AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data provides a clear separation between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins 9 of 11 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-14500 wins only 2 (both are the same single-thread test, listed twice). The AMD part delivers an average benchmark score of 90,541, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part scores 38,531 on average, which puts it in the 86th percentile. This is a substantial gap in overall performance, with the AMD processor sitting roughly 135% higher in average score.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 sits among workstation-class chips. It trails the Intel Xeon 654 by just 0.2%, sits 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, but leads the Intel Xeon w7-2575X by 2.7% and the Intel Xeon 6736P by 3%. The Intel Core i5-14500, by contrast, is grouped with mid-range mobile and desktop parts: it is 0.1% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T, 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon w3-2525, 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core 9 270H, and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H.

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the processor to choose when maximum multi-threaded throughput is the priority. The Intel Core i5-14500 remains a capable desktop option, and its single-thread score is marginally higher, but the AMD part dominates every other measured workload. The 55 W TDP of the AMD mobile part versus the 65 W TDP of the Intel desktop part is notable given the performance difference. The launch MSRP of the Intel processor is $232, stated once here for reference.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturers and represent fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses the Zen 5 architecture, with the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core i5-14500 is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and uses a 10 nm process at Intel. It has 14 cores but only 20 threads, reflecting Intel's hybrid core design that does not provide two threads per core across all cores.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both processors share the same L1 cache at 80 KB per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel part has 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache shows a large divergence: the AMD part has 64 MB shared, while the Intel part has 24 MB shared. This 40 MB difference in shared L3 cache is significant for workloads that repeatedly access large datasets.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses LPDDR5X memory in a quad-channel configuration, providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-14500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, using a dual-channel memory bus; its bandwidth figure is not recorded in the database. Both processors support ECC memory.

The platforms diverge in PCIe capabilities. The AMD part provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part includes the Radeon 8060S, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics 770.

The AMD processor is a mobile part on the AMD Socket FP11, released on 2026-01-05. The Intel processor is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, released on 2024-01-07. The die size of the AMD part is 2x 70.6 mm², while the Intel die is 215 mm². Both have locked multipliers, so neither supports unlocked overclocking through the multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins decisively in almost every recorded benchmark category. The largest margin comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where AMD scores 320 against Intel's 106, a 201.9% advantage. The extended instructions test shows a 103.2% lead, with AMD at 45,666 versus Intel at 22,473. The physics test shows a 65.3% lead, with AMD at 2,887 versus Intel at 1,746. These results indicate that the AMD part delivers substantially higher throughput in compute-heavy integer workloads, extended instruction sets, and physics simulations.

The data compression test shows AMD at 554,760 versus Intel at 371,294, a 49.4% lead. The multithread test shows AMD at 45,231 versus Intel at 30,777, a 47% lead. Random string sorting shows AMD at 59,487 versus Intel at 40,980, a 45.2% lead. Integer math shows AMD at 152,414 versus Intel at 108,124, a 41% lead. Data encryption shows AMD at 27,784 versus Intel at 21,457, a 29.5% lead. Floating point math shows AMD at 99,548 versus Intel at 79,576, a 25.1% lead.

The Intel Core i5-14500 wins only the single-thread test, scoring 3,952 versus AMD's 3,927, a 0.6% margin. This is a narrow win, but it is consistent across both recorded entries for that test. The Intel part also has 14 cores versus 12, but with fewer threads (20 versus 24), so the core count advantage does not translate into multi-threaded wins.

The use-case split is clear. For multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, physics calculation, and any workload that can use many threads, the AMD processor is the stronger choice by a wide margin. For single-threaded tasks where the primary metric is one-thread performance, the Intel part is marginally ahead, but the difference is small enough that it will rarely be the deciding factor in real-world applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an average benchmark score of 90,541, while the Intel Core i5-14500 has an average score of 38,531.

Q: How does the AMD processor compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 trails the Intel Xeon 654 by 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX by 0.7%, while leading the Intel Xeon w7-2575X by 2.7% and the Intel Xeon 6736P by 3%.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 scores 3,952 in the passmark single-thread test, compared to 3,927 for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392, a 0.6% advantage for Intel.

Q: How large is the multi-thread performance gap?

A: In the passmark multithread test, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 45,231 versus 30,777 for the Intel Core i5-14500, a 47% lead for AMD.

Q: What are the memory configurations of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses LPDDR5X in a quad-channel configuration with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-14500 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a dominant performance profile for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392. Starting with the most extreme case, the passmark_find_prime_numbers test records AMD at 320 and Intel at 106. The 201.9% delta is the largest in the comparison, indicating a massive advantage in prime number calculation workloads. This suggests the AMD architecture handles this type of integer iteration with considerably more efficiency.

The passmark_extended_instructions test shows AMD at 45,666 and Intel at 22,473, a 103.2% delta. This means AMD more than doubles Intel's performance in this category, which typically covers vectorized and specialized instruction throughput. The physics test follows a similar pattern: AMD at 2,887 versus Intel at 1,746, a 65.3% delta. Physics simulations often stress floating-point and multi-threaded execution, and the AMD part leads here as well.

The passmark_data_compression test records AMD at 554,760 and Intel at 371,294, a 49.4% delta. Compression workloads are sensitive to memory bandwidth and cache behavior, and the AMD part's 64 MB L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth likely contribute to this result. The passmark_multithread test shows AMD at 45,231 and Intel at 30,777, a 47% delta, which is a strong indicator of overall parallel performance.

The passmark_random_string_sorting test has AMD at 59,487 and Intel at 40,980, a 45.2% delta. The passmark_integer_math test shows AMD at 152,414 and Intel at 108,124, a 41% delta. The passmark_data_encryption test records AMD at 27,784 and Intel at 21,457, a 29.5% delta. The passmark_floating_point_math test shows AMD at 99,548 and Intel at 79,576, a 25.1% delta.

The only Intel win is in the passmark_single_thread test, where Intel scores 3,952 and AMD scores 3,927, a 0.6% delta. This is the narrowest margin in the entire comparison, and it is the only test where Intel comes out ahead. The two entries for this test are identical, so the result is consistent.

The overall wins tally is 9 for AMD and 2 for Intel, with the Intel wins being the duplicate single-thread entries. The AMD processor leads by 49.4% or more in five different tests, and by 25% or more in eight tests. The Intel processor's single-thread advantage is minimal and unlikely to compensate for the substantial multi-threaded deficits.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows where the two processors diverge. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The base clock of the AMD part is 3.20 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 2.60 GHz. Both processors boost to 5.00 GHz.

The TDP figures differ: AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 65 W. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700. The process node is 4 nm for AMD (TSMC) versus 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The die size is 2x 70.6 mm² for AMD versus 215 mm² for Intel.

Cache specifications differ in L2 and L3. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core, while Intel has 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is 64 MB shared for AMD versus 24 MB shared for Intel.

Memory support is LPDDR5X for AMD, with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and its bandwidth is not recorded. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capability differs by generation: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes, Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 8060S for AMD and UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. The market segments are Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The AMD part was released on 2026-01-05, while the Intel part was released on 2024-01-07. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $232; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers.