AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 vs Intel Core 7 360 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. Across the 17 head-to-head benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 claims 15 wins while the Intel Core 7 360 takes only 2. The margin of victory in most tests is substantial, not marginal.

In Cinebench testing, the AMD part dominates every multi-core and single-core workload. The R15 multicore result shows AMD at 2865 against Intel's 1374, a 108.5% advantage. The R15 singlecore test similarly favors AMD, 404 versus 193, a 109.3% lead. This pattern repeats across R20 and R23. The R20 multicore score is 11938 for AMD versus 5726 for Intel, another 108.5% gap. The R23 multicore result shows 28424 versus 13634, again 108.5%. Every Cinebench single-core test also lands at exactly 108.5% in AMD's favor, including R23 at 4012 versus 1924. The consistency of that delta across all Cinebench tests suggests a fixed performance ratio between the two chips in these workloads.

PassMark results tell a similar story, though with more variation in the margins. The largest gap appears in integer math, where AMD scores 105056 versus Intel's 34238, a 206.8% difference. Data compression shows AMD at 379448 versus 142877, a 165.6% lead. Extended instructions follow at 153.8% (31442 versus 12390). Random string sorting gives AMD a 131.3% edge (40784 versus 17636). Floating point math shows a 54.7% advantage (69580 versus 44963). Data encryption is closer at 70% (18978 versus 11164). Even the smallest PassMark win, find prime numbers at 157 versus 120, still represents a 30.8% lead for AMD.

The passmark_multithread score confirms the trend: AMD at 32075 versus Intel at 15544, a 106.3% difference. Physics testing shows AMD ahead by 41.1% (1711 versus 1213).

The Intel Core 7 360 wins only in the two identical single-thread PassMark tests, scoring 4274 versus AMD's 3995. That 6.5% margin is the sole bright spot for Intel. Notably, this contradicts the Cinebench single-core results, where AMD leads by over 100%. The divergence between Cinebench R23 singlecore and PassMark singlethread is worth examining: the same AMD chip scores 4012 in one test and 3995 in the other, while Intel scores 1924 in one and 4274 in the other. The PassMark single-thread test appears to measure something fundamentally different from Cinebench's single-core workload, possibly favoring Intel's architecture in a specific instruction pattern.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Strix Halo codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The TDP is rated at 55 watts. The Intel Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It offers 6 cores and 6 threads, with a much lower base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The TDP is just 15 watts.

The cache hierarchy differs significantly. AMD provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3. While Intel has more L1 and L2 per core, the total L3 cache is far smaller. AMD's 32 MB shared L3 versus Intel's 6 MB shared L3 represents a 5x difference in the last-level cache, which likely contributes to the multi-core performance gap.

Memory architecture is another major divider. AMD supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel memory bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but only over a single-channel bus, capping bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s. That is a 4.3x bandwidth advantage for AMD. The single-channel configuration on Intel is a severe constraint for memory-intensive workloads, and the benchmark data reflects this in the compression and string sorting tests where large data movement dominates.

Other feature differences include ECC memory support, which AMD includes and Intel does not. The PCIe configuration also differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 4 with only 6 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD using a Radeon 8050S and Intel using Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP11, Intel uses BGA 1516.

The release dates sit far apart. AMD's release date is 2025-01-05, while Intel's is 2026-04-15. The production status for both is listed as Active. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $426, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 wins in every heavily parallel workload. The multi-core Cinebench results, the integer math test, the data compression test, the extended instructions test, and the multithread PassMark score all show AMD with leads ranging from 106% to 207%. These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, cache size, and memory bandwidth. With 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads, plus a 4.3x memory bandwidth advantage, AMD is positioned to dominate any workload that can use multiple cores or move large data sets.

