TDP, is designed to sustain high performance over long periods, while the Intel chip is built to sip power. The database’s percentile rankings reflect this split: the AMD part sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part is at the 72nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is as wide as the performance gap. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm process. Its die is composed of two chiplets, each with a 70.6 mm² area. The cache hierarchy is generous: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus, yielding a peak bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory and has a Radeon 8050S integrated GPU. The chip uses AMD’s Socket FP11 and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes.

The Intel Core 5 330 is a fundamentally different design. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, based on the Wildcat Lake codename and manufactured on Intel’s 3nm process. Its cache is much smaller: 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support includes both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but only over a single-channel bus, limiting bandwidth to 59.7 GB/s. It lacks ECC support and uses Intel’s BGA 1516 socket. The integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 with 2 Xe cores. PCIe support is Gen 4 with only 6 lanes. The Intel part is a compact, low-power design, while the AMD part is a large, high-bandwidth powerhouse.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are consistently one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 3,635 against 1,325 for the Intel Core 5 330, a 174.3% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: 513 vs. 186, a 175.8% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD part scores 15,146 multi-core and 2,138 single-core, versus 5,523 and 779 for Intel, with deltas of 174.2% and 174.5%, respectively. Cinebench R23 repeats the trend: 36,064 vs. 13,150 multi-core (174.3% lead) and 5,091 vs. 1,856 single-core (174.3% lead). These results confirm that the AMD chip is not just faster in multi-threaded tasks; it also holds a commanding lead in single-threaded rendering performance.

The PassMark suite shows even larger gaps in specific workloads. The most extreme is integer math, where the AMD part leads by 340.6%. Data compression shows a 235.3% lead, and extended instructions show a 202.3% lead. Random string sorting, which tests memory access patterns and branch prediction, sees the AMD part score 53,113 against 17,771, a 198.9% lead. Prime number finding, a test of pure integer throughput, shows a 177.2% lead (316 vs. 114). Floating-point math is the closest of the AMD wins, at 106.4% (90,594 vs. 43,885), but still a decisive victory. Multithread performance (41,737 vs. 15,471) and physics (2,761 vs. 1,201) show leads of 169.8% and 129.9%, respectively. Data encryption shows a 126.6% lead (25,097 vs. 11,076). The only Intel wins are the two PassMark single-thread scores of 4,088 vs. 4,028, a 1.5% margin.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36,064, which is 174.3% higher than the Intel Core 5 330’s 13,150.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 330 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4,088, which is 1.5% higher than the AMD’s 4,028.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports quad-channel LPDDR5X with a peak bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 330 uses single-channel memory with a peak bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD part leads by 340.6% (146,519 vs. 33,258).

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and Intel Core 5 330 differ in nearly every measurable specification. The AMD part has 12 cores and 24 threads, versus 6 cores and 6 threads for Intel. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 1.50 GHz for Intel; boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 4.60 GHz, respectively. TDP is 55W for AMD and 15W for Intel. The AMD part uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4nm TSMC process, while the Intel part uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3nm Intel process. The AMD die is 2x 70.6 mm², while Intel’s die size is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ sharply: AMD provides 80 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, while Intel provides 192 KB L1 total and 2.5 MB L2 total. L3 cache is 64 MB shared for AMD versus 6 MB shared for Intel. Memory support is LPDDR5X for AMD and DDR5/LPDDR5X for Intel; the memory bus is quad-channel for AMD and single-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 256.0 GB/s for AMD versus 59.7 GB/s for Intel. AMD supports ECC memory, Intel does not. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD and Gen 4 with 6 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for AMD and Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for Intel. The sockets differ: AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel BGA 1516. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $309; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leads to a straightforward verdict. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the superior processor for any workload that benefits from multiple cores, high memory bandwidth, or heavy compute. It leads by 174.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, by 235.3% in data compression, and by 340.6% in integer math. Its 64 MB of L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a substantial foundation for data-intensive tasks. The 91st percentile ranking places it among the top-tier mobile processors.

The Intel Core 5 330 is a different product for a different purpose. Its 15W TDP and 6-core/6-thread configuration make it suitable for fanless or low-power designs where battery life is paramount. Its single-thread score of 4,088 is competitive, but the 1.5% lead over the AMD part is negligible in real-world use. The 72nd percentile ranking confirms it is an average performer, and its 6 MB of L3 cache and 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth limit its potential in sustained workloads. The data shows that the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the choice for performance, while the Intel Core 5 330 is the choice for efficiency. There is no overlap in their intended use cases.