AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance split between the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V, with the AMD part winning 9 of the 11 shared benchmark comparisons. The biggest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where the AMD scores 152,414 against Intel's 44,019, a 246.2% advantage. That delta is not a small edge; it indicates the AMD processor handles integer-heavy workloads with a level of throughput the Intel chip cannot approach.

Data compression follows a similar pattern. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 554,760, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V manages 186,521, a 197.4% difference. This workload stresses memory bandwidth and parallel execution, and the AMD part's larger on-package resources show clearly. Extended instructions also favor AMD heavily: 45,666 versus 15,613, a 192.5% gap. The AMD processor's ability to process vector and cryptographic instruction streams far outpaces the Intel part.

The multithreaded test result reinforces the overall trend. AMD scores 45,231, Intel scores 19,810, a 128.3% lead. The physics benchmark, which often reflects core count and cache behavior, shows AMD at 2,887 versus Intel's 1,637, a 76.4% advantage. Floating point math goes to AMD as well: 99,548 versus 59,536, a 67.2% lead. Random string sorting, a test sensitive to memory latency and cache hierarchy, shows AMD at 59,487 and Intel at 22,622, a 163% gap.

Prime number generation is another AMD win, 320 versus 195, which is a 64.1% difference. Data encryption shows 27,784 versus 14,141, a 96.5% margin. Every PassMark subtest that scales with core count or memory parallelism lands firmly on the AMD side.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has one clear victory: single-threaded performance. In the PassMark single-thread test, Intel scores 4,274 against AMD's 3,927, an 8.1% lead. That result appears twice in the data set, once under the label "passmark_single_thread" and once under "passmark_singlethread", with identical scores. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus AMD's 5.00 GHz likely contributes to this result, though the database does not isolate clock effects directly.

What the data does not show is any intermediate ground. The AMD part does not merely edge out Intel in multi-threaded tests; it dominates them by margins ranging from 64% to 246%. The Intel part does not merely edge out AMD in single-thread; it holds an 8.1% lead that does not translate into broader wins. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this imbalance: AMD sits at 90,541, Intel at 23,219. That is a 3.9x difference in the aggregate metric.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 has an average benchmark score of 90,541, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has an average of 23,219. The AMD part sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel part in the 76th.

Q: Does the Intel part win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4,274 versus AMD's 3,927, an 8.1% lead. That is the only benchmark category where Intel wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 scores 152,414 against Intel's 44,019, a 246.2% difference. Data compression also shows a large 197.4% margin.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare for each processor?

A: For AMD, the nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 654 with an average score of 90,717, which is 0.2% below AMD's 90,541. For Intel, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-11900F with an average score of 23,254, which is 0.2% below Intel's 23,219.

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 9 288V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD part supports quad-channel LPDDR5X memory with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports dual-channel LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 wins every multi-threaded and memory-intensive workload in the recorded data. That includes data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number generation, floating point math, integer math, multithreaded throughput, physics simulation, and random string sorting. The pattern is consistent: any task that can use more cores, more threads, or more memory bandwidth will favor AMD. The 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, quad-channel bus, and 64 MB shared L3 cache provide the infrastructure for these wins. The 12 cores and 24 threads give the AMD part a structural advantage in parallel workloads that the Intel chip cannot offset.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins only the single-thread test. That result matters for workloads that are strictly serial and cannot scale across cores. The Intel part's 5.10 GHz boost clock and 8.1% single-thread lead suggest it has a slight edge in latency-sensitive, single-threaded tasks. But the database does not record any other benchmark where that advantage carries over. The Intel part's 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading, limit its ability to compete in any parallel workload.

The use-case split is therefore stark. For rendering, compilation, simulation, data processing, or any heavily multithreaded application, the AMD part is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For a narrow set of single-threaded tasks where the extra boost clock matters, the Intel part holds a small advantage. The 96th percentile ranking for AMD versus the 76th for Intel in the overall CPU distribution reinforces this split.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially. AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads; Intel has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are close, with AMD at 3.20 GHz and Intel at 3.30 GHz, but boost clocks show Intel slightly higher at 5.10 GHz versus AMD's 5.00 GHz. The TDP ratings differ by a wide margin: AMD is rated at 55 watts, Intel at 30 watts.

Memory support uses the same LPDDR5X standard, but the bus configuration differs. AMD runs quad-channel, Intel runs dual-channel. Memory bandwidth follows that difference: 256.0 GB/s for AMD, 136.5 GB/s for Intel. ECC memory is supported on AMD but not on Intel. PCIe generations also differ: AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), Intel uses Gen 5 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes the Radeon 8060S, Intel includes the Arc 140V. Both are mobile processors with active production status. The release dates are far apart: AMD entered production status with a release date of 2026-01-05, Intel with 2024-09-23. Neither part has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process node at TSMC. The die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm². Cache organization includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The socket is AMD Socket FP11.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V uses the Lunar Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC. The die size is not recorded. Cache organization includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The socket is Intel BGA 2833.

The cache hierarchy differences are notable. Intel has a larger per-core L1 (192 KB versus 80 KB) and a larger per-core L2 (2.5 MB versus 1 MB), but AMD has a vastly larger shared L3 (64 MB versus 12 MB). That 64 MB shared pool is likely a major factor in the AMD part's multi-threaded performance, especially in workloads that benefit from shared data access across cores.

The memory architecture also differs at the system level. AMD's quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is more than double Intel's dual-channel 136.5 GB/s. The AMD part supports ECC memory, which Intel does not. The PCIe implementation differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes. Intel's PCIe is newer generation but has fewer lanes, which trades raw throughput potential for lane count.

The process nodes differ slightly, with Intel at 3 nm and AMD at 4 nm, but both are manufactured by TSMC. The core architectures target different design philosophies: Zen 5 prioritizes thread count and cache capacity, Lunar Lake prioritizes power efficiency and per-core performance, as evidenced by the 30 watt TDP versus 55 watts.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 is the stronger processor for any workload that can utilize multiple cores or high memory bandwidth. Its 9 benchmark wins out of 11 comparisons, including 246.2% and 197.4% margins in integer math and data compression, indicate a decisive performance advantage in parallel tasks. The 64 MB shared L3 cache, quad-channel memory bus, and 24 threads provide the architectural foundation for these results.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V holds a narrow single-thread lead of 8.1% and a lower TDP of 30 watts versus 55 watts. That makes it a candidate for scenarios where power draw is the primary constraint and workloads are predominantly single-threaded. The 3 nm process node and higher boost clock support this profile.

The database places AMD in the 96th percentile of all CPUs and Intel in the 76th, a gap that reflects the average benchmark score difference of 90,541 versus 23,219. The nearest rivals for AMD include server-class Xeon parts, while Intel's nearest rivals are older desktop and mobile parts. That comparison suggests the AMD processor competes in a higher performance tier altogether.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded performance, large cache capacity, memory bandwidth, and ECC support, the AMD part is the only logical choice from this data. For users who prioritize single-thread speed and lower power consumption, the Intel part has a specific but narrow appeal. The benchmark record does not show any scenario where the Intel part wins beyond that single-thread test, so the verdict follows the data: AMD dominates broadly, Intel wins narrowly.