AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 7 253PTE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a decisive performance advantage for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 across every benchmark in the comparison. The AMD part wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with the largest margins appearing in extended instruction workloads and prime number calculations. The Intel Core 7 253PTE does not claim a single win in this dataset, making the choice straightforward for workloads measured here: the Ryzen AI Max 390 is the faster processor in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.

The AMD processor sits at the 91st percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part reaches the 84th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD chip is 56,273, versus 34,962 for the Intel chip. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 at a 0.1% lower average score and the Intel Core i9-14900HX at a 0.5% higher average score. For the Intel Core 7 253PTE, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13800H at a 0.1% lower average score and the Intel Core i9-12900HX at a 0.1% lower average score. Users seeking maximum measured throughput should select the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 based on this data.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel chip has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Despite the Intel chip having a higher boost clock, the AMD chip delivers higher benchmark scores in every test.

The cache layouts differ substantially. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has a larger total L3 cache, which likely contributes to its performance in multi-threaded workloads. The die size for the AMD part is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel part has no recorded die size.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports LPDDR5X memory with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel Core 7 253PTE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AMD chip has more than double the memory bandwidth of the Intel chip. Both processors support ECC memory. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD chip has PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip has PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD chip uses Radeon 8050S, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 730.

The AMD chip is classified as a mobile segment part, while the Intel chip is classified as a desktop segment part. The AMD chip has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 45 watts. The AMD chip was released on 2025-01-05, while the Intel chip was released on 2026-03-08. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $384. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part number is 100-000001423, and the Intel part number is SA4QK.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 3,635 versus 2,144 for the Intel chip, a 69.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip scores 513 versus 302, a 69.9% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows the AMD chip at 15,146 versus 8,935, again a 69.5% delta. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows the AMD chip at 2,138 versus 1,261, a 69.5% delta. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 36,064 versus 21,276, a 69.5% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the AMD chip at 5,091 versus 3,003, a 69.5% delta. The Cinebench deltas are remarkably uniform across versions, suggesting a consistent architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific effect.

The PassMark results show more varied margins. The largest delta appears in the prime number finding test, where the AMD chip scores 316 versus 82, a 285.4% advantage. This indicates a very strong performance in integer-heavy computational loops. The extended instructions test shows the AMD chip at 38,716 versus 17,099, a 126.4% advantage. The physics test shows the AMD chip at 2,761 versus 1,318, a 109.5% advantage. The random string sorting test shows the AMD chip at 53,113 versus 28,227, an 88.2% advantage. The data compression test shows the AMD chip at 487,145 versus 275,828, a 76.6% advantage. The multithread test shows the AMD chip at 41,737 versus 25,031, a 66.7% advantage. The data encryption test shows the AMD chip at 25,097 versus 15,500, a 61.9% advantage.

The floating point math test shows a smaller margin: the AMD chip scores 90,594 versus 67,209, a 34.8% advantage. The integer math test shows the AMD chip at 146,519 versus 119,552, a 22.6% advantage. The smallest margin appears in the single-thread tests, where the AMD chip scores 4,028 versus 3,794, a 6.2% advantage in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests. This suggests that the AMD chip's per-thread advantage is modest, but its multi-core scaling advantage is substantial.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PTE has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Despite this, the AMD chip wins all single-thread benchmarks, with a 6.2% advantage in the PassMark single-thread test.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PTE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD chip has two more cores and four more threads than the Intel chip.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s using a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus. The Intel Core 7 253PTE has a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s using a dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 bus. The AMD chip has approximately 2.9 times the memory bandwidth of the Intel chip.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is at the 91st percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 7 253PTE is at the 84th percentile. The AMD chip ranks higher by 7 percentile points.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any benchmark win?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 17 wins for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and 0 wins for the Intel Core 7 253PTE across all tested workloads.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core 7 253PTE has a TDP of 45 watts. The AMD chip uses 10 more watts but delivers substantially higher benchmark scores.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins in every measured category. The largest advantages appear in prime number finding (285.4% ahead), extended instructions (126.4% ahead), and physics (109.5% ahead). These results indicate strong performance in computation-heavy tasks such as scientific calculations, encryption workloads, and physics simulations. The AMD chip also shows a 76.6% advantage in data compression and an 88.2% advantage in random string sorting, which points to solid performance in data processing and sorting tasks.

The Intel Core 7 253PTE does not have a winning category in this dataset. However, its smallest deficit is in single-thread performance, where the AMD chip is only 6.2% ahead. The Intel chip also shows a relatively smaller deficit in integer math, at 22.6% behind the AMD chip. This suggests that the Intel part is comparatively less disadvantaged in lightly threaded integer workloads. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock at 5.40 GHz, which may help in short bursts, but the recorded benchmarks do not show a win in any test.

For multi-threaded workloads, the AMD chip is consistently ahead by roughly 66% to 70% in Cinebench tests and 66.7% in the PassMark multithread test. The AMD chip has more cores, more threads, more L3 cache, and more memory bandwidth, all of which contribute to these results. For single-threaded workloads, the AMD chip still leads, but by a much smaller margin. The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the stronger choice for both heavily parallel workloads and lightly threaded tasks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 | Intel Core 7 253PTE |

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

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 24 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8050S | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $384 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001423 | SA4QK |

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The AMD chip uses a smaller 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel chip uses a 10 nm process from Intel. The AMD chip has a higher base clock by 1.40 GHz, but the Intel chip has a higher boost clock by 0.40 GHz. The AMD chip has a larger L3 cache by 31 MB, while the Intel chip has a larger L2 cache per core by 1 MB. The AMD chip supports only LPDDR5X memory, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD chip has a quad-channel memory bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip has a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5. The AMD chip is a mobile part, and the Intel chip is a desktop part. The release dates differ by over a year, with the AMD chip released earlier. The average benchmark score for the AMD chip is 56,273, compared to 34,962 for the Intel chip, a difference of 21,311 points in favor of the AMD part.