AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, which secures 12 wins across the 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H claims only 3 wins, and two of those are by extremely narrow margins. The most pronounced disparities emerge in multi-threaded and data-intensive workloads, where the AMD part's additional cores and higher power envelope translate into massive percentage leads.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 35314 against the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H's 16331, a delta of 116.2%. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test tells a similar story: 5463 versus 2504, a 118.2% advantage. These results indicate that the AMD processor delivers more than double the rendering throughput in both versions of the benchmark. Single-core results are far closer. In Cinebench R23 single-core, both processors record an identical score of 2044, with a delta of 0%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part leads by 3.6% (316 versus 305). The PassMark single-thread test flips in favor of Intel, with the Core Ultra 5 338H scoring 4180 against 4147, a delta of -0.8%. The PassMark singlethread test repeats the same result with the same scores, confirming the Intel part's marginal edge in that specific measurement.

The integer math workload shows the largest gap of the entire comparison. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 200665 in PassMark integer math, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H manages only 64934. That is a 209% difference. Data compression also heavily favors AMD: 690650 versus 276539, a 149.7% lead. Extended instructions follow with a 135.7% advantage (56346 versus 23906). Random string sorting shows a 123.5% gap (76177 versus 34082). The AMD processor also leads in floating-point math by 53.1% (128682 versus 84067), in data encryption by 65.9% (35455 versus 21367), and in multithread performance by 91.3% (54934 versus 28717). PassMark physics delivers a 29.1% win for AMD (3481 versus 2697). The only Intel win outside of the single-thread tests is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 304 against AMD's 303, a negligible -0.3% delta.

The average benchmark score reinforces the overall gap. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 posts an average benchmark score of 77740, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H averages 33989. That places the AMD processor in the 95th percentile against all CPUs, while the Intel part sits in the 84th percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900K at 79097 (-1.7% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX at 76212 (2% delta). The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H is bracketed by the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H at 34083 (-0.3% delta) and the Intel Core i7-12800HX at 33875 (0.3% delta). These figures show that the AMD part competes at a desktop flagship level, while the Intel part aligns with mid-range mobile processors.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is the substantially faster processor in almost every measured workload. It wins 12 of 15 comparisons, and its losses are confined to a single-thread test with a 0.8% margin and a prime-number search with a 0.3% margin. In multi-core, compression, encryption, math, and sorting workloads, the AMD part holds leads ranging from 29.1% to 209%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H cannot close that gap in any throughput-oriented task.

The Intel part does demonstrate competitive single-thread performance. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4180 edges out the AMD score of 4147, and its Cinebench R23 single-core score ties AMD at 2044. For workloads that depend entirely on single-core speed, the Intel chip is not outclassed. However, the overall benchmark profile shows that the AMD processor's 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with its higher 55 W TDP, dominate the Intel part's 12 cores and 12 threads operating at a 25 W TDP.

The percentile rankings confirm the hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 belongs in the company of desktop-class parts like the Intel Core i9-14900K, sitting just 1.7% below that chip's average score. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H sits near the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, a mid-range mobile part, and the Intel Core i7-12800HX. The recorded data does not support any scenario where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip in aggregate performance.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 wins in every multi-threaded and data-heavy category. Its largest victory comes in integer math, where the 209% delta shows a massive throughput advantage for calculations involving whole numbers. Data compression follows at 149.7%, indicating that archiving, backup, and file-handling tasks run far faster on the AMD part. Extended instructions, which often appear in encryption, media encoding, and scientific code, favor AMD by 135.7%. Random string sorting shows a 123.5% lead, and multithread performance overall is 91.3% higher. The Cinebench runs, which simulate 3D rendering, show the AMD part at roughly 116% to 118% ahead. Floating-point math is 53.1% faster, data encryption is 65.9% faster, and physics simulation is 29.1% faster. The AMD processor also holds a 3.6% edge in Cinebench R15 single-core.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H wins in exactly three categories: PassMark find prime numbers by 0.3%, PassMark single-thread by 0.8%, and PassMark singlethread by 0.8%. The prime-number search difference is effectively a tie, with scores of 304 and 303. The single-thread wins are similarly narrow. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is a dead heat at 2044 for both. The Intel part's wins indicate that its single-core architecture is competitive, but the margins are too small to shift the overall balance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 35314 versus 16331 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H, a 116.2% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5463 versus 2504, a 118.2% lead.

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H faster in single-core tests?

A: The Intel part wins PassMark single-thread by 0.8% (4180 versus 4147) and PassMark find prime numbers by 0.3% (304 versus 303). The AMD part wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 3.6% (316 versus 305), and the two tie in Cinebench R23 single-core at 2044.

Q: How do the two chips compare in data encryption?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 35455 in PassMark data encryption, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H scores 21367. The AMD part leads by 65.9%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has an average benchmark score of 77740. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has an average benchmark score of 33989.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has 12 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Where does each processor rank among all CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 sits in the 95th percentile against all CPUs. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H sits in the 84th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses the Panther Lake architecture, also its codename, and is built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The AMD part integrates the Radeon 8060S graphics solution, while the Intel part integrates Arc B370 graphics.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD processor provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor provides 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's larger shared L3 cache is consistent with its higher multi-threaded throughput.

Memory support also diverges. Both support LPDDR5X memory, but the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 uses a quad-channel memory bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H uses a dual-channel memory bus with 136.5 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD chip offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes.

The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP11, and the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 2540. The production status for both is listed as Active. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part's part number is 100-000001099, and the Intel part's part number is SA4REQ9EW.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts separate the two clearly. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H offers 12 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part has no simultaneous multithreading disabled; its thread count is double its core count, whereas the Intel part's thread count equals its core count.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part. The AMD processor has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel processor has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The TDP figures differ significantly: the AMD part is rated at 55 W, and the Intel part is rated at 25 W.

The process nodes differ by one nanometer step. The AMD processor is fabricated on a 4 nm node at TSMC, and the Intel processor is fabricated on a 3 nm node at Intel. The AMD die size is recorded as 2x 70.6 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Intel part. Release dates differ by roughly a year: the AMD processor was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel processor was released on 2026-01-04. The AMD part is classified under the Ryzen AI Max generation, and the Intel part is classified under the Ultra 5 generation. The Intel part belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3.