AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core i7-14701TE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and the Intel Core i7-14701TE occupy different corners of the processor market, and the benchmark data reflects a clear separation in capability. The Ryzen AI Max 390, a mobile-focused part with a 55 TDP, delivers a dominant performance profile across every recorded test, while the Core i7-14701TE, a desktop part with a 45 TDP, offers a more modest baseline. The database records 17 benchmark wins for the AMD processor and zero for the Intel chip, establishing a one-sided comparison that nonetheless highlights distinct architectural philosophies.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins every single benchmark in the recorded head-to-head data, so the analysis instead focuses on the magnitude of its victories across different workload types. The largest deltas appear in compute-heavy and instruction-intensive tasks. In the PassMark extended instructions test, the AMD part scores 38,716 against Intel’s 14,354, a 169.7% advantage. This suggests a substantial lead in workloads that leverage advanced CPU instruction sets, such as cryptography, scientific simulations, and media encoding.

The AMD processor also excels in memory-bandwidth-sensitive operations. Its PassMark random string sorting score of 53,113 versus 22,760 represents a 133.4% delta, which aligns with its quad-channel LPDDR5X memory interface and 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part, using a dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 setup with no recorded bandwidth figure, falls behind in tasks that shuffle large data sets.

The Intel Core i7-14701TE, by contrast, has no winning categories. Its closest relative performance comes in PassMark physics, where it trails by only 48.4% (2,761 vs 1,860). This is the smallest gap in the entire dataset, indicating that the Intel chip’s single-thread efficiency is its least weak area, though still firmly behind. For integer math, data compression, and encryption, the AMD part leads by margins between 114.5% and 122.7%, reinforcing that the AMD processor is the choice for throughput-oriented applications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in design. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses 12 cores and 24 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i7-14701TE uses 8 cores and 16 threads on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process by Intel. The die size reflects this difference: AMD’s chip spans two dies at 70.6 mm² each, while Intel’s monolithic die is 257 mm².

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core, but the AMD part allocates 1 MB of L2 per core, while the Intel part doubles that to 2 MB per core. The L3 cache is where AMD takes a decisive lead: 64 MB shared versus Intel’s 33 MB shared. This larger pool of shared cache likely contributes to the AMD processor’s advantage in multi-threaded and data-intensive workloads.

Memory support further separates the two. The AMD processor uses LPDDR5X across a quad-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. Both support ECC memory, which is notable for reliability-sensitive deployments. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), giving Intel a potential interface speed advantage that the benchmarks do not directly measure.

Clock speeds favor Intel in raw boost terms. The Intel part boosts to 5.20 GHz from a 2.10 GHz base, while the AMD part boosts to 5.00 GHz from a 3.20 GHz base. Despite the higher boost clock, the Intel chip’s single-core scores are far lower, indicating that architectural efficiency and cache size outweigh the clock-speed difference. Integrated graphics also differ: AMD packs a Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, though the benchmark data does not include graphics tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern of AMD dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD processor scores 3,635 versus Intel’s 1,716, a 111.8% delta. The single-core test mirrors this: 513 versus 242, a 112% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 15,146 against 7,154 (111.7% delta), and R20 single-core shows 2,138 versus 1,010 (111.7% delta). The trend continues into Cinebench R23, where the AMD part records 36,064 multi-core and 5,091 single-core, against Intel’s 17,035 and 2,405, both with 111.7% deltas. These results indicate that the AMD processor roughly doubles Intel’s rendering and ray-tracing performance.

PassMark tests reveal where the AMD advantage is most pronounced. The extended instructions test shows the largest gap at 169.7% (38,716 vs 14,354). Random string sorting follows at 133.4% (53,113 vs 22,760). Integer math delivers a 122.7% delta (146,519 vs 65,792), and find prime numbers shows a 121% delta (316 vs 143). Data compression is 120.9% ahead (487,145 vs 220,520), and data encryption is 114.5% ahead (25,097 vs 11,699).

The smallest margins appear in PassMark physics and single-thread tests. Physics scores 2,761 versus 1,860, a 48.4% delta, while single-thread scores 4,028 versus 2,637, a 52.7% delta. These are still substantial wins, but they indicate that the Intel chip’s per-core performance is relatively closer to AMD’s than its multi-core or specialized instruction performance. Floating point math also shows a smaller delta at 80.4% (90,594 vs 50,219), suggesting that Intel’s FPU design is less disadvantaged than its integer or encryption units.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 as the superior processor for nearly all compute-bound tasks. Its 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 56,273, places it in the top tier, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE sits at the 78th percentile with an average score of 26,013. The AMD part’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470 (0.1% lower), the Intel Core i9-14900HX (0.5% higher), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX (0.5% lower), showing it competes with far more powerful desktop and mobile parts. The Intel chip’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 (0.1% higher) and AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS (0.4% lower), are mid-range mobile processors.

For users whose workloads demand high multi-threaded throughput, large cache access, or advanced instruction set performance, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the clear choice. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, and 64 MB of L3 cache deliver roughly double the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of the Intel part. For single-threaded tasks, the AMD lead is similarly decisive, despite the Intel chip’s higher 5.20 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core i7-14701TE, with its lower core count and smaller cache, is positioned for more modest workloads, though its dual-channel memory and Gen 5 PCIe interface may suit systems that prioritize peripheral bandwidth over raw CPU performance.

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 i7-14701TE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE has 33 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36,064, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE scores 17,035, giving AMD a 111.7% lead.

Q: Does the Intel processor have a higher boost clock?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-14701TE boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 boosts to 5.00 GHz, but the AMD part still leads in single-core benchmarks.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports LPDDR5X, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 ranks in the 91st percentile, while the Intel Core i7-14701TE ranks in the 78th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12; Intel Core i7-14701TE has 8.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 24; Intel Core i7-14701TE has 16.
• Base Clock: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 3.20 GHz; Intel Core i7-14701TE is 2.10 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 5.00 GHz; Intel Core i7-14701TE is 5.20 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 55; Intel Core i7-14701TE is 45.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses AMD Socket FP11; Intel Core i7-14701TE uses Intel Socket 1700.
• Architecture: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Zen 5; Intel Core i7-14701TE uses Raptor Lake.
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 4 nm (TSMC); Intel Core i7-14701TE is 10 nm (Intel).
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 2x 70.6 mm²; Intel Core i7-14701TE is 257 mm².
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 1 MB per core; Intel Core i7-14701TE has 2 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 64 MB shared; Intel Core i7-14701TE has 33 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses LPDDR5X; Intel Core i7-14701TE uses DDR4, DDR5.
• Memory Bus: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is quad-channel; Intel Core i7-14701TE is dual-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 256.0 GB/s; Intel Core i7-14701TE has no recorded value.
• PCIe: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only); Intel Core i7-14701TE is Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Radeon 8050S; Intel Core i7-14701TE uses UHD Graphics 770.
• Market Segment: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is Mobile; Intel Core i7-14701TE is Desktop.
• Release Date: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 2025-01-05; Intel Core i7-14701TE is 2024-06-30.