AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 wins all 11 recorded head-to-head tests against the Intel Core 3 304. The most significant margin appears in integer math, where AMD delivers a 223.8% advantage, scoring 79789 versus Intel's 24640. This indicates a substantial throughput advantage for workloads that rely heavily on integer operations, such as general productivity tasks and certain scientific calculations.

Data compression follows as the second-largest win, with AMD scoring 293595 against Intel's 114775, a delta of 155.8%. This suggests that the AMD processor sustains noticeably higher throughput when handling compressed data streams, a common workload in file archiving, database operations, and data transfer scenarios. The extended instructions test shows a 151.2% lead, with AMD at 24333 and Intel at 9686. This result points to a strong advantage in SIMD and specialized instruction execution, which benefits multimedia processing and encryption workloads.

The random string sorting benchmark records a 128.1% difference, with AMD at 31153 and Intel at 13659. This test measures the efficiency of sorting algorithms, a core component of many data processing pipelines. The multithread score shows AMD at 24244 versus Intel's 11625, a 108.6% lead, reinforcing the advantage in parallel workloads. Floating point math results show AMD at 53084 against Intel's 29722, a 78.6% delta, indicating superior performance in scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and other numerically intensive tasks.

Data encryption shows a 70.6% advantage for AMD, scoring 14502 versus 8501. This is relevant for security-sensitive applications and encrypted storage access. The physics benchmark records a 29% lead, with AMD at 1120 and Intel at 868. This test often correlates with gaming physics simulations and certain engineering workloads. Single-thread performance shows a narrower margin, with AMD at 3995 versus Intel's 3614, a 10.5% delta. This indicates that the AMD processor still leads in lightly threaded applications, though the gap is less pronounced than in multi-threaded tests.

The find prime numbers benchmark yields the smallest difference, with AMD at 75 and Intel at 68, a 10.3% advantage. This test is highly dependent on memory latency and branch prediction, and the results suggest that the two processors are more closely matched in this specific pattern. Overall, the average benchmark score for AMD stands at 48171, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while Intel's average score is 13745, which falls in the 68th percentile. The nearest rival data places AMD's average score within 0.5% of several high-end desktop processors, including the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D. Intel's average score is within 1.4% of the AMD EPYC 7443 and within 1.1% of the Intel Core 5 120UL.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-threaded benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 scores 24244 in the PassMark multithread test, while the Intel Core 3 304 scores 11625. This represents a 108.6% advantage for AMD.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 records a single-thread score of 3995, which is 10.5% higher than the Intel Core 3 304's score of 3614.

Q: What is the difference in data encryption performance?

A: The AMD processor scores 14502 in the data encryption test, compared to 8501 for the Intel processor, a delta of 70.6% in favor of AMD.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 sits in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 3 304 sits in the 68th percentile.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has an average benchmark score of 48171, while the Intel Core 3 304 has an average benchmark score of 13745.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the Intel processor wins?

A: No. The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 winning all 11 head-to-head benchmark tests against the Intel Core 3 304.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for workloads that demand high throughput. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 delivers leading scores across every recorded category, with particularly large advantages in integer math, data compression, and extended instructions. Its 90th percentile ranking and average score of 48171 place it in a performance class that approaches several high-end desktop processors from the rival list. For users running multi-threaded applications, heavy data processing, or computationally intensive scientific workloads, the AMD processor is the stronger option based on the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core 3 304, with its 68th percentile ranking and average score of 13745, is in a different performance tier. Its benchmark scores are comparable to older mobile processors such as the Intel Core i7-8750H and the AMD EPYC 7443. The Intel processor does not win any of the recorded head-to-head tests, and its closest margin is in the find prime numbers test, where it trails by only 10.3%. This suggests that for very specific, latency-sensitive workloads, the performance gap narrows, but it does not close.

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the performance tier required. For applications where benchmark score translates directly to workflow speed, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is the only option supported by the data. For lower-power scenarios where absolute performance is not the primary criterion, the Intel Core 3 304 may still be considered, but the benchmark evidence shows a substantial performance deficit.

Specification Differences

The core configuration differs significantly. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Clock speeds also diverge: AMD's base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz, whereas Intel's base clock is 1.50 GHz with a boost of 4.30 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55 watts for AMD and 15 watts for Intel, indicating a much higher power envelope for the AMD part.

Memory support differs in type and bandwidth. AMD supports LPDDR5X memory with a dual-channel bus, delivering 128.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but uses a single-channel bus, resulting in 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. ECC memory support is present on AMD but not on Intel. PCIe lane counts also differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD featuring Radeon 8040S and Intel featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe).

The release dates are different, with AMD releasing on 2025-01-05 and Intel releasing on 2026-04-15. The Intel processor has a recorded launch MSRP of $309. The AMD processor has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are marked as Active in production status and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural foundations are distinct. AMD uses the Zen 5 architecture under the codename Strix Halo, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Intel uses the Wildcat Lake codename, fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The generation labels reflect this: AMD is in the Ryzen AI Max PRO (Zen 5) generation, while Intel is in the Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) generation.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. AMD lists L1 cache as 80 KB per core, L2 as 1 MB per core, and L3 as 16 MB shared. Intel lists L1 as 192 KB, L2 as 2.5 MB, and L3 as 6 MB shared. The AMD design provides a larger shared L3 pool, while the Intel design has a larger L1 cache total. The memory controller configuration also differs, with AMD supporting dual-channel LPDDR5X and Intel supporting single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The PCIe implementation differs in lane count, with AMD providing 16 Gen 4 lanes and Intel providing 6 Gen 4 lanes.

The integrated graphics solutions are from different vendors and generations. AMD uses the Radeon 8040S, while Intel uses the Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. Both are integrated into mobile processors, but their capabilities are not directly compared in the recorded benchmark data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 wins in every recorded benchmark category. The largest margins are in integer math (223.8% ahead), data compression (155.8% ahead), and extended instructions (151.2% ahead). These results suggest that the AMD processor is particularly well-suited for workloads that involve heavy integer computation, data compression and decompression, and SIMD-heavy code paths. The multithread score (108.6% ahead) and floating point math score (78.6% ahead) further indicate strength in parallel and numerically intensive tasks.

The Intel Core 3 304 does not win any recorded benchmark, but the narrowest gaps provide some insight into its relative behavior. The find prime numbers test shows only a 10.3% deficit, and the single-thread test shows a 10.5% deficit. These tests are often more sensitive to memory latency and branch prediction efficiency than to raw throughput. The physics test shows a 29% deficit, which is the third-closest margin. The data suggests that in specific, latency-sensitive workloads, the Intel processor may be closer to competitive, but it still trails.

For use-case planning, the AMD processor is the choice for CPU-intensive tasks such as software compilation, data analytics, scientific computing, and any parallel workload where the 12-thread configuration and higher memory bandwidth can be utilized. The Intel processor, with its lower power envelope and single-channel memory, may be more appropriate for scenarios where power consumption is the primary constraint, though its benchmark scores indicate a significant performance trade-off. The recorded data does not include power consumption measurements, but the TDP difference of 55 watts versus 15 watts is notable.