AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core 3 201E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark results create an unambiguous separation between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins all 15 head-to-head tests in the database, with no recorded victory for the Intel Core 3 201E. The magnitude of those wins, however, varies dramatically by workload type, which defines the use-case split.

The AMD part dominates heavily in multi-threaded and parallel workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24828 versus 12613 for the Intel chip represents a 96.8% advantage, placing the AMD processor in a performance tier that the Intel Core 3 201E cannot approach. The PassMark multi-thread score of 42912 versus 14839, a 189.2% delta, reinforces this split. For rendering, encoding, simulation, or any workload that scales across cores, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the clear choice.

The gap narrows considerably in single-threaded tests. The Cinebench R23 single-core result shows 1976 for AMD versus 1780 for Intel, an 11% lead. The PassMark single-thread score of 3967 versus 3482 represents a 13.9% edge. These are still AMD wins, but the Intel Core 3 201E is much closer in lightly threaded work, suggesting that the Intel architecture holds up reasonably well when only one or two cores are active.

The Intel Core 3 201E sits in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 sits in the 93rd percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD processor is 63765 against 19056 for Intel. That places the Intel part in a different performance class entirely, one that aligns with its nearest rivals: the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, Intel Core i5-12400F, Intel Core i5-1335U, and AMD EPYC 7773X, all within 0.4% of its average score. The AMD processor, by contrast, trades