AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and Intel Core 9 273PQE shows a clear split: Intel wins the majority of tests (7 of 11), while AMD takes four victories, including two with substantial margins. The recorded data places the AMD part in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with the Intel part trailing slightly at the 93rd percentile.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE dominates in floating-point math, a critical workload for scientific and engineering applications. Its score of 125,546 versus AMD's 99,548 represents a 20.7% advantage. This is the largest single-test gap in either direction. The Intel chip also leads in integer math (164,629 versus 152,414, a 7.4% margin), data compression (585,752 versus 554,760, a 5.3% margin), and data encryption (29,636 versus 27,784, a 6.2% margin).

Single-thread performance also favors Intel decisively. The Core 9 273PQE scores 4,573 in PassMark's single-thread test, against 3,927 for the Ryzen AI Max+ 392, a 14.1% gap. This advantage carries into the multithread test, where Intel edges out AMD with 46,107 versus 45,231, a 1.9% margin. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.90 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for AMD, aligns with these results.

AMD's wins are concentrated in specific instruction-heavy and memory-intensive workloads. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 leads by 61.6% in prime number finding (320 versus 198), a test that stresses branch prediction and integer iteration. In extended instructions, AMD is 17.9% ahead (45,666 versus 38,743), reflecting its broader SIMD and specialized instruction set support. Random string sorting gives AMD an 11.9% edge (59,487 versus 53,167), likely benefiting from the 64 MB shared L3 cache. The physics test shows a narrower 4.8% AMD advantage (2,887 versus 2,754).

The average benchmark score in the database tells a different story from the head-to-head wins. AMD's average is 90,541, while Intel's is 66,099. This discrepancy arises because AMD's benchmark set includes only PassMark tests, while Intel's set also includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 scores, which are not directly comparable to PassMark results. The nearest rival data places AMD's average within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon 654 and 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX. Intel's average sits within 0.1% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus and 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in manufacturing process, cache hierarchy, memory support, and platform positioning. AMD uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 10 nm process from its own foundry. This process gap helps explain AMD's lower power envelope and die size of 2x 70.6 mm².

Both chips have 12 cores and 24 threads, but their cache configurations differ significantly. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache doubles from 1 MB per core on AMD to 2 MB per core on Intel. The shared L3 cache, however, strongly favors AMD: 64 MB shared versus 36 MB shared on Intel. This 28 MB difference in last-level cache capacity contributes to AMD's wins in random string sorting and prime number finding, workloads that benefit from large working sets residing close to the cores.

Memory architecture presents another stark contrast. AMD uses LPDDR5X in a quad-channel configuration with 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, delivering 89.6 GB/s. The AMD part offers nearly three times the memory bandwidth, a decisive factor for any data-intensive workload. Both support ECC memory. AMD's integrated graphics is the Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770.

Platform differences are substantial. AMD uses Socket FP11, a mobile socket, and the part is classified in the mobile market segment. Intel uses Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop part. PCIe generation differs as well: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU-only lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes. The newer PCIe standard on Intel doubles the available bandwidth per lane.

The architecture names reflect different design philosophies. AMD's Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, is built for high-bandwidth, power-efficient mobile computing. Intel's Bartlett Lake architecture, under the Core 9 generation, targets desktop performance with higher clock speeds. AMD's base clock is 3.20 GHz, and Intel's is 3.40 GHz. The boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 5.90 GHz respectively. The thermal design power differs substantially: 55 W for AMD versus 125 W for Intel. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Release dates place AMD earlier at January 5, 2026, with Intel following on March 8, 2026. Both are listed as active production parts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 4,573 in PassMark single-thread testing, 14.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392's 3,927. This aligns with Intel's 5.90 GHz boost clock versus AMD's 5.00 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in memory bandwidth?

A: AMD provides 256.0 GB/s through quad-channel LPDDR5X, while Intel delivers 89.6 GB/s through dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5. AMD's bandwidth advantage is approximately 2.86 times that of Intel.

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

A: AMD leads by 61.6% in prime number finding (320 versus 198). Intel's largest lead is 20.7% in floating-point math (125,546 versus 99,548).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and the Intel Core 9 273PQE support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: AMD has 64 MB shared L3 cache, while Intel has 36 MB shared. AMD also has 1 MB L2 per core versus Intel's 2 MB per core, and both have 80 KB L1 per core.

Q: What are the market segments for each chip?

A: AMD is classified as a mobile processor using Socket FP11, while Intel is classified as a desktop processor using Socket 1700. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $589.

The Verdict

The data indicates two different usage profiles. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks, particularly in floating-point math, integer math, compression, encryption, and single-thread work. Its 5.90 GHz boost clock and 2 MB L2 per core support these results. For workloads that rely on raw clock speed and per-core efficiency, the Intel part delivers consistently higher scores.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 counters with a 61.6% lead in prime number finding, a 17.9% lead in extended instructions, an 11.9% lead in random string sorting, and a 4.8% lead in physics. Its 64 MB L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a clear advantage for memory-hungry and cache-sensitive workloads. The 55 W TDP, versus 125 W for Intel, also makes AMD the more power-efficient option.

The overall percentile rankings (96th for AMD, 93rd for Intel) reflect the average benchmark score across each part's respective test set, but the head-to-head results show that neither chip is universally superior. The Intel part is the better choice for general desktop compute, single-threaded applications, and floating-point-heavy math. The AMD part is the better choice for bandwidth-intensive tasks, extended instruction workloads, and scenarios where lower power consumption matters. The choice depends on which benchmark categories match the intended use case.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 | Intel Core 9 273PQE |

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

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 64 MB shared | 36 MB shared |

| Memory support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 8060S | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2026-01-05 | 2026-03-08 |

| Part number | 100-000001979 | SA4Q9 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins in four specific benchmark categories. Its 61.6% lead in prime number finding indicates superior handling of iterative integer loops, likely aided by the large 64 MB L3 cache. The 17.9% lead in extended instructions shows broader support for specialized instruction sets. Random string sorting, with an 11.9% advantage, benefits from the quad-channel memory bandwidth. The physics test, at 4.8% ahead, suggests stronger performance in simulation-style floating-point workloads that can use memory bandwidth effectively.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins seven benchmark categories. Its 20.7% lead in floating-point math makes it the clear choice for numerical analysis, financial modeling, and scientific computing. The 14.1% single-thread advantage supports applications that cannot parallelize, such as legacy code or interactive workloads. Integer math at 7.4% ahead suits general productivity. Data compression at 5.3% and encryption at 6.2% favor Intel for archival and security tasks. The multithread score, while only 1.9% higher, still favors Intel for moderately parallel workloads.

For users choosing between these two, the benchmark data supports a straightforward division. Memory-bound and cache-sensitive tasks favor AMD. Clock-bound and floating-point-heavy tasks favor Intel. The 125 W TDP of Intel versus 55 W for AMD also matters in thermal-constrained environments, where AMD's lower power draw is an advantage regardless of socket type.