AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i5-14490F, with no wins recorded for the Intel part. The margins vary from narrow to overwhelming, but the direction is consistent across every test.

The largest gap appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where AMD scores 316 against Intel's 122, a 159% advantage. This workload is highly sensitive to memory latency and integer throughput, and the Ryzen AI Max 390's architecture clearly handles it far more effectively. Integer math shows a 66.8% delta (146519 versus 87844), while extended instructions deliver a 78.2% delta (38716 versus 21731), indicating substantial SIMD and instruction-level advantages.

Cinebench results cluster around a remarkably uniform 56.8% to 56.9% delta across all three versions (R15, R20, R23) and both single-core and multi-core tests. The AMD part scores 3635 in R15 multi-core versus 2318 for Intel, 15146 versus 9660 in R20, and 36064 versus 23000 in R23. Single-core figures show 513 versus 327 in R15, 2138 versus 1363 in R20, and 5091 versus 3247 in R23. This consistency suggests a fundamental per-clock and per-core superiority rather than workload-specific quirks.

PassMark multi-thread performance gives AMD 41737 against Intel's 28662, a 45.6% advantage. Data compression shows a 43.3% delta (487145 versus 340026), while data encryption shows 37.7% (25097 versus 18225). Floating point math delivers 90594 versus 66558, a 36.1% delta, and physics simulation shows 2761 versus 2093, a 31.9% delta. Random string sorting completes with 53113 versus 35608, a 49.2% delta.

The closest contest is PassMark single-thread performance, where AMD scores 4028 against Intel's 3873, a modest 4% delta. This narrow margin indicates that the Intel part's peak single-thread capability is respectable, but the AMD processor still holds the edge. The average benchmark score confirms the overall picture: the Ryzen AI Max 390 averages 56273 across all tests, while the Core i5-14490F averages 38149.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake architecture, codenamed Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The process node difference is substantial, with AMD's 4 nm offering significantly denser transistors and lower power consumption per operation.

Core counts differ: AMD fields 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 10 cores and 16 threads. This 2-core and 8-thread advantage for AMD directly contributes to its multi-threaded benchmark wins. Base clocks show AMD at 3.20 GHz versus Intel at 2.50 GHz, while both reach 5.00 GHz boost. The higher base clock gives AMD a sustained performance advantage in workloads that do not hit boost ceilings.

Cache hierarchies diverge notably. Both use 80 KB L1 per core, but AMD has 1 MB L2 per core versus Intel's 1.25 MB per core. The critical difference is L3: AMD offers 64 MB shared, while Intel has 24 MB shared. This 40 MB gap in shared cache likely explains part of the large margin in random string sorting and find prime numbers, workloads that benefit from large working sets residing in cache.

Memory support differs completely. 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 no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part. The AMD processor also includes integrated graphics (Radeon 8050S), while the Intel part has no integrated graphics at all.

PCIe generation and lane counts differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe standard on Intel gives it higher theoretical bandwidth for compatible devices, but the CPU core performance gap remains dominant in the recorded benchmarks. The AMD die consists of two 70.6 mm² tiles for a combined 141.2 mm², while Intel uses a single 215 mm² die.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows no workload category where the Intel Core i5-14490F outperforms the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390. Every recorded test, from Cinebench rendering to PassMark's various math and memory workloads, favors the AMD processor. The database records 17 wins for AMD and 0 for Intel.

The AMD part's strongest relative performances come in integer-heavy and instruction-heavy workloads. The 66.8% delta in integer math and 78.2% delta in extended instructions suggest that developers compiling code with heavy SIMD or cryptographic workloads would see substantial improvements. The 159% delta in find prime numbers indicates exceptional performance for primality testing, which relies on tight loops and low-latency memory access.

Multi-threaded rendering workloads favor AMD strongly, with Cinebench deltas consistently near 56.8%. This makes the Ryzen AI Max 390 well suited for 3D rendering, video encoding, and other parallel compute tasks that scale across cores and threads. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration provides more parallel execution resources than Intel's 10-core, 16-thread setup.

The Intel part shows its closest relative performance in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the delta narrows to 4%. This suggests that for lightly threaded applications that do not heavily stress caches or memory bandwidth, the Intel processor remains competitive. However, even in this favorable scenario, AMD still wins.

Physics simulation shows a 31.9% delta in AMD's favor, indicating advantages in game physics or scientific simulation workloads. Data compression and encryption also favor AMD by 43.3% and 37.7% respectively, which matters for database operations, file archiving, and secure communication tasks. The overall average benchmark score places AMD at 56273 versus Intel's 38149, a 47.6% advantage in aggregate performance.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based solely on recorded data:

• Cores: AMD 12, Intel 10
• Threads: AMD 24, Intel 16
• Base clock: AMD 3.20 GHz, Intel 2.50 GHz
• TDP: AMD 55, Intel 65
• Socket: AMD Socket FP11, Intel Socket 1700
• Architecture: AMD Zen 5, Intel Raptor Lake
• Codename: AMD Strix Halo, Intel Raptor Lake-R
• Process node: AMD 4 nm, Intel 10 nm
• Foundry: AMD TSMC, Intel Intel
• Die size: AMD 2x 70.6 mm², Intel 215 mm²
• L2 cache per core: AMD 1 MB, Intel 1.25 MB
• L3 cache shared: AMD 64 MB, Intel 24 MB
• Memory support: AMD LPDDR5X, Intel DDR4, DDR5
• Memory bus: AMD Quad-channel, Intel Dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 256.0 GB/s, Intel not recorded
• ECC memory: AMD true, Intel false
• PCIe: AMD Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only), Intel Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 8050S, Intel N/A
• Market segment: AMD Mobile, Intel Desktop
• Release date: AMD 2025-01-05, Intel 2023-12-31
• Part number: AMD 100-000001423, Intel SRN35

Both processors share a 5.00 GHz boost clock, 80 KB L1 per core, production status of Active, and have locked multipliers (not unlocked). Neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both support 16 PCIe lanes from the CPU, though at different generations.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How much faster is the AMD processor in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36064 versus the Intel Core i5-14490F's 23000, a 56.8% advantage.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: PassMark single-thread performance shows the smallest gap: AMD scores 4028 versus Intel's 3873, a 4% delta.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-14490F does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has an average benchmark score of 56273, while the Intel Core i5-14490F averages 38149. The AMD processor sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits in the 86th.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics (recorded as N/A), while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 includes a Radeon 8050S.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear picture: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 outperforms the Intel Core i5-14490F in every benchmark category measured. The AMD processor holds a 47.6% higher average benchmark score, wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, and achieves a 91st percentile ranking versus Intel's 86th percentile. The largest margins appear in integer math (66.8%), extended instructions (78.2%), and prime number finding (159%), while the smallest margin is in single-thread PassMark (4%).

The Intel Core i5-14490F does offer certain platform advantages that are not captured in CPU benchmark scores. It uses a newer PCIe Gen 5 interface, supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and targets the desktop market with an Intel Socket 1700. These features may matter for users building a desktop system with specific expansion or memory requirements. However, in raw compute performance, the AMD part delivers substantially higher scores across rendering, encryption, compression, and math workloads.

For users prioritizing maximum CPU throughput in multi-threaded applications, rendering, scientific computing, or data processing, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the stronger choice based on the data. Its 12-core, 24-thread configuration, 64 MB L3 cache, and quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth provide a robust foundation for demanding workloads. The Intel part remains viable for users who need desktop socket compatibility, PCIe Gen 5 support, or dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 memory flexibility, but the benchmark evidence shows a substantial performance gap in favor of AMD.