AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits this comparison into two very different stories. Across the 15 shared benchmark tests, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 takes 10 wins while the Intel Core 9 273PQE takes 5, yet the margin distribution reveals a clear pattern: AMD dominates in multithreaded workloads and Intel dominates in single-threaded workloads, sometimes by very large margins.

Starting with the most dramatic single-threaded result, the Intel Core 9 273PQE scores 5532 in Cinebench R23 single-core against the AMD's 2044. That is a 63.1% advantage for Intel, the largest delta in the entire comparison. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel scores 557 versus AMD's 316, a 43.3% gap. In PassMark single-thread, Intel leads by 9.3%, scoring 4573 against 4147. These results indicate that Intel's per-core performance is substantially higher than AMD's in this matchup, which is consistent with Intel's higher boost clock of 5.90 GHz compared to AMD's 5.10 GHz.

The multithreaded picture is more complicated. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part actually wins, scoring 39190 against the AMD's 35314, a 9.9% advantage. However, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part wins convincingly with 5463 against Intel's 3950, a 38.3% margin. The discrepancy between these two Cinebench versions is curious. The R23 result favors Intel despite AMD having 16 cores and 32 threads versus Intel's 12 cores and 24 threads. The R15 result favors AMD by a wide margin. This divergence suggests that the two workloads stress different aspects of the processors, with R23 possibly benefiting from Intel's higher per-core throughput and R15 responding better to AMD's higher core count.

PassMark tests tell a consistently AMD-favorable story. In PassMark multi-thread, AMD scores 54934 against Intel's 46107, a 19.1% lead. PassMark integer math shows AMD at 200665 versus 164629, a 21.9% margin. PassMark extended instructions gives AMD the largest multithreaded win at 45.4%, scoring 56346 against 38743. PassMark random string sorting shows AMD ahead by 43.3% with 76177 versus 53167. PassMark find prime numbers has AMD at 303 versus 198, a 53% advantage. PassMark physics shows AMD at 3481 against 2754, a 26.4% lead. PassMark floating point math is the closest result in the entire set, with AMD at 128682 and Intel at 125546, a narrow 2.5% margin.

In the remaining workloads, AMD leads PassMark data compression by 17.9% (690650 versus 585752) and PassMark data encryption by 19.6% (35455 versus 29636). These are meaningful differences that point toward AMD's architectural advantages in parallel throughput.

The overall average benchmark score places AMD at 77740 with a 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while Intel sits at 66099 with a 93rd percentile ranking. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900K at a 1.7% higher average score, while Intel's nearest rivals are clustered much closer, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus just 0.1% lower and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 0.3% lower.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split follows the benchmark categories closely. AMD's wins concentrate in workloads that scale with core count, memory bandwidth, and parallel execution. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 64 MB of shared L3 cache and a quad-channel LPDDR5X memory bus delivering 256.0 GB/s gives it a structural advantage in heavy parallel tasks.

PassMark multi-thread, integer math, extended instructions, random string sorting, prime number finding, physics, data compression, and data encryption are all AMD wins. These are tasks that benefit from having more execution resources available simultaneously. The 45.4% lead in extended instructions and the 53% lead in prime number finding are particularly large, suggesting AMD's Zen 5 architecture handles these instruction patterns with significantly better efficiency per clock under load.

Intel's wins are in single-threaded tests: Cinebench R23 single-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, and PassMark single-thread. The 63.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the standout result. Intel also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is notable because it is the only multi-threaded test where Intel comes out ahead. This indicates that even in a multi-threaded scenario, Intel's per-core strength can overcome a 4-core and 8-thread disadvantage, at least in that specific workload.

For real-world categorization, AMD appears better suited for rendering, scientific computing, data processing, encryption, and any workload that can spread across many threads. Intel appears better suited for lightly threaded applications, responsive single-threaded tasks, and workloads like legacy software that rely on high clock speeds. The 5.90 GHz boost clock on Intel versus 5.10 GHz on AMD directly explains much of the single-threaded gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with the Strix Halo codename. Intel uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process. The process node difference of 4 nm versus 10 nm is substantial, and it reflects in the thermal design: AMD has a 55 W TDP while Intel has a 125 W TDP. That is a 70 W difference in rated power consumption, and it means AMD achieves its performance at less than half the thermal envelope of Intel.

Core counts differ significantly. AMD provides 16 cores and 32 threads, while Intel provides 12 cores and 24 threads. Both use an 80 KB L1 cache per core, but AMD's L2 is 1 MB per core while Intel's is 2 MB per core. AMD's L3 cache is 64 MB shared, while Intel's is 36 MB shared. AMD has a 2x 70.6 mm² die size, while Intel's die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory architecture is another major split. AMD supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. That is a 166.4 GB/s difference in memory bandwidth. For memory-intensive parallel workloads, this gives AMD a substantial advantage. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. AMD uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Intel's newer PCIe generation offers higher per-lane bandwidth, though the database does not provide transfer rate numbers.

Integrated graphics differ completely. AMD includes the Radeon 8060S, while Intel includes the UHD Graphics 770. The database does not provide benchmark scores for these iGPUs, so a direct performance comparison is not possible from the recorded data.

The sockets are different: AMD uses AMD Socket FP11, which is a mobile platform, while Intel uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform. The market segments confirm this: AMD is listed as Mobile and Intel is listed as Desktop. The release dates also differ, with AMD releasing on 2025-01-05 and Intel on 2026-03-08. Both are listed as Active in production status, and both have locked multipliers, meaning neither supports unlocked overclocking.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads. AMD has a 4-core and 8-thread advantage.

Q: Why does Intel win Cinebench R23 single-core by such a large margin?

A: Intel scores 5532 against AMD's 2044, a 63.1% advantage. The Intel processor has a boost clock of 5.90 GHz versus AMD's 5.10 GHz, and the recorded data shows Intel consistently winning all single-threaded tests, including PassMark single-thread by 9.3%.

Q: Does Intel also win multi-core Cinebench R23 despite having fewer cores?

A: Yes. Intel scores 39190 against AMD's 35314 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a 9.9% win. However, AMD wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 38.3% and PassMark multi-thread by 19.1%, so the R23 result is an outlier compared to the broader multithreaded trend.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: AMD has 256.0 GB/s with quad-channel LPDDR5X support. Intel has 89.6 GB/s with dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 support. AMD's bandwidth is 166.4 GB/s higher.

Q: Which processor has higher TDP?

A: Intel has a 125 W TDP, while AMD has a 55 W TDP. Intel's rated power consumption is 70 W higher.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and the Intel Core 9 273PQE have locked multipliers, so neither supports multiplier-based overclocking.

The Verdict

The data supports a split decision based on workload type. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 delivers 10 wins out of 15 head-to-head tests, with its strongest results in parallel workloads. The 53% lead in prime number finding, 45.4% lead in extended instructions, and 43.3% lead in random string sorting show that AMD's 16-core, 32-thread design with 64 MB of L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth excels at heavy computation. The 55 W TDP is remarkably low for this level of parallel performance, and the 95th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it above most competitors.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins the single-threaded tests decisively. The 63.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in the comparison, and the 9.9% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core shows that Intel's per-core efficiency can sometimes overcome its core count disadvantage. The 93rd percentile ranking is still strong, and Intel's nearest rival cluster is very tight, with the closest rival just 0.1% lower and 0.3% higher respectively. Intel also carries a launch MSRP of $589, which is recorded in the database.

Users facing heavily threaded workloads, high memory bandwidth demands, or power-constrained environments would find the AMD processor's data more compelling. Users prioritizing single-threaded speed, particularly for legacy applications or lightly threaded software, would find the Intel processor's results more relevant. The overall average benchmark score favors AMD at 77740 versus 66099, a 17.6% difference, but the choice depends on which benchmark set matches the intended usage.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Intel Core 9 273PQE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 12 |

| Threads | 32 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.90 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Bartlett Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 2x 70.6 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8060S | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-03-08 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $589 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001099 | SA4Q9 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 77740 | 66099 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 95 | 93 |

The two processors share the same L1 cache size of 80 KB per core and both support ECC memory, but nearly every other specification differs. The process node difference of 4 nm versus 10 nm, the TDP difference of 55 W versus 125 W, and the memory bandwidth difference of 256.0 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s are the most consequential architectural gaps. The clock speed advantage goes to Intel, with a 0.80 GHz higher boost clock and a 0.40 GHz higher base clock, while the core count advantage goes to AMD by 4 cores and 8 threads.