The Intel Core 7 360 wins only in PassMark's single-thread test, scoring 4274 versus 3995, a 6.5% margin. That test appears to favor a specific single-core execution pattern that Intel's Wildcat Lake architecture handles better. The Intel part also has a higher L1 cache per core (192 KB versus 80 KB) and higher L2 per core (2.5 MB versus 1 MB), which could explain the single-thread PassMark advantage in workloads that fit within those smaller caches.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering or multi-threaded productivity, the choice is clear. For workloads that depend on PassMark's single-thread pattern, Intel holds a modest edge. The 15 to 2 win count makes the overall picture unambiguous, but the single-thread PassMark result prevents Intel from being entirely swept.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 7 360 has 6 cores and 6 threads. AMD's base clock is 3.60 GHz versus Intel's 1.50 GHz. AMD's boost clock is 5.00 GHz versus Intel's 4.80 GHz. AMD's TDP is 55 watts versus Intel's 15 watts. The socket differs (FP11 versus BGA 1516). The process node differs (4 nm TSMC versus 3 nm Intel). The codenames differ (Strix Halo versus Wildcat Lake).

Cache specifications diverge at every level. L1 per core: 80 KB versus 192 KB. L2 per core: 1 MB versus 2.5 MB. L3 shared: 32 MB versus 6 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X only versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bus: quad-channel versus single-channel. Memory bandwidth: 256.0 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory: supported versus not supported. PCIe: Gen 4 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics: Radeon 8050S versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). Release date: 2025-01-05 versus 2026-04-15. Part numbers: 100-000001422 versus SAE3E. The launch MSRP of $426 exists only for the Intel part.

Both processors are mobile market segment parts, have no unlocked multiplier, and are listed as Active in production.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 wins all Cinebench multi-core tests by 108.5%, including R23 at 28424 versus 13634, and the PassMark multithread test by 106.3% (32075 versus 15544).

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 360 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 7 360 wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4274 versus 3995 for AMD, a 6.5% advantage. Both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread entries record this result.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 supports 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus, while the Intel Core 7 360 supports 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus that handles both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD part has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has 6 cores and 6 threads. This means AMD has 2 more cores and 10 more threads.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The PassMark integer math test shows the largest gap, with AMD at 105056 versus Intel at 34238, a 206.8% difference.

Q: Which processor has a smaller process node?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 uses a 3 nm process at Intel, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 uses a 4 nm process at TSMC.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 outperforms the Intel Core 7 360 in 15 of 17 recorded tests, with margins often exceeding 100%. The Cinebench results are uniformly 108.5% in AMD's favor across every variant. PassMark results show AMD leading by anywhere from 30.8% to 206.8% depending on the workload.

The Intel Core 7 360 holds a single meaningful advantage: the PassMark single-thread test, where it leads by 6.5%. That result indicates a specific single-core execution strength, possibly related to its larger per-core L1 and L2 caches. The Intel part also uses a newer 3 nm process and carries a 15 watt TDP, which suggests lower power draw, though the database does not record power consumption measurements.

For workloads that resemble the Cinebench rendering tests or the multi-threaded PassMark tests, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 is the stronger choice by a wide margin. For workloads that match the PassMark single-thread pattern, the Intel Core 7 360 offers a modest edge. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration, quad-channel memory, and 32 MB L3 cache on the AMD side align with its dominant multi-core performance. The 6-core, 6-thread configuration and single-channel memory on the Intel side explain its lower multi-core results.

The percentile rankings capture the overall positioning: AMD sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 72nd percentile. The average benchmark scores tell the same story: 43326 for AMD versus 18374 for Intel. AMD's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 at a 0.2% higher average score, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H at 0.3% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 7 170 at 0.8% higher. Intel's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-13100 at an identical average score, the Intel Core 5 330 at 0.2% higher, the Intel Core i3-14100 at 0.3% higher, and the Intel Core 3 305 at 0.4% higher.

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 belongs in a performance tier well above the Intel Core 7 360. Users who need multi-core throughput, large data handling, or high memory bandwidth should favor the AMD part. Users who prioritize the specific single-thread pattern measured by PassMark and prefer a lower TDP may consider the Intel part, but the overall benchmark record favors AMD substantially.