AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core i9-14900KS Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a clear split between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and the Intel Core i9-14900KS. Across the 11 recorded PassMark comparisons, Intel claims 9 wins while AMD takes 2. The magnitude of those wins, however, tells a more nuanced story.

The Intel Core i9-14900KS dominates in raw throughput tasks. Its largest margin comes in floating point math, where it scores 153,975 against AMD's 99,548, a 35.3% advantage. Integer math follows a similar pattern: Intel scores 212,644 versus AMD's 152,414, a 28.3% lead. Data compression shows Intel at 803,368 compared to AMD's 554,760, a 30.9% gap. Random string sorting favors Intel by 33.7% (89,789 vs. 59,487). Data encryption is the single biggest differential: Intel posts 47,717 against AMD's 27,784, a 41.8% advantage. Even the multithread score, a broad measure of parallel work, goes to Intel by 24.6% (60,012 vs. 45,231).

Single-thread performance also belongs to Intel, though by a smaller margin. The i9-14900KS records 4,815 in the single-thread test, while the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 trails at 3,927, an 18.4% deficit. Physics simulation follows: Intel scores 3,381, AMD 2,887, a 14.6% gap.

AMD's two wins are narrow but revealing. In extended instructions, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 45,666 versus Intel's 45,524, a marginal 0.3% edge. The more meaningful AMD victory comes in prime number finding, where AMD scores 320 against Intel's 244, a 31.1% advantage. This suggests AMD's Zen 5 architecture handles certain integer-heavy, branch-heavy workloads with particular efficiency, even when overall integer math throughput favors Intel.

It is worth remembering the two CPUs sit in the same 96th percentile among all recorded CPUs, meaning both are elite parts in the database. The average benchmark score tells a different story than the head-to-head, however: AMD's average is 90,541, while Intel's is 81,127. This discrepancy arises because the two chips were tested against different benchmark suites. The Intel listing includes Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench results, which pull its average down relative to the PassMark-focused AMD listing. The head-to-head PassMark data is the cleaner comparison for direct rivalry.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i9-14900KS is the stronger processor for most compute-heavy workloads. Its 24.6% multithread lead, 28.3% integer math lead, and 35.3% floating point lead make it the clear choice for rendering, scientific computing, and heavy multitasking. The 41.8% encryption advantage further solidifies its position for security-sensitive or data-intensive tasks.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392, however, is not without its own case. Its 31.1% win in prime number finding suggests an architectural strength in specific algorithmic patterns. More importantly, the AMD chip operates at a 55 W TDP with a 4 nm TSMC process, while Intel runs at 150 W on a 10 nm Intel process. For mobile or power-constrained environments, the efficiency profile of the AMD part is decisive, even if raw performance trails.

Who should pick which? Users needing maximum throughput in a desktop context, especially for floating point, encryption, or compression workloads, should favor the Intel Core i9-14900KS. Users prioritizing power efficiency, integrated graphics capability (Radeon 8060S vs. UHD Graphics 770), or who need a mobile form factor should look to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392. The AMD part's 64 MB shared L3 cache versus Intel's 36 MB also suggests advantages in cache-sensitive workloads, even if the PassMark suite does not isolate that effect.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS boosts to 6.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Q: How much faster is Intel in the multithread benchmark?

A: Intel scores 60,012 versus AMD's 45,231, a 24.6% advantage.

Q: Does AMD win any benchmark?

A: Yes. AMD wins extended instructions by 0.3% (45,666 vs. 45,524) and prime number finding by 31.1% (320 vs. 244).

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i9-14900KS has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a TDP of 55 W. The Intel Core i9-14900KS has a TDP of 150 W.

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 i9-14900KS uses 24 cores and 32 threads. Both have a 3.20 GHz base clock, but boost clocks diverge: AMD reaches 5.00 GHz, Intel reaches 6.20 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 150 W. The socket types are incompatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FP11, Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. Memory support also differs. AMD supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no recorded bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD includes Radeon 8060S, Intel includes UHD Graphics 770. The multiplier is unlocked on Intel but locked on AMD. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $689; no launch MSRP is recorded for AMD.

The production status for both is listed as Active. Release dates differ: AMD is dated 2026-01-05, Intel is dated 2024-03-13.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is fundamental. AMD uses Zen 5 architecture under the codename Strix Halo, part of the Ryzen AI Max generation. Intel uses Raptor Lake architecture under the codename Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core i9 Raptor Lake Refresh generation.

The process nodes reflect different foundries and approaches. AMD is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size described as 2x 70.6 mm². Intel uses a 10 nm process at its own foundry, with a die size of 257 mm². This explains much of the power and efficiency gap: the AMD part delivers competitive performance at 55 W, while Intel requires 150 W.

Cache hierarchies differ in both per-core and shared configurations. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core. L2 cache is 1 MB per core on AMD, 2 MB per core on Intel. The shared L3 cache is 64 MB on AMD versus 36 MB on Intel. This means AMD has a larger pool of shared cache, which can benefit workloads with high data reuse across cores.

The market segments differ: AMD is a mobile processor, Intel is a desktop processor. This aligns with the socket, memory, and TDP differences. The AMD part is also part of a newer generation (Ryzen AI Max, Zen 5 Strix Halo) versus Intel's Core 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh. The part numbers and process details further confirm distinct design goals: AMD targets integrated, power-efficient mobile computing with a robust iGPU, while Intel targets maximum desktop performance with an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-14900KS wins in the majority of recorded benchmarks. Its strengths are most pronounced in data encryption (41.8% ahead), floating point math (35.3% ahead), and random string sorting (33.7% ahead). It also leads in data compression by 30.9%, integer math by 28.3%, multithread by 24.6%, single-thread by 18.4%, and physics by 14.6%. For any workload that relies on high clock speeds, many cores, or heavy math throughput, the Intel part is the stronger option.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins in two specific areas. Extended instructions show a 0.3% edge, which is effectively a tie but still a recorded win. Prime number finding shows a 31.1% lead, a decisive margin that points to an architectural strength in certain integer operations, likely related to Zen 5's branch prediction or integer execution design. The AMD part also has the advantage of a 64 MB shared L3 cache, a 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth via quad-channel LPDDR5X, and a 55 W TDP, which makes it the more efficient choice despite losing most raw performance tests.

The use-case split follows the data. For desktop users who need maximum compute throughput, especially in encryption, floating point, or compression-heavy tasks, the Intel Core i9-14900KS is the clear winner. For mobile users, power-sensitive deployments, or workloads that benefit from large shared cache and high memory bandwidth, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the better fit. The AMD part also offers Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, which is a more capable iGPU than Intel's UHD Graphics 770, though the benchmark data does not directly measure graphics performance. The two chips serve different markets, and the data reflects those design priorities.