AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and Intel Core Ultra 5 225T occupy different performance tiers, and the benchmark data confirms a decisive split. The AMD processor wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part takes the remaining two, both in the Passmark single-thread tests. The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is 56273, placing it at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30468, landing at the 82nd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant advantage for the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 appears in integer-heavy workloads. In the Passmark integer math test, the AMD scores 146519 against 59543 for the Intel part, a delta of 146.1%. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison. Data compression follows a similar pattern: the AMD scores 487145 versus 233998, a 108.2% difference. Extended instruction throughput also heavily favors the AMD processor, with a score of 38716 compared to 20083, representing a 92.8% lead.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent, though smaller, margins across the board. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 36064, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 21971, a 64.1% difference. Single-core results in the same test show the AMD at 5091 versus 3101 for Intel, a 64.2% gap. The pattern repeats across Cinebench R15 and R20, with the AMD leading by 64.1% to 64.4% in all four sub-tests. This consistency suggests a fundamental throughput advantage, not a workload-specific quirk.

The AMD processor also wins the remaining Passmark tests, though the margins vary. Random string sorting shows an 84.6% lead (53113 versus 28774). Passmark multi-thread performance sees the AMD at 41737 against 25358 for Intel, a 64.6% difference. Data encryption shows a 37.2% lead (25097 versus 18289), and physics simulation shows a 34.5% advantage (2761 versus 2053). The smallest wins for AMD come in floating-point math (9.5%, 90594 versus 82751) and prime number finding (11.3%, 316 versus 284).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T secures its only wins in the Passmark single-thread test, scoring 4348 against 4028 for the AMD part, a 7.4% margin. This result appears twice in the recorded data, confirming that the Intel architecture holds a measurable advantage in purely single-threaded Passmark operations. However, this does not translate to Cinebench single-core, where the AMD leads by 64.2% in R23.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 dominates multi-threaded and parallel workloads. The data shows a clear pattern: in Cinebench multicore tests, the AMD leads by roughly 64% across R15, R20, and R23. Passmark multi-thread confirms this with a 64.6% advantage. For users running compiled code, video rendering, or any task that scales across cores, the AMD processor is the stronger choice. The 146.1% integer math lead and the 92.8% extended instructions lead also point to strong performance in scientific computing and cryptographic workloads.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins in the Passmark single-thread metric. With a score of 4348 versus 4028, it holds a 7.4% edge. This indicates that for applications that rely heavily on single-core responsiveness and cannot use multiple threads effectively, the Intel part may offer slightly better latency characteristics. The Intel also has a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for the AMD, but the data shows the AMD still wins Cinebench single-core, so the Intel advantage appears isolated to the Passmark benchmark methodology.

For memory-sensitive tasks, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has a substantial specification advantage. It supports quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses dual-channel DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s. This 2.5x bandwidth difference likely explains the large gaps in data compression and random string sorting, where memory throughput directly impacts performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with the Strix Halo codename. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The thermal design power is 55 watts.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm TSMC process, with the Arrow Lake-S codename. It has 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The cache structure is different: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The thermal design power is 65 watts, higher than the AMD part. The Intel die is 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors, while the AMD die is listed as 2x 70.6 mm².

The AMD processor supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. The memory bus is quad-channel for AMD and dual-channel for Intel, contributing to the bandwidth difference. For PCIe, the AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes, a newer and wider interface. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses the Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The AMD is a mobile segment part on Socket FP11, while the Intel is a desktop segment part on Socket 1851. The AMD released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel on 2024-12-31.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has an average benchmark score of 56273, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30468. The AMD also ranks at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 82nd percentile for the Intel.

Q: Does the Intel processor win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins the Passmark single-thread test with a score of 4348 against 4028 for AMD, a 7.4% advantage. This result appears twice in the data, confirming the trend.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Passmark integer math, where the AMD scores 146519 against 59543 for Intel, a 146.1% difference. Data compression is second, with the AMD leading by 108.2%.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads. The AMD also has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz for the Intel.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 delivers a higher average score, wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, and holds a 64.6% lead in Passmark multi-thread performance. Its 64 MB of L3 cache, quad-channel memory, and 24 threads provide a substantial foundation for any workload that uses more than one core. The 91st percentile ranking places it well above the Intel part, which sits at the 82nd percentile.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has a single clear advantage: Passmark single-thread performance, where it leads by 7.4%. This makes it a reasonable choice for applications that are strictly single-threaded and where the Passmark metric is the primary reference. Its 10 cores and 10 threads limit its multi-threaded ceiling, and the 20 MB of L3 cache is less than a third of the AMD's 64 MB. The Intel part also has a higher TDP of 65 watts versus 55 watts for the AMD.

For users who need raw compute throughput, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the superior part. The data shows it leads by 64.1% to 64.4% in every Cinebench test, by 108.2% in data compression, and by 146.1% in integer math. The Intel part's single-thread win does not offset these margins. The AMD also offers ECC memory support and quad-channel bandwidth, which are meaningful for data integrity and memory-intensive tasks. The Intel offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, which is a newer standard, but the benchmark results do not reflect a performance advantage from that feature.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 | Intel Core Ultra 5 225T |

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

| Cores | 12 | 10 |

| Threads | 24 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8050S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2024-12-31 |