AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and Intel Core Ultra 5 336H are both mobile processors, but the benchmark data reveals a decisive performance gap. The AMD part wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with the largest margins appearing in integer math and data compression. The Intel chip, while competitive in a few specific workloads like prime number finding and physics, consistently trails across every recorded test. This analysis breaks down where each processor holds an advantage, the scale of the differences, and what the architecture and specifications reveal about their respective designs.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins every single one of the 17 benchmark comparisons. This includes all Cinebench tests, all PassMark tests, and the single-threaded and multithreaded workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H does not secure a single victory in any measured category.

Looking at the scale of the wins, the AMD processor shows its largest advantages in heavily parallel integer workloads. In PassMark integer math, the AMD part scores 146,519 against 62,070 for Intel, a delta of 136.1%. Data compression shows a similarly large gap, with AMD at 487,145 and Intel at 280,340, a 73.8% difference. These are workloads that scale well with core count, memory bandwidth, and cache capacity, all areas where the AMD processor holds a structural advantage.

The margins shrink considerably in other tests. In PassMark floating point math, the AMD part leads by only 9.9%, scoring 90,594 versus 82,415. The physics test shows a margin of just 2.9%, with scores of 2,761 and 2,682. The single-thread test is the closest of all, with AMD at 4,028 and Intel at 4,013, a delta of only 0.4%. This suggests that while the AMD chip dominates in sustained multithreaded and memory-intensive tasks, the Intel processor is much closer in lightly threaded and latency-sensitive workloads. The data implies the AMD part is the clear choice for rendering, compilation, and data processing, while the Intel chip, despite losing, is not completely outclassed in single-core responsiveness.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the superior processor for nearly all computing tasks. Its 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to Intel's 84th percentile, confirms its higher standing in the overall performance hierarchy. The AMD processor's average benchmark score of 56,273 is substantially higher than Intel's 34,485, a gap that places the two chips in different performance tiers.

The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900HX and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, both high-end desktop or mobile parts. This positioning indicates that the Ryzen AI Max 390 performs at a level that competes with much more power-hungry components. In contrast, the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13700HX and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, which are older or lower-tier parts. The data suggests that for any user prioritizing raw compute performance, whether for multi-core rendering or high-throughput data work, the AMD processor is the only rational choice.

The Intel chip does have one potential advantage: its 25-watt TDP versus AMD's 55-watt TDP. However, the benchmark data does not include any power efficiency measurements, so the actual impact on battery life or sustained performance in a thin chassis cannot be quantified from this dataset. The Verdict from the numbers alone is that the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is the stronger performer, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is a lower-power alternative that sacrifices a significant amount of performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the PassMark integer math test. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 146,519, which is 136.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H's 62,070. This is the largest delta of any comparison and highlights a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle integer operations. The AMD part's 12 cores with 24 threads, combined with its 64 MB of shared L3 cache, appear to provide a massive advantage in this workload.

Data compression is another area of clear dominance for AMD. The Ryzen AI Max 390 scores 487,145 against Intel's 280,340, a 73.8% advantage. This workload is often limited by memory bandwidth and cache size, and the AMD processor's quad-channel LPDDR5X memory bus offering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth is likely a key factor. The Intel chip's dual-channel bus provides 115.2 GB/s, less than half the bandwidth, which directly contributes to its lower score.

The Cinebench results follow a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 36,064 against Intel's 23,991, a 50.3% lead. The same delta appears in R20 and R15 multi-core tests, all showing exactly 50.3% differences. Single-core Cinebench results also favor AMD by 50.4% in R15 and R20, and 50.3% in R23. This consistency across Cinebench versions indicates a stable architectural advantage for AMD in both single and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

Some tests show only marginal AMD wins. PassMark single-thread scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 4,028 and Intel at 4,013, a 0.4% difference. The physics test shows a 2.9% gap, and prime number finding shows a 5.7% gap. These results suggest that in short, latency-bound tasks, the Intel processor is much more competitive. However, the overall trend is unmistakable: the AMD chip wins every test, often by a wide margin.

FAQ

Q: How many benchmark comparisons does the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 win?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 wins 17 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins zero.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two processors?

A: The largest difference is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD processor scores 146,519 compared to Intel's 62,070, a delta of 136.1%.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H competitive in any workload?

A: The Intel chip comes closest in the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 4,013 versus AMD's 4,028, a difference of only 0.4%. It also trails by just 2.9% in the physics test and 5.7% in prime number finding.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has an average benchmark score of 56,273. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has an average benchmark score of 34,485.

Q: How do the processors rank against all other CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is in the 84th percentile.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor based on average score?

A: The AMD part's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470, with a delta of -0.1%. The Intel part's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-13700HX, with a delta of -0.2%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H uses the Panther Lake architecture, codenamed Panther Lake, and is manufactured on a 3 nm process by Intel. Both are designed for mobile devices, but their design philosophies differ.

The AMD processor features 12 cores and 24 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a large 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 16 cores and 16 threads, with no multithreading. Its cache includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's much larger L3 cache is a significant advantage for workloads that benefit from data reuse.

Memory architecture also differs substantially. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory. The Intel processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus, providing 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth, and does not support ECC. The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth is a direct contributor to its dominance in memory-intensive benchmarks like data compression and integer math.

PCIe support also varies, with the AMD part offering Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD using a Radeon 8050S and Intel using Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD processor's die size is listed at 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel die size is not recorded.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are a key differentiator. The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the AMD part's multithreading allows it to process 24 threads simultaneously, which is 8 more than the Intel chip.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD processor has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel processor has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD part's higher clocks in both base and boost modes contribute to its superior single-thread performance.

Thermal design power is a major difference. The AMD processor has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 25 watts. This indicates that the Intel chip is designed for lower power consumption, which could be relevant for thinner or fanless designs, though the benchmark data does not measure power efficiency.

The memory bus width and bandwidth are dissimilar, with AMD using quad-channel LPDDR5X at 256.0 GB/s and Intel using dual-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X at 115.2 GB/s. ECC memory support is present on AMD but not on Intel. The sockets differ, with AMD using Socket FP11 and Intel using BGA 2540. PCIe generation and lane counts also differ, with AMD at Gen 4 with 16 lanes and Intel at Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The release dates are close, with AMD listing January 5, 2025, and Intel listing January 4, 2026.