AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H shows a decisive overall advantage for the AMD part, which wins 9 of the 11 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel processor claims only 2 wins, both in single-threaded workloads. The margin of victory in the AMD-favored tests is substantial in most cases, while the Intel single-thread advantage is comparatively narrow.

The largest single gap appears in integer math, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 152414 against 77975 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H. That represents a 95.5% advantage for the AMD processor, nearly doubling the Intel result. Extended instruction workloads show a similar pattern, with the AMD part scoring 45666 versus 23755, a 92.2% delta. Data compression follows closely, as the AMD chip records 554760 compared to 298850 for Intel, a 85.6% difference. These three tests are the most lopsided in the comparison.

Random string sorting also favors the AMD processor heavily, with a score of 59487 against 36058, a 65% gap. The multithread benchmark gives the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 a score of 45231 versus 30703 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, a 47.3% margin. The physics test shows a 28.1% advantage for AMD, with scores of 2887 and 2254 respectively. Data encryption is closer but still clearly AMD-favored, as the AMD part scores 27784 against 23395, an 18.8% delta.

Two remaining AMD wins are narrow. The floating point math test shows 99548 for AMD versus 98796 for Intel, a mere 0.8% difference. The find prime numbers test gives AMD a 320 score against 303 for Intel, a 5.6% edge. These results indicate that in pure floating-point throughput, the two processors are essentially matched, with the AMD advantage being within normal measurement variance.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins both single-thread tests, which appear as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread in the database but record identical scores. The Intel part scores 4317, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 3927. That gives Intel a 9% advantage in single-thread performance. While this is a clear win for Intel, the margin is modest compared to the large leads AMD holds in several multithreaded and specialized workloads.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is 90541, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H averages 33537. The AMD processor sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs in the database, whereas the Intel chip is at the 83rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Xeon 654 with an average score of 90717 (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX at 91199 (0.7% higher), the Intel Xeon w7-2575X at 88172 (2.7% lower), and the Intel Xeon 6736P at 87864 (3% lower). For the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, the closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 5 240 with an average score of 33542 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS at 33667 (0.4% higher), the AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX at 33668 (0.4% higher), and the Intel Core i5-12600HX at 33375 (0.5% lower).

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is built on the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Strix Halo, part of the Ryzen AI Max generation. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size listed as 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arrow Lake architecture with the codename Arrow Lake-H, part of the Core Ultra Series 2, fabricated on a 3 nm process, also from TSMC. No die size data is recorded for the Intel part.

Core configurations differ significantly. The AMD processor has 12 cores and 24 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading. The Intel processor has 16 cores and 16 threads, with no multithreading support per core. This explains why the AMD part, despite fewer physical cores, delivers substantially higher multithreaded performance in the benchmark data. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip has a lower base clock of 2.00 GHz but a slightly higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The higher Intel boost clock aligns with its single-thread benchmark win.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 provides 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 7 255H offers 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and only 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has nearly three times the shared L3 capacity, which likely contributes to its large advantage in data compression and integer workloads.

Memory architecture shows a major divergence. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, providing 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus, with 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AMD part offers exactly 2.5 times the memory bandwidth of the Intel part. Both processors support ECC memory. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 2049. PCIe support also differs, with AMD offering Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes and Intel offering Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 includes Radeon 8060S graphics, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H includes Arc Graphics 140T. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD processor has a TDP of 55, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 28. The AMD part draws more power, consistent with its higher multithreaded performance. The AMD processor was released in January 2026, while the Intel processor was released in January 2025. Both are listed as active production parts in the mobile market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 dominates in every multithreaded and throughput-oriented category in the database. Its 47.3% lead in the multithread benchmark, combined with the 95.5% advantage in integer math and 92.2% in extended instructions, makes it the clear choice for compute-heavy parallel workloads. The 85.6% margin in data compression and 65% margin in random string sorting indicate strong performance in data manipulation tasks. The 18.8% advantage in data encryption suggests it handles cryptographic workloads more efficiently. The 28.1% lead in physics simulation points to better performance in physics-based calculations. Even in floating point math, where the gap is smallest at 0.8%, the AMD part still leads. The find prime numbers test gives AMD a 5.6% edge, showing stronger integer iteration performance.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins only in single-threaded performance, with a 9% lead over the AMD part in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread tests. This makes it the better option for workloads that depend primarily on single-core speed, such as lightly threaded legacy applications or certain interactive tasks where one core carries most of the load. The Intel part also operates at a lower TDP of 28 compared to 55 for the AMD part, so it delivers its single-thread advantage with lower power draw. The higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for AMD aligns with this result.

The broader context from the database shows that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 belongs in a higher performance tier. Its average score of 90541 places it near workstation-class processors like the Intel Xeon 654 and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H at 33537 sits alongside mid-range mobile parts like the AMD Ryzen 5 240 and Ryzen 7 8840HS. The percentile ranking reinforces this split, with AMD at the 96th percentile and Intel at the 83rd percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H scores 4317 in the passmark single-thread test, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 3927. This gives Intel a 9% advantage in single-thread workloads.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's lead in multithreaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 45231 in the passmark multithread test compared to 30703 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, a 47.3% difference. In integer math, the AMD lead is 95.5%, with scores of 152414 and 77975 respectively.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part supports multithreading, while the Intel part does not.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H uses dual-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD processor provides 2.5 times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has nearly three times the L3 capacity.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has a TDP of 55. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has a TDP of 28. The Intel processor operates at a lower power envelope.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins 9 of 11 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 0.8% in floating point math to 95.5% in integer math. Its average score of 90541 places it at the 96th percentile, and its nearest rivals are workstation-class Xeon processors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H wins only the two single-thread tests, with a 9% margin, and its average score of 33537 places it at the 83rd percentile alongside mid-range mobile chips.

For multithreaded workloads, data compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, physics simulation, and random string sorting, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the stronger part by substantial margins. The 64 MB of shared L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth support its throughput advantages. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration with Zen 5 architecture delivers results that exceed the 16-core, 16-thread Intel part in all parallel tests.

For single-threaded performance, the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H leads with a 4317 score against 3927. Its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz and lower TDP of 28 make it suitable for lightly threaded workloads and power-constrained systems. However, the 9% single-thread advantage does not offset the AMD part's leads in the other nine benchmarks, several of which exceed 50%.

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the higher-performing processor overall, particularly for compute-intensive and parallel workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H offers a single-thread advantage and lower power draw, but the recorded benchmark results show it trailing in nearly every other category. Systems requiring maximum multithreaded throughput should use the AMD part, while those prioritizing single-core responsiveness and lower TDP may prefer the Intel part.