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

AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and Intel Core 9 273PTE are both 12-core, 24-thread processors, but they target different market segments and deliver vastly different performance profiles. The recorded data shows the AMD part winning all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with an average benchmark score of 56273 compared to 31143 for the Intel part. This places the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE sits in the 82nd percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 boosts to 5.00 GHz. Despite the Intel part's higher boost frequency, the AMD processor still delivers substantially higher single-thread benchmark scores.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36064 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE scores 20445. This represents a 76.4% advantage for the AMD processor in this rendering workload.

Q: What memory configurations do these processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 9 273PTE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Both processors support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part also has a larger L2 cache allocation at 1 MB per core versus 2 MB per core on the Intel part, though the total L2 is larger on Intel when all cores are considered.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is classified as a mobile processor using AMD Socket FP11. The Intel Core 9 273PTE is classified as a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1700.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the PassMark integer math test?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 146519 in PassMark integer math, compared to 82411 for the Intel Core 9 273PTE. This gives the AMD processor a 77.8% advantage in this compute-heavy workload.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The die consists of two chiplets, each measuring 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 9 273PTE uses the Bartlett Lake codename, manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel with no die size information recorded.

Cache hierarchies differ noticeably between the two. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel part has 2 MB per core. L3 cache totals are also different: 64 MB shared on the AMD versus 36 MB shared on the Intel.

Memory architecture represents a major divide. The AMD processor uses LPDDR5X memory with a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, providing 89.6 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs, with the AMD part using Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes and the Intel part using Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 includes a Radeon 8050S, while the Intel Core 9 273PTE includes UHD Graphics 730. The base clocks are far apart: the AMD part runs at 3.20 GHz versus 1.40 GHz on the Intel part. The boost clocks reverse the order, with the Intel part at 5.50 GHz and the AMD part at 5.00 GHz. TDP ratings show the AMD processor at 55 W and the Intel processor at 45 W.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 across all 17 recorded comparisons. The AMD processor wins every single test, with no victories recorded for the Intel Core 9 273PTE. This makes the use-case split straightforward based on the data.

The AMD processor excels in extended instruction workloads, with a 142.7% advantage in PassMark extended instructions. This indicates particular strength in workloads that leverage advanced SIMD instructions. The processor also shows a 122.5% advantage in prime number finding, which often correlates with integer performance and efficient branch handling.

In floating-point math, the AMD part leads by 49.3%, which is the smallest margin among the PassMark tests but still represents a substantial advantage. The largest absolute gap appears in data compression, where the AMD scores 487145 versus 258704, an 88.3% difference. Multithreaded performance shows a 73.5% advantage for the AMD part in PassMark multithread.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE does not win any benchmark category in the recorded data. Its higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz does not translate into a single-thread victory, as the AMD part leads by 17.3% in PassMark single-thread tests. The Intel processor's lower TDP of 45 W might suggest efficiency advantages, but the database does not record power consumption figures for either processor beyond the TDP values.

For practical workloads, the AMD processor demonstrates superiority in rendering tasks as shown by Cinebench scores, in data processing as shown by PassMark compression and sorting tests, and in computational workloads as shown by math and encryption tests. The Intel processor's role in this comparison is primarily as a baseline showing the magnitude of the AMD processor's performance lead.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several distinct differences between the two processors. Core and thread counts are identical at 12 cores and 24 threads, so the performance differences cannot be attributed to core count.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core 9 273PTE has a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The AMD part runs at higher base speeds, while the Intel part reaches higher boost speeds.

TDP ratings differ by 10 W, with the AMD part rated at 55 W and the Intel part at 45 W. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700. Process nodes differ at 4 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel, with different foundries: TSMC for AMD and Intel for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3 sizes. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 2 MB of L2 per core and 36 MB of shared L3. L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core.

Memory support differs in type and channel configuration. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe versions differ, with the AMD part using Gen 4 and the Intel part using Gen 5, both with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ between the Radeon 8050S on the AMD part and UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel part. Release dates also differ, with the AMD part released on 2025-01-05 and the Intel part on 2026-03-08. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $549. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows consistent advantages for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 across all versions and workload types. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 3635 against 2060 for Intel, a 76.5% lead. Single-core R15 shows 513 against 290, a 76.9% lead. Cinebench R20 results show 15146 against 8586 in multicore and 2138 against 1212 in single-core, both with 76.4% deltas. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern with 36064 against 20445 in multicore and 5091 against 2886 in single-core, again at 76.4%.

The PassMark suite reveals the largest performance gaps. Data compression shows the AMD part at 487145 versus 258704, an 88.3% advantage. Extended instructions show the biggest relative difference at 142.7%, with scores of 38716 against 15952. Prime number finding shows a 122.5% advantage with 316 against 142. Integer math shows a 77.8% lead with 146519 against 82411. Random string sorting shows an 83.3% lead with 53113 against 28973.

Smaller but still substantial gaps appear in specific tests. Floating-point math shows a 49.3% advantage with 90594 against 60673. Physics tests show a 44% advantage with 2761 against 1917. Single-thread tests show the smallest margin at 17.3%, with 4028 against 3433. Data encryption shows a 76.1% advantage with 25097 against 14253. Multithread performance shows a 73.5% advantage with 41737 against 24054.

The nearest rivals for each processor provide context. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 sits within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470, Intel Core i9-14900HX, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, and Intel Core 7 253PQE. The Intel Core 9 273PTE sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i7-12700F, AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, Intel Core i7-13700TE, and Intel Core i7-12650HX. This shows the AMD processor competing in a higher performance tier entirely.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 delivers decisively higher performance than the Intel Core 9 273PTE in every measured benchmark. The AMD processor's average benchmark score of 56273 exceeds the Intel processor's 31143 by a wide margin, and its 91st percentile ranking versus the Intel part's 82nd percentile confirms the performance hierarchy.

The AMD processor wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with advantages ranging from 17.3% in single-thread performance to 142.7% in extended instructions. The smallest margin still represents a meaningful lead, and the largest margin shows more than double the performance in specific workloads. The Cinebench results consistently show about 76% advantages across all versions and thread counts, indicating predictable rendering performance.

The Intel Core 9 273PTE offers a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz and PCIe Gen 5 support, along with a lower TDP of 45 W. These characteristics may appeal to users with specific platform requirements or power constraints. The desktop market segment and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility also differentiate it from the mobile-oriented AMD part with its AMD Socket FP11.

Users selecting between these processors should consider the benchmark results as the primary differentiator. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 leads in every measured category, from rendering to data processing to computational workloads. The Intel Core 9 273PTE matches the AMD part in core and thread counts but does not translate that parity into competitive benchmark scores. The data supports the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 as the higher-performing processor in this comparison.