AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split in workload strengths between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX. Across the eleven shared tests, the AMD part wins six and the Intel part wins five, but the margins tell a more detailed story than the win count.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 delivers its largest victory in integer math. It scores 152414 against 97177 for the Intel chip, a 56.8% advantage. That is the single biggest delta in the comparison. The extended instructions test also favors AMD heavily, with a score of 45666 versus 34808, a 31.2% lead. Data compression follows the same pattern: 554760 for AMD versus 426417 for Intel, a 30.1% gap. These three results indicate that the AMD processor sustains a substantial lead in integer-heavy and data-processing workloads.

The AMD chip also wins the multithreaded test, scoring 45231 against 40849, a 10.7% edge. The physics test shows a 13.2% lead (2887 versus 2550), and random string sorting goes to AMD by 16.8% (59487 versus 50929). These results suggest that the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a consistent, moderate advantage in parallel and sorting tasks, though not as extreme as its integer math margin.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX counters with a decisive win in floating-point math. Its score of 129819 beats the AMD's 99548 by 23.3%. This is the largest Intel victory. Single-thread performance also favors Intel: 4683 versus 3927, a 16.1% lead, a result that appears in both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries. The Intel chip also leads in data encryption, scoring 32697 against 27784, a 15% advantage. Finally, the find prime numbers test goes to Intel, 361 versus 320, an 11.4% margin.

Looking at the overall averages, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 records an average benchmark score of 90541, placing it at the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX averages 52073, placing it at the 91st percentile. The nearest rival data for AMD shows a tight cluster: the Intel Xeon 654 scores 90717, just 0.2% behind, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 91199, 0.7% ahead. The Intel part's nearest rivals are similarly close, with the AMD EPYC 8124P at 52121 (0.1% lower) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X at 51947 (0.2% lower). The percentile difference, 96 versus 91, is consistent with the average score gap, though the head-to-head tests show that the Intel chip is not uniformly slower.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the Arrow Lake architecture under the Arrow Lake-HX codename. Both are mobile parts fabricated by TSMC, but on different nodes: AMD uses a 4 nm process, while Intel uses a 3 nm process.

Core counts differ significantly. The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel chip has 14 cores but only 14 threads. The Intel part does not use simultaneous multithreading, which explains the thread count matching the core count. The AMD chip's 24 threads versus Intel's 14 threads is a key factor behind its multithreaded lead, despite having two fewer physical cores.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The AMD processor allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has larger per-core caches, but the AMD chip has nearly three times the total L3 capacity.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. AMD supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, yielding 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Intel supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, yielding 102.4 GB/s. The AMD chip's memory bandwidth is exactly 2.5 times that of the Intel chip. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Intel part has a newer PCIe generation and more lanes, which matters for certain expansion or storage configurations. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU.

The Intel processor has a larger die at 243 mm² and carries 17,800 million transistors. The AMD processor reports a die size of 2x 70.6 mm², with no transistor count listed. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not. Both share the same 55 W TDP, and both are currently marked as Active in production. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 2114.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the stronger overall processor in the database's averaged metrics. Its average benchmark score of 90541 is 73.9% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX's 52073, and it sits at the 96th percentile versus Intel's 91st. The AMD chip wins the multithread test and the majority of the head-to-head tests, particularly those that rely on integer throughput, data compression, and sorting.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, however, is not without clear advantages. It leads in single-thread performance by 16.1%, floating-point math by 23.3%, data encryption by 15%, and prime number finding by 11.4%. For workloads that stress a single core or rely on floating-point vector math, the Intel chip is the better match. Its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for AMD and its larger per-core cache may contribute to these results, though the exact cause is not isolated in the data.

The AMD chip's 24 threads and 64 MB of shared L3, combined with 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, make it the clear choice for heavily threaded and data-intensive tasks. The Intel chip's 14 threads and 24 MB of L3, with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, position it as a capable single-thread and floating-point performer. The choice hinges on workload type rather than absolute superiority. The recorded data does not support recommending one for all scenarios; it supports a split: AMD for parallel integer work, Intel for single-thread and floating-point work.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 | Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX |

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

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel BGA 2114 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Arrow Lake-HX |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | 243 mm² |

| 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) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| 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 (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 8060S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | 100-000001979 | SRVFL |

Both processors share a 55 W TDP, the mobile market segment, and an Active production status. The AMD part has a release date of 2026-01-05, while the Intel part has a release date of 2025-01-12.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an average benchmark score of 90541, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX averages 52073.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX is faster, scoring 4683 in the single-thread test versus 3927 for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392, a 16.1% lead.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 supports 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX supports 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has 14 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is listed only for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin in either direction?

A: The largest margin is in the integer math test, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 152414 against 97177 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, a 56.8% advantage for AMD.