AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and Intel Core Ultra 5 245T occupy very different positions in the benchmark database, despite both being modern, actively produced processors. The AMD part, a 12-core mobile chip from the Zen 5 Strix Halo family, and the Intel part, a 14-core desktop Arrow Lake-S chip, deliver contrasting performance profiles that are clearly visible in the recorded measurements. The data shows a decisive overall victory for AMD in raw throughput, with Intel securing specific wins in single-threaded and floating-point workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the PassMark data compression test. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 554,760, which is 95.5% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T's 283,812. This near-doubling of performance indicates a massive advantage in workloads that rely on rapid data manipulation and memory bandwidth.

The extended instructions test shows an even larger percentage gap. AMD's score of 45,666 eclipses Intel's 22,071 by 106.9%. This result suggests that the Zen 5 architecture handles specialized instruction sets with significantly more efficiency than Arrow Lake in this particular measurement.

Integer math performance also heavily favors AMD. The Ryzen AI Max+ 392 delivers 152,414 points against Intel's 88,676, a 71.9% advantage. This is a core throughput metric, and the wide margin reflects the AMD processor's superior multi-threaded execution capabilities. The multithread benchmark confirms this trend, with AMD scoring 45,231 versus Intel's 30,833, a 46.7% lead.

Random string sorting is another area of clear AMD dominance. The 59,487 score for the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 beats the 34,931 of the Core Ultra 5 245T by 70.3%. This workload is sensitive to memory latency and cache hierarchy, and the data indicates AMD's implementation handles it far better.

The physics test, which often simulates real-world gaming physics calculations, shows AMD ahead by 26.7%, scoring 2,887 against Intel's 2,278. Data encryption performance also favors AMD, with a 17.5% lead (27,784 vs 23,656).

Intel's wins are concentrated in specific areas. The single-thread benchmark shows the Core Ultra 5 245T scoring 4,367 compared to AMD's 3,927, a 10.1% advantage. This is a significant margin for single-core performance and indicates that Intel's architecture holds an edge in lightly threaded scenarios.

Floating-point math is another Intel victory. The Core Ultra 5 245T scores 108,499 versus 99,548 for the AMD part, an 8.2% lead. This result is notable because AMD's strong showing in integer math does not carry over to floating-point operations.

The find prime numbers test is the closest contest, with Intel winning narrowly by 1.2% (324 vs 320). This near-tie suggests that this particular workload does not favor either architecture's strengths.

Overall, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins 7 of the 11 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T wins 4. The average benchmark scores reflect this disparity, with AMD at 90,541 and Intel at 38,194. The AMD processor sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while Intel is at the 86th percentile.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides context for these scores. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392's average score of 90,541 places it within a tight cluster of high-end processors. It trails the Intel Xeon 654 by just 0.2% (90,717) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX by 0.7% (91,199). It leads the Intel Xeon w7-2575X by 2.7% (88,172) and the Intel Xeon 6736P by 3% (87,864). This positioning shows the Ryzen AI Max+ 392 competing directly with workstation-class Xeon parts.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T's average score of 38,194 places it in a much lower performance tier. It is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38,221, a 0.1% difference), the Intel Core i5-14490F (38,149, 0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-13600HX (38,261, 0.2% behind). It also matches the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38,103, 0.2% ahead). These rivals are all mainstream desktop or mobile processors, confirming that the Core Ultra 5 245T is positioned in the mid-range segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T scores 4,367 in the PassMark single-thread test, which is 10.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392's score of 3,927.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 leads the PassMark multithread test with 45,231 points, a 46.7% advantage over the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T's 30,833.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 supports quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T supports dual-channel DDR5 with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores. However, the AMD part supports 24 threads, while the Intel part supports only 14 threads.

Q: What are the process nodes used by each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T uses a 3 nm process, also from TSMC.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392's average score of 90,541 is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (91,199) and within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon 654 (90,717), placing it in the high-end workstation performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectural foundations. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-S codename, fabricated on a 3 nm process, also at TSMC.

The core configurations differ significantly. AMD's chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, indicating simultaneous multithreading support. Intel's chip has 14 cores but only 14 threads, meaning it does not support hyper-threading. This explains why the AMD part, despite having fewer cores, achieves much higher multi-threaded scores.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The significantly larger L3 cache on the AMD part likely contributes to its dominance in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. AMD uses LPDDR5X memory in a quad-channel configuration, delivering 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel uses DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 102.4 GB/s. This 2.5x bandwidth advantage for AMD explains its overwhelming performance in memory-intensive tests.

The physical characteristics also differ. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The AMD die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm², indicating a chiplet design. Both processors support ECC memory. The Intel part uses a Gen 5 PCIe interface with 20 lanes, while the AMD part uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses the Radeon 8060S, while Intel uses the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. Both processors are socketed differently, with AMD using Socket FP11 and Intel using Socket 1851. The market segments also differ, with AMD targeting mobile and Intel targeting desktop.

The release dates show AMD's processor arriving later, with a release date of January 5, 2026, versus Intel's January 6, 2025. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $270. The AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture of two processors designed for different purposes. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is a high-performance mobile processor that competes with workstation-class Xeon parts in the database. Its average benchmark score of 90,541 places it at the 96th percentile, and its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon 654 and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX. This is a processor for users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput in a mobile form factor.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T is a mainstream desktop processor. Its average score of 38,194 places it at the 86th percentile, competing with parts like the AMD Ryzen 7 250 and Intel Core i5-14490F. Its single-thread score of 4,367 is its strongest asset, beating AMD by 10.1% in that metric.

For workloads dominated by integer math, data compression, encryption, and multi-threaded execution, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the clear choice based on the recorded data. Its 46.7% multithread lead and 71.9% integer math lead are decisive advantages. The 95.5% lead in data compression is particularly notable.

For single-threaded performance and floating-point math, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T holds the advantage. Its 10.1% single-thread lead and 8.2% floating-point lead indicate that it may be preferable for lightly threaded applications that rely on these specific capabilities.

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload profile. The benchmark data indicates that the AMD part delivers dramatically higher throughput in most measured categories, while the Intel part offers superior performance in a narrower set of tests. The AMD processor's positioning among workstation-class rivals in the database suggests it targets a higher performance tier than the mainstream-focused Intel part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 | Intel Core Ultra 5 245T |

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

| Cores | 12 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Arrow Lake-S |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 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 | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8060S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-01-05 | 2025-01-06 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $270 |