AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a decisive overall win for the Intel Core 9 273PQE, which takes 15 of 17 benchmark comparisons. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins only two tests, but both are meaningful for specific workloads.

The biggest gap between these two processors appears in PassMark floating point math. The Intel part scores 125,546 against 90,594 for the AMD, a 27.8% advantage. That is the largest single-test delta in the entire comparison. Integer math also favors Intel, with 164,629 versus 146,519, an 11% lead. Data compression shows Intel ahead by 16.8%, scoring 585,752 against 487,145. Data encryption follows a similar pattern, with Intel at 29,636 versus 25,097, a 15.3% margin.

Cinebench results are consistent across all versions. The Intel Core 9 273PQE leads by 8% in R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. Specific scores: R15 multicore 3,950 versus 3,635, R20 multicore 16,459 versus 15,146, and R23 multicore 39,190 versus 36,064. Single-core Cinebench tests show the same 8% gap, with R23 single-core at 5,532 versus 5,091. The Intel part leads by 7.9% in R15 single-core (557 versus 513) and by 8% in R20 single-core (2,323 versus 2,138).

PassMark single-thread performance gives Intel an 11.9% edge, 4,573 versus 4,028. Multithread performance shows a 9.5% Intel advantage, 46,107 versus 41,737. The two tests where AMD wins are narrow but distinct. PassMark find prime numbers shows AMD at 316 versus 198 for Intel, a 59.6% advantage, the largest relative win for either side in any test. PassMark physics is essentially tied, with AMD at 2,761 and Intel at 2,754, a 0.3% margin. Extended instructions and random string sorting are also near ties, with Intel ahead by just 0.1% in both.

The overall average benchmark score in the database puts Intel at 66,099 against AMD at 56,273. That places the Intel part in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part sits in the 91st percentile. The nearest rival data for AMD shows its average score is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470, which is 56,306, a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core 9 273PQE sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which scores 65,914.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE uses a 10 nm process from Intel. Both chips have 12 cores and 24 threads, but their underlying designs diverge sharply. AMD employs the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, while Intel uses the Bartlett Lake codename without a listed architecture name.

Cache layouts differ between the two. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core, but AMD provides 1 MB of L2 per core while Intel provides 2 MB per core. The L3 cache favors AMD significantly: 64 MB shared versus 36 MB shared. That 28 MB difference in last-level cache could matter for workloads with large working sets.

Memory support presents a fundamental split. AMD uses LPDDR5X memory with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part has nearly three times the memory bandwidth on paper, which explains why it remains competitive in some tests despite losing most benchmarks. Both support ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ substantially. AMD ships the Radeon 8050S, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 770. PCIe support goes in opposite directions: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes, Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Socket and platform targets also separate these parts. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP11 and is marked as a Mobile segment product. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700 and is marked as a Desktop segment product. The AMD part has a 55 W TDP, while the Intel part carries a 125 W TDP. Base clocks favor Intel at 3.40 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, and boost clocks favor Intel more clearly at 5.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz.

Release dates place the AMD part at 2025-01-05 and the Intel part at 2026-03-08. Both are listed as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $589. The AMD part has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate the Intel Core 9 273PQE is the faster processor in nearly every measured category. The 8% lead across all Cinebench versions, both multicore and single-core, establishes a consistent performance advantage for sustained rendering workloads. The 11.9% single-thread PassMark lead and 9.5% multithread lead reinforce that pattern. Data compression and encryption workloads also favor Intel by double-digit margins, and floating point math shows the largest gap at 27.8%.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 holds only two wins, and one of them, PassMark physics at 0.3%, is effectively a statistical tie. The prime number calculation win at 59.6% is substantial but represents a narrow workload. For general-purpose computing, rendering, compression, encryption, and math-heavy tasks, the data points squarely to Intel.

However, the AMD part is a mobile chip with a 55 W TDP and quad-channel LPDDR5X memory delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part is a desktop chip with a 125 W TDP and dual-channel memory delivering 89.6 GB/s. The AMD processor offers far more memory bandwidth and consumes less than half the power budget. For systems where memory bandwidth is the priority and power draw matters, the AMD part has a structural advantage that benchmarks do not fully capture.

The Intel processor occupies the 93rd percentile versus the AMD's 91st, and its average benchmark score of 66,099 is 17.4% higher. Buyers seeking maximum compute performance should choose the Intel Core 9 273PQE. Buyers constrained by power or needing integrated graphics with high memory bandwidth should consider the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390, but the data shows they will sacrifice measurable performance in most tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins only 2: PassMark find prime numbers and PassMark physics.

Q: How large is the Cinebench R23 multicore gap?

A: Intel scores 39,190 versus AMD's 36,064, an 8% difference in favor of Intel.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any test by a large margin?

A: Yes. PassMark find prime numbers shows AMD at 316 versus Intel at 198, a 59.6% advantage for AMD.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: AMD provides 256.0 GB/s with quad-channel LPDDR5X. Intel provides 89.6 GB/s with dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 support.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: AMD has 64 MB shared L3. Intel has 36 MB shared L3. AMD also has 1 MB L2 per core, while Intel has 2 MB L2 per core.

Q: How do the TDP values compare?

A: AMD is rated at 55 W. Intel is rated at 125 W.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins across the broad spectrum of compute benchmarks. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results, both single-core and multicore, all favor Intel by exactly 8% or close to it. This makes Intel the pick for rendering, video encoding, and any CPU-bound creative work. PassMark integer math at 164,629 versus 146,519 and floating point math at 125,546 versus 90,594 show Intel handles arithmetic-heavy workloads with a clear edge. Data compression at 585,752 versus 487,145 and encryption at 29,636 versus 25,097 make Intel the choice for file archiving, database work, and security-related processing. Single-thread performance at 4,573 versus 4,028 indicates snappier response in lightly threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins specifically in prime number calculation, scoring 316 versus 198. That workload, which involves repeated primality testing, benefits from AMD's architecture in a way that other math tests do not replicate. The physics test is essentially tied at 2,761 versus 2,754, so AMD does not meaningfully win it. Beyond benchmark wins, AMD's quad-channel memory bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth position it better for memory-intensive tasks such as large in-memory databases or integrated graphics workloads that rely on shared memory. The 55 W TDP also makes it viable for systems with tighter thermal or power limits.

For users whose workloads match the benchmark suite, the choice is clear: Intel wins 15 categories and holds a double-digit advantage in several of them. For users who need maximum memory bandwidth or operate within a 55 W power envelope, the AMD part offers capabilities the Intel chip cannot match, despite losing most compute tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category except core count, thread count, L1 cache, and ECC support. Both have 12 cores and 24 threads. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and support ECC memory.

Clock speeds favor Intel: base clock 3.40 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, boost clock 5.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP differs by 70 W, with Intel at 125 W and AMD at 55 W. Socket compatibility is entirely separate, with AMD on Socket FP11 and Intel on Socket 1700.

Process node and foundry differ: AMD uses 4 nm from TSMC, Intel uses 10 nm from Intel. Cache hierarchy differs in L2 and L3: AMD has 1 MB L2 per core and 64 MB shared L3, Intel has 2 MB L2 per core and 36 MB shared L3.

Memory support is fundamentally different. AMD uses LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe generation differs: AMD uses Gen 4, Intel uses Gen 5, both with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ: AMD includes Radeon 8050S, Intel includes UHD Graphics 770. Market segment differs: AMD is Mobile, Intel is Desktop. Release dates differ by over a year: AMD at 2025-01-05, Intel at 2026-03-08. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $589, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Die size is listed for AMD as 2x 70.6 mm², while Intel has no die size recorded.