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

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is heavily lopsided, with AMD taking 9 of the 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 dominates every multi-threaded workload in the database, from integer math to data compression. Its most extreme advantage comes in integer math, where it scores 152414 against Intel's 59543, a 156% lead. Data compression shows a 137.1% gap, with AMD at 554760 versus 233998. Extended instructions follow at 127.4% (45666 vs 20083), and random string sorting delivers a 106.7% advantage (59487 vs 28774).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T claims exactly two wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. The single-thread score of 4348 beats AMD's 3927 by 9.7%, and the duplicate singlethread result confirms the same margin. This is the only area where Intel shows a clear performance advantage, and it is consistent across both recorded entries.

For workloads that scale across cores, the AMD part has an overwhelming edge. The multithread score of 45231 versus 25358 represents a 78.4% lead. Physics simulation shows a 40.6% gap (2887 vs 2053), floating point math delivers 99548 against 82751 for a 20.3% win, and prime number finding is 12.7% ahead (320 vs 284). Data encryption rounds out the AMD sweep of the remaining tests with 27784 against 18289, a 51.9% margin.

The overall average benchmark score tells the same story. AMD sits at 90541, which places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Intel's average of 30468 lands in the 82nd percentile. The nearest rival data confirms the class difference: AMD's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon 654 at 90717, a mere 0.2% difference, while Intel's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-11980HK at 30422, only 0.2% away. These processors are not competing in the same performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD uses a 12-core, 24-thread configuration based on Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. Intel counters with a 10-core, 10-thread Arrow Lake-S design, a Core Ultra Series 2 part on TSMC's 3 nm node. The thread count difference is significant: AMD offers 24 threads versus Intel's 10, which explains much of the multi-core dominance.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus 64 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, but only 20 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 pool on AMD, combined with more threads, provides a clear advantage in workloads that benefit from shared data access. Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches support its stronger single-thread showing.

Memory subsystems diverge sharply. AMD supports LPDDR5X memory across a quad-channel bus, yielding 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel uses DDR5 on a dual-channel interface, capping at 102.4 GB/s. That 2.5x bandwidth advantage for AMD feeds its multi-threaded and data-heavy workloads directly. Intel also lacks ECC support, while AMD lists ECC memory as enabled.

The process nodes are close, both from TSMC, but Intel's 3 nm process is the newer node and packs 17,800 million transistors into a 243 mm² die. The AMD die is reported as two chiplets at 70.6 mm² each. Intel's PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Both integrated graphics solutions are present: AMD carries Radeon 8060S, Intel has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU.

Socket and market positioning also differ. AMD uses Socket FP11 and targets the mobile segment, while Intel uses Socket 1851 for desktop. The TDP figures are close at 55 W for AMD and 65 W for Intel, but the platform intent is different. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. AMD's release date is recorded as January 2026, while Intel's is December 2024. Both are listed as active production parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is integer math. AMD scores 152414, Intel scores 59543, and the delta is 156%. This is the largest single gap in the dataset. Data compression runs close behind at 137.1%, with AMD at 554760 and Intel at 233998. Extended instructions show a 127.4% gap, 45666 versus 20083. Random string sorting is 106.7% apart, 59487 to 28774.

Multithread performance shows a 78.4% lead for AMD, 45231 against 25358. Data encryption is closer but still decisive: 27784 versus 18289, a 51.9% margin. Physics simulation favors AMD by 40.6%, 2887 to 2053. Floating point math is the tightest of AMD's wins at 20.3%, 99548 against 82751. Prime number finding is the narrowest overall at 12.7%, 320 to 284.

Intel's two wins are identical in structure. The single-thread PassMark score of 4348 beats AMD's 3927 by 9.7%. The same test appears twice in the database under slightly different names, and both entries record the same scores and delta. This indicates a consistent single-core advantage for Intel, but it is the only area where the Core Ultra 5 225T can claim superiority.

The average benchmark scores contextualize the head-to-head results. AMD's 90541 average places it among workstation-class Xeons and high-end Ryzen 9 parts. The nearest rivals are the Xeon 654 at 90717 (0.2% behind AMD), the Ryzen 9 9955HX at 91199 (0.7% behind), the Xeon w7-2575X at 88172 (2.7% behind AMD), and the Xeon 6736P at 87864 (3% behind). Intel's 30468 average sits among mobile and midrange desktop parts: the Core i9-11980HK at 30422, Ryzen 5 7640HS at 30390, Core i5-13600H at 30548, and Ryzen 7 7736U at 30364. The percentile ranking reinforces the split: 96th for AMD, 82nd for Intel.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to two different use cases. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 delivers multi-threaded performance that rivals enterprise Xeon parts, with an average score 2.97 times higher than the Intel chip. Its 64 MB L3 cache, 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 24 threads make it the choice for workloads that scale across cores: compression, encryption, integer math, physics simulation, and extended instruction sets. The 96th percentile ranking confirms that this is a high-end part by any measure.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins only in single-threaded performance. The 4348 single-thread score is 9.7% ahead of AMD, and the 10-core, 10-thread design with 3 MB L2 per core and 20 MB L3 serves workloads that depend on per-core responsiveness. Its 82nd percentile ranking places it in a solid midrange tier, comparable to laptop-class Ryzen 5 and Core i5 parts.

The architecture differences explain the outcomes. AMD's quad-channel LPDDR5X memory and 24 threads feed the multi-core benchmarks. Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, plus the 3 nm process, support its single-thread edge. Neither chip is unlocked, and both are active production parts with different sockets and market segments.

The decision comes down to workload shape. If the task is heavily parallel, the AMD part is the clear pick from the data. If the task is single-thread bound and the platform is desktop, Intel has the measurable advantage. The 9.7% single-thread gap is real but small compared to the 78.4% multithread gap and the 156% integer math gap. The database shows a processor that wins decisively in nine of eleven tests and a processor that wins narrowly in two.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T scores 4348 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 9.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392's 3927.

Q: How much faster is the AMD part in multithread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 45231 in the PassMark multithread test, a 78.4% lead over the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T's 25358.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 supports LPDDR5X memory on a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 averages 90541, within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon 654 at 90717. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T averages 30468, within 0.2% of the Intel Core i9-11980HK at 30422.