AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and Intel Core Ultra 5 225H are both mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, but the benchmark data reveals a stark contrast in their design philosophies and resulting capabilities. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392, built on the Zen 5 architecture, delivers a dominant multi-threaded performance profile, while the Core Ultra 5 225H, using Arrow Lake, counters with a notable advantage in single-threaded workloads. This analysis draws exclusively from recorded database measurements to detail where each processor excels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear pattern of dominance for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 across the majority of tested workloads. In the head-to-head comparison, the AMD processor claims victory in 9 out of 11 benchmark tests, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H winning the remaining 2. The margins of victory for AMD are often substantial, indicating a significant performance gulf in multi-threaded and compute-intensive tasks.

The most lopsided result appears in the Passmark integer math test, where the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 152414 against the Core Ultra 5 225H's 68520. This translates to a lead of 122.4% for AMD. A similar, though slightly smaller, margin is seen in the extended instructions test, where AMD's score of 45666 is 108.4% higher than Intel's 21915. These results indicate a massive advantage in raw arithmetic and complex instruction processing.

The data compression test also heavily favors AMD, with a score of 554760 compared to Intel's 283451, a 95.7% difference. This is followed by a 76.8% lead in random string sorting (59487 vs 33654) and a 60.9% lead in the multithread benchmark (45231 vs 28119). The physics test shows a 53.8% advantage for AMD (2887 vs 1877), and the find prime numbers test shows a 45.5% lead (320 vs 220). Even in floating point math, where the gap is smaller, AMD still holds a 15% advantage with a score of 99548 over Intel's 86540. The data encryption test rounds out AMD's wins, showing a 29.7% lead (27784 vs 21428).

The single point of victory for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is in the single-thread benchmark. Here, Intel scores 4258, which is 7.8% higher than AMD's 3927. This result appears in both the `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread` tests, confirming its consistency. While AMD's multi-core dominance is overwhelming, this single-thread win is a crucial data point for workloads that rely on per-core performance.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark breakdown, the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the clear choice for heavily parallelized workloads. Its 60.9% lead in the multithread test, coupled with massive wins in integer math and data compression, points to a processor designed for content creation, 3D rendering, scientific computing, and any task that can utilize many cores and threads. The 122.4% advantage in integer math suggests that compilers, code compilation, and financial modeling would see substantial performance gains.

The Core Ultra 5 225H's area of strength is more specialized. Its 7.8% lead in single-thread performance indicates an advantage in lightly-threaded applications where the speed of a single core is paramount. This could translate to better responsiveness in everyday tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy software that is not optimized for multi-threading. For users whose primary workload is single-threaded, the Intel processor offers a measurable, albeit small, advantage.

The overall performance context is further clarified by the average benchmark scores. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an average score of 90541, placing it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are high-end workstation and server chips like the Intel Xeon 654 and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, with delta percentages of -0.2% and -0.7% respectively. In contrast, the Core Ultra 5 225H has an average score of 31508, placing it in the 82nd percentile, rivaling the Intel Core i5-13500 and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX. This comparison shows the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is competing in a different performance tier altogether.

Architecture Differences

The performance disparity is rooted in fundamentally different architectural choices. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is built on the Zen 5 architecture, using a 4 nm process node from TSMC, and is part of the Strix Halo generation. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading (SMT) to process two threads per core. This is a classic high-core-count design.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H uses the Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated on a more advanced 3 nm process node from TSMC. It has 14 cores but only 14 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. Despite having more physical cores, the lack of SMT limits its total thread count to 14, which is one of the primary reasons for its lower multi-threaded performance compared to AMD's 24 threads.

The cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an 80 KB L1 cache and 1 MB L2 cache per core, and a substantial 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 225H has a larger 192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 per core, but a much smaller 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This large difference in L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB) is a major factor in AMD's lead in data-heavy workloads like compression and sorting.

Memory architecture is another key divider. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory. The Intel processor supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but over a dual-channel bus, resulting in 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. This difference in memory bandwidth is directly relevant to the benchmark results, as AMD's wider bus provides more data to the cores. The integrated graphics also differ, with AMD using a Radeon 8060S and Intel using an Arc Graphics 130T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a significantly higher average benchmark score of 90541, compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H's 31508.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H outperform the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392?

A: The Intel processor wins the single-thread benchmark, scoring 4258 against AMD's 3927, a 7.8% difference.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the multi-threaded benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 45231 in the multithread test, which is 60.9% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H's score of 28119.

Q: What is the difference in thread count between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads.

Q: Which processor offers more memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a quad-channel memory bus providing 256.0 GB/s, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has a dual-channel bus providing 102.4 GB/s.

Q: What are the process nodes for each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is built on a 4 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is built on a 3 nm process.

Specification Differences

The following table outlines the key specifications where the two processors differ.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 28 W |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8060S | Arc Graphics 130T |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel BGA 2049 |