AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 vs Intel Core 9 273PE Comparison

Intel Core 9 273PE vs AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380: the database record shows a clear split between two very different processor designs. Intel delivers a dominant all-core performance advantage across nearly every measured workload, while AMD counters with a single-thread score that edges ahead. The data points to distinct use cases: the Intel part is a desktop workhorse for heavy multithreaded tasks, and the AMD part is a mobile chip that prioritizes per-core responsiveness and efficiency.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Core 9 273PE wins 9 of 11 head-to-head tests, with the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 taking only the two single-thread tests. For anyone selecting a processor strictly from the recorded data, the Intel part is the stronger choice for almost any compute-heavy workload. Its average benchmark score of 49,845 places it at the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i9-13980HX (1.1% ahead). The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 also sits at the 90th percentile but with a lower average score of 48,171, landing near the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A (0.1% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D (0.5% behind).

The verdict for buyers depends on workload. If the task involves rendering, encryption, physics simulation, or any parallel computation, the Intel Core 9 273PE is the clear pick. If the task is lightly threaded and sensitive to single-core speed, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 offers a measurable edge. The Intel part also targets the desktop segment with a 65 W TDP, while the AMD part is a mobile processor with a 55 W TDP, so platform choice matters. The Intel part launched with a $549 MSRP, a fact the database records, but no pricing comparison is drawn here.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries, nodes, and design philosophies. The Intel Core 9 273PE is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, uses the Bartlett Lake codename, and belongs to the Core 9 generation. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 2.30 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 uses the Zen 5 architecture, the Strix Halo codename, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Cache allocations differ substantially. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part also has 80 KB of L1 per core but only 1 MB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. That difference in L3 capacity is a major factor in workloads that repeatedly access large datasets. Memory support also diverges: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while AMD uses LPDDR5X with dual-channel memory and a higher 128.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe generation differs as well. The Intel part runs PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part runs PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present on both: Intel has UHD Graphics 730, and AMD has Radeon 8040S. The Intel part uses Socket 1700, and the AMD part uses Socket FP11. Both are active production parts, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel release date is recorded as March 2026, while the AMD release date is January 2025.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for Intel comes in the passmark physics test, where it scores 3,120 against AMD's 1,120, a delta of 178.6%. That is more than a 2.7x advantage and indicates a massive gap in simulated physics or rigid-body calculations. The second-largest win is in passmark find prime numbers, with Intel at 203 and AMD at 75, a 170.7% delta. Prime number finding is a classic integer workload, and the Intel part's extra cores and larger cache clearly pay off.

Floating-point math shows Intel at 107,884 versus AMD's 53,084, a 103.2% delta, meaning Intel is roughly twice as fast. Integer math follows with Intel at 139,410 and AMD at 79,789, a 74.7% delta. Data encryption also favors Intel heavily: 22,719 versus 14,502, a 56.7% delta. Multithread performance is another strong Intel win: 36,810 versus 24,244, a 51.8% delta. Data compression sees Intel at 405,885 versus 293,595, a 38.2% delta, and random string sorting shows Intel at 45,098 versus 31,153, a 44.8% delta.

The extended instructions test is the closest contest: Intel scores 24,630 and AMD scores 24,333, a mere 1.2% delta. That result indicates the two chips are nearly identical for specialized instruction throughput, likely reflecting similar SIMD or cryptographic extension capabilities. The only AMD wins are the two single-thread tests, both showing Intel at 3,650 and AMD at 3,995, an 8.6% delta in AMD's favor. That is a modest but consistent edge, and it appears in both the passmark single thread and passmark singlethread records.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has a boost clock of 5.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 supports 128.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is higher than the Intel Core 9 273PE's 89.6 GB/s, though both use dual-channel memory.

Q: Which processor wins the single-thread benchmark?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 scores 3,995 on passmark single thread, beating the Intel Core 9 273PE's 3,650, an 8.6% advantage.

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

A: The largest delta is in passmark physics, where the Intel Core 9 273PE leads by 178.6%, scoring 3,120 versus 1,120. The second-largest is in passmark find prime numbers at 170.7%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 9 273PE and the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 support ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 9 273PE wins in 9 of 11 recorded tests, and its victories are not marginal. In physics simulation, prime number finding, floating-point math, and integer math, the Intel part leads by margins from 74.7% to 178.6%. That makes it the definitive choice for scientific computing, engineering simulations, financial modeling, video rendering, and any workload that scales across multiple cores. Its 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with 36 MB of L3 cache, provide a substantial parallel processing advantage. The data compression and encryption wins also make it stronger for database operations, file archiving, and security processing.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 wins only the single-thread tests, but that win is consistent across both recorded single-thread measurements. An 8.6% single-core advantage is meaningful for applications that are largely single-threaded or latency-sensitive, such as light coding, office productivity, or older games that rely on one core. The AMD part also has a higher memory bandwidth at 128.0 GB/s, which could benefit certain memory-bound workloads even if the CPU core count is lower. Its mobile segment and 55 W TDP suggest it is intended for laptops where thermal and power constraints are tighter, and its smaller 6-core, 12-thread design reflects that focus.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, as recorded in the database.

| Specification | Intel Core 9 273PE | AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 |

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

| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 24 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP11 |

| Architecture | Bartlett Lake | Zen 5 |

| Codename | Bartlett Lake | Strix Halo |

| Generation | Core 9 (Bartlett Lake) | Ryzen AI Max PRO (Zen 5) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

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

| L3 Cache | 36 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 128.0 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Radeon 8040S |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Launch MSRP | $549 | Null |

| Part Number | SA4QD | 100-000001425 |

The Intel part has double the cores and threads, a much higher boost clock, and triple the L3 cache. The AMD part has a higher base clock, a smaller process node, a higher memory bandwidth, and a lower TDP. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, dual-channel memory buses, ECC support, and locked multipliers. The Intel part uses PCIe Gen 5, while the AMD part uses PCIe Gen 4, and each has its own integrated GPU. The release dates differ by over a year, with AMD shipping first.