AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 compare to the Intel Core 7 253PQE in overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD part records an average benchmark score of 90541, while the Intel part records 55919. This places the AMD processor in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 91st percentile for the Intel processor.

Q: Which processor wins more individual benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins 7 of the 11 recorded head-to-head benchmark tests. The Intel Core 7 253PQE wins the remaining 4 tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE has a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392's boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor offers higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 supports quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a TDP of 55 watts. The Intel Core 7 253PQE has a TDP of 125 watts.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and the Intel Core 7 253PQE come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing approaches. The AMD processor is built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel processor uses the Bartlett Lake codename and is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. This process node difference is significant: the AMD chip uses a more advanced fabrication process, which contributes to its substantially lower TDP of 55 watts compared to the Intel part's 125 watts.

The cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors use an 80 KB L1 cache per core, but the AMD chip has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel chip has 2 MB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache presents a stark contrast: the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 offers 64 MB of shared L3 cache, nearly double the 33 MB shared L3 found on the Intel Core 7 253PQE. This larger L3 cache on the AMD side helps with data-heavy workloads and repeated access patterns.

Memory support differs substantially. AMD uses LPDDR5X memory across a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 across a dual-channel bus, capping at 89.6 GB/s. The AMD processor's memory bandwidth is nearly three times higher, which directly affects workloads that stream large datasets. Both processors support ECC memory.

The integrated graphics solutions are different as well. AMD includes the Radeon 8060S, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 770. PCIe support also differs: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD part is classified as a mobile segment processor, while the Intel part is classified as a desktop segment processor. Production status for both is listed as Active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a clear pattern of AMD dominance in most compute-heavy tests, with Intel taking specific wins in floating-point, physics, and single-threaded workloads. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 leads in 7 of the 11 head-to-head tests, and several of those wins are by substantial margins.

The largest AMD victory comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the AMD chip scores 320 against Intel's 206, a delta of 55.3%. This test stresses integer arithmetic and branch prediction, areas where the Zen 5 architecture with its larger L3 cache excels. The extended instructions test shows a 41% advantage for AMD, with scores of 45666 versus 32390. This indicates stronger SIMD and vector processing capabilities on the AMD side.

In data compression, AMD scores 554760 compared to Intel's 487335, a 13.8% advantage. Data encryption shows AMD ahead by 8.9%, with scores of 27784 versus 25515. Integer math also favors AMD, scoring 152414 against 137795, a 10.6% lead. The multithread test shows AMD ahead by 8.6%, with a score of 45231 against 41656. Random string sorting favors AMD by 9.7%, with scores of 59487 versus 54222.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE claims four wins. The most notable is in single-thread performance, where Intel scores 4389 against AMD's 3927, a 10.5% advantage. This result appears in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests, which record identical scores. Floating-point math is the other significant Intel win, with Intel scoring 105279 against AMD's 99548, a 5.4% advantage. The physics test shows a narrower Intel margin, with Intel scoring 2970 against AMD's 2887, a 2.8% lead.

The average benchmark score gap is substantial. AMD's average of 90541 places it near the top of the database, just 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon 654 and 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX. The Intel Core 7 253PQE's average of 55919 places it 0.2% behind the Intel Core i9-14900HX and 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390. This means the AMD part sits in a performance tier roughly 62% higher than the Intel part by average score.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 7 253PQE uses 10 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks differ slightly: AMD runs at 3.20 GHz, while Intel runs at 3.50 GHz. Boost clocks show a larger gap: AMD boosts to 5.00 GHz, while Intel boosts to 5.70 GHz.

TDP ratings diverge sharply. The AMD part draws 55 watts, while the Intel part draws 125 watts. This places the AMD chip in a much lower power envelope, which is consistent with its mobile market segment classification. The Intel chip's desktop classification and higher TDP suggest a different thermal and power delivery requirement.

Process technology differs by node size and foundry. AMD uses a 4 nm process at TSMC, while Intel uses a 10 nm process at its own foundry. Die size information is only available for AMD, listed as 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel die size is not recorded in the database.

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3. Both use 80 KB L1 per core, but AMD uses 1 MB L2 per core while Intel uses 2 MB L2 per core. L3 cache totals are 64 MB shared for AMD and 33 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support shows a clear split. AMD supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe generation differs: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon 8060S, Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. Sockets differ: AMD uses Socket FP11, Intel uses Socket 1700. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $409. The AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD part carries part number 100-000001979, while the Intel part carries part number SA4QA. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 establishes its strongest case in multithreaded and data-intensive workloads. The 55.3% lead in prime number finding and the 41% lead in extended instructions point to a processor that handles complex computational tasks with ease. The 13.8% advantage in data compression and the 8.9% advantage in data encryption make it the better choice for archive management, database operations, and secure data handling. The 10.6% lead in integer math and the 9.7% lead in random string sorting reinforce this pattern. The 8.6% multithread advantage confirms that the 12-core, 24-thread configuration scales well under parallel loads. The 64 MB L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth give this processor a clear edge for workloads that repeatedly access large datasets.

The Intel Core 7 253PQE takes the single-thread crown with a 10.5% advantage over AMD. This makes it the stronger option for lightly threaded applications where per-core performance dictates responsiveness. The 5.4% win in floating-point math indicates an advantage in scientific computing, financial modeling, and other workloads that rely heavily on FPU throughput. The 2.8% win in physics simulation, while narrower, shows a slight edge in that specific computational pattern. The higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz directly contributes to these single-thread and floating-point wins. The Intel chip also supports PCIe Gen 5, which provides a newer interconnect standard for compatible peripherals.

The average benchmark score gap of 90541 versus 55919 places the AMD processor in a higher performance tier overall. The AMD part's 96th percentile ranking versus Intel's 91st percentile reflects this separation. The nearest rival data reinforces the positioning: AMD's closest competitors are workstation-class processors like the Intel Xeon 654 and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, while Intel's closest competitors are mobile and workstation parts like the Intel Core i9-14900HX and AMD Ryzen AI Max 390.

Power efficiency strongly favors AMD. The 55 watt TDP against Intel's 125 watt TDP means the AMD processor delivers higher average performance while drawing less than half the power budget. This makes the AMD part suitable for systems with tighter thermal constraints, consistent with its mobile classification. The Intel part's desktop classification and higher power envelope suit systems designed for maximum single-thread clock speed and raw floating-point throughput.