AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 vs Intel Core i5-14600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14600K and AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 are both high-performing processors that land in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, but they are built for entirely different environments. The i5-14600K is a desktop processor from Intel's Core 14th Gen series, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is a mobile chip from AMD's Zen 5 architecture. Benchmark data shows the Intel part dominates the AMD chip in every single head-to-head test, but the AMD chip’s lower power envelope and integrated GPU make it a contender for specific portable use cases. The following analysis breaks down the data to help you decide which processor fits your build.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This core count difference is the primary driver of the Intel chip's large performance lead in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: How do their single-threaded performances compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K leads in single-threaded performance, scoring 4270 in the Passmark single-thread test compared to the AMD's 3995. This represents a 6.9% advantage for the Intel chip in this specific benchmark.

Q: What is the difference in their power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has a TDP of 125 watts, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 has a TDP of 55 watts. The AMD chip is designed for a much lower power envelope, typical of mobile processors.

Q: Do they support the same type of memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-14600K supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 supports LPDDR5X. The AMD chip also has a specified memory bandwidth of 128.0 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380's boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-14600K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 does not have an unlocked multiplier, meaning its clock speeds cannot be adjusted in the same way.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is clear: the Intel Core i5-14600K is the superior performer in every single test recorded. It wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with advantages ranging from 6.9% in single-threaded tasks to a massive 120.8% in the physics test. If your priority is raw computational power for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or complex simulations, the i5-14600K is the definitive choice based on this data.

However, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is not without merit. Its 55-watt TDP is less than half of the Intel chip's 125-watt TDP, making it a far more efficient option for laptops or compact systems where heat and battery life are critical. It also features the Radeon 8040S integrated graphics and uses a 4 nm process node, suggesting a focus on power efficiency. For a user building a desktop workstation where power draw is not a primary concern and performance is paramount, the Intel chip is the clear winner. For a user who needs a capable processor for a thin-and-light laptop, the AMD chip's specifications are more aligned with that goal, even if its benchmark scores are lower.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Passmark benchmark suite reveals a consistent pattern of Intel dominance. The largest margin is in the physics test, where the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 2473 compared to the AMD's 1120, a 120.8% difference. This indicates a massive advantage in workloads that rely heavily on physical simulations, likely due to the Intel chip's higher core count and thread count.

In integer math, a common proxy for general-purpose computing, the Intel chip scores 125737 against the AMD's 79789, a 57.6% lead. Similarly, in floating-point math, which is critical for scientific computing and certain game physics, the Intel chip scores 92794 versus 53084, a 74.8% advantage. These results show that the Intel chip is not just faster in one niche, but across a broad spectrum of computational tasks.

The only close race is in the single-threaded tests. The Intel chip scores 4270, while the AMD chip scores 3995, a 6.9% difference. While this is still a win for Intel, it shows that the AMD chip's Zen 5 architecture is competitive when only a single core is active. This is important for tasks like web browsing or office applications that do not always utilize multiple cores effectively.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly in their core specifications. The Intel Core i5-14600K features 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 features 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock speeds are close, with the Intel chip at 3.50 GHz and the AMD chip at 3.60 GHz, but the Intel chip has a higher boost clock at 5.30 GHz versus 4.90 GHz.

Power and platform requirements also diverge. The Intel chip has a TDP of 125 watts and uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 55 watts and uses the AMD Socket FP11. The Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip only supports LPDDR5X. The Intel chip's integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, whereas the AMD chip uses the Radeon 8040S. Finally, the Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip's multiplier is locked.

Architecture Differences

These processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i5-14600K is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-R refresh, and is manufactured on a 10 nm process node by Intel. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is based on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Strix Halo, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process node by TSMC. This makes the AMD chip's transistor size significantly smaller, which is a key factor in its lower power consumption.

The cache hierarchies also differ. Both have the same L1 cache at 80 KB per core, but the Intel chip has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD chip has 1 MB. The Intel chip also has a larger L3 cache at 24 MB shared, compared to the AMD chip's 16 MB shared. In terms of connectivity, the Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 5, while the AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 4. This architectural difference in process node and cache size helps explain why the Intel chip can achieve higher clock speeds and performance, while the AMD chip focuses on efficiency.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-14600K wins in every category where they were tested. This includes data compression (482020 vs 293595), data encryption (27533 vs 14502), extended instructions (28546 vs 24333), find prime numbers (162 vs 75), floating-point math, integer math, multithreaded performance, physics, and random string sorting. Its biggest wins are in physics and prime number finding, where it is more than double the AMD chip's score, indicating a strong suit in heavily parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 does not win any of the 11 benchmark comparisons. However, its wins are not in the benchmark scores but in its physical characteristics. Its 55-watt TDP and 4 nm process node make it a more suitable choice for mobile devices. Its market segment is listed as "Mobile," while the Intel chip is listed as "Desktop." Therefore, the AMD chip is the logical pick for a battery-powered laptop where efficiency is more important than absolute performance. The Intel chip is the pick for a desktop system where maximum performance is the goal and power draw is less of a concern.