AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive sweep for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 across all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with zero wins for the Intel Core 7 251TE. The most striking margin appears in extended instruction workloads, where the AMD part scores 38716 against Intel's 16974, a 128.1% advantage. Prime number finding follows a similar pattern, with AMD at 316 versus Intel's 140, a 125.7% delta.

Cinebench results consistently favor AMD by roughly 41% across every version tested. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen AI Max 390 records 36064 points against 25518 for the Core 7 251TE, a 41.3% lead. Single-core R23 shows the same margin: 5091 versus 3602, also 41.3%. The pattern holds for R15 and R20, with multi-core deltas of 41.3% and 41.4% respectively, and single-core deltas of 41.7% and 41.4%. This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Data compression shows AMD ahead by 45.7%, scoring 487145 against 334399. Random string sorting yields a 34% margin in AMD's favor, with scores of 53113 and 39643. The multithread PassMark test records 41737 for AMD against 30022 for Intel, a 39% difference. Physics simulation follows with 2761 versus 1938, a 42.5% gap.

Smaller but still decisive margins appear in floating-point math, where AMD scores 90594 versus 85607, a 5.8% lead, and integer math, where AMD's 146519 beats Intel's 125739 by 16.5%. Data encryption shows a 13.2% advantage for AMD (25097 versus 22176), and single-thread performance across two identical PassMark listings (4028 versus 3568) confirms a 12.9% edge.

The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. AMD's average sits at 56273, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database. Intel's average of 41650 lands in the 88th percentile. While both are strong performers, the gap between their averages is substantial: 14623 points, roughly 35% higher for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins with a score of 36064, which is 41.3% higher than the Intel Core 7 251TE's 25518.

Q: How large is the advantage in PassMark extended instructions?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 38716, while the Intel Core 7 251TE scores 16974. That is a 128.1% difference, the largest margin in the entire head-to-head dataset.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows AMD winning all 17 head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 7 251TE recording zero wins.

Q: What is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, AMD scores 4028 against Intel's 3568, a 12.9% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger gap: 5091 versus 3602, a 41.3% difference.

Q: How do their overall database rankings compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 ranks in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 56273. The Intel Core 7 251TE ranks in the 88th percentile, with an average score of 41650.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Despite fewer cores, AMD wins all multi-core benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename, built on TSMC's 4 nm process node. It features a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a single die measuring 215 mm².

Cache layouts diverge significantly. Both processors share 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but L2 differs: AMD allocates 1 MB per core, while Intel provides 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache shows the biggest gap, with AMD offering 64 MB shared versus Intel's 36 MB shared. This larger L3 pool likely contributes to AMD's substantial lead in compression and encryption workloads, where data residency matters.

Memory architecture also separates the two. AMD supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. This nearly threefold bandwidth advantage for AMD explains its strong performance in memory-sensitive tests like data compression and random string sorting. Both processors support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation. AMD implements Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel implements Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The newer Gen 5 standard offers higher potential transfer rates, though the CPU-only lane allocation limits expansion options for both.

The integrated graphics units reflect their target markets. AMD pairs the Ryzen AI Max 390 with a Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The database does not provide comparative graphics benchmarks, but the naming convention suggests different performance tiers.

Production status for both is listed as active, with release dates close together: AMD on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2025-01-12. The AMD part carries part number 100-000001423, while Intel's is SRQAXQ5ZG.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ sharply. AMD provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 24 cores and 32 threads. Despite having half the cores, AMD wins every multi-core benchmark, indicating higher per-core throughput.

Clock speeds tell a mixed story. AMD's base clock is 3.20 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz. Intel's base clock is much lower at 1.40 GHz but boosts higher to 5.40 GHz. The lower base clock for Intel likely reflects power management for its higher core count, while the higher boost suggests single-core headroom that does not translate into benchmark wins.

Thermal design power differs by 10 watts. AMD is rated at 55 W TDP, Intel at 45 W TDP. This gives AMD more thermal budget, which may explain its sustained performance advantage.

Socket compatibility separates the platforms entirely. AMD uses Socket FP11, while Intel uses Socket 1700. These are not interchangeable, so the choice of processor dictates the motherboard.

Memory support favors AMD in bandwidth but Intel in flexibility. AMD supports only LPDDR5X, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The memory bus width differs as well: quad-channel for AMD, dual-channel for Intel.

The process node and foundry show a manufacturing gap. AMD uses TSMC's 4 nm node, while Intel uses its own 10 nm process. This two-generation difference in lithography likely contributes to AMD's efficiency and performance per watt.

Die size reflects the different approaches. AMD's dual-chiplet design totals 2x 70.6 mm², while Intel's monolithic die is 215 mm². The smaller total area for AMD, combined with a more advanced node, suggests higher transistor density.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core 7 251TE is $384. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of its advantages rather than by any Intel victory.

For workloads requiring extended instruction sets, such as cryptography or specialized math libraries, AMD's 128.1% lead in PassMark extended instructions makes it the clear choice. Prime number finding, often used in hashing and number theory, shows a 125.7% advantage for AMD. Data compression favors AMD by 45.7%, which matters for archiving, database operations, and file system tasks.

Multi-threaded rendering and simulation workloads strongly favor AMD. The Cinebench suite shows consistent 41.3% leads across all versions, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Physics simulation follows with a 42.5% gap, relevant for game physics and engineering simulations.

Memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks benefit from AMD's quad-channel LPDDR5X setup. The 256.0 GB/s bandwidth versus Intel's 89.6 GB/s explains AMD's dominance in data compression (45.7% lead) and random string sorting (34% lead). These tasks repeatedly move data through memory, and AMD's wider bus provides a structural advantage.

The Intel Core 7 251TE does not win any recorded test, but its specifications suggest areas where it could compete in unmeasured scenarios. The higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz, the larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 1 MB), and PCIe Gen 5 support indicate potential strengths in latency-sensitive single-threaded workloads or high-throughput I/O scenarios. The dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 support offers memory flexibility that AMD's LPDDR5X-only design cannot match.

Intel's lower TDP of 45 W versus AMD's 55 W could make it easier to cool in constrained chassis, though the database does not provide thermal or power efficiency benchmarks.

The Verdict

The benchmark data delivers a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 outperforms the Intel Core 7 251TE in every measured category. The 17-0 sweep, combined with an average benchmark score of 56273 versus 41650, leaves no ambiguity in the recorded results.

Users prioritizing raw computational throughput should select the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390. Its 41.3% lead in Cinebench multi-core tests, 45.7% advantage in data compression, and 128.1% margin in extended instructions make it the superior choice for rendering, simulation, and specialized compute tasks. The 91st percentile ranking versus Intel's 88th percentile confirms its position in the database hierarchy.

The Intel Core 7 251TE, while losing all head-to-head tests, still ranks in the 88th percentile of all CPUs with a 41650 average score. Its 24 cores and 32 threads offer raw parallelism that the benchmarks do not fully reward, likely due to the lower base clock of 1.40 GHz and the dual-channel memory limitation. Systems requiring DDR4 compatibility, PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, or a lower 45 W TDP might prefer this part despite its benchmark deficit.

The data does not support any scenario where Intel wins a computational race. AMD's architectural advantages, from the 4 nm TSMC process to the 64 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory, create a performance gap that Intel's higher core count and boost clock cannot close. For any workload covered in the benchmark suite, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the definitive choice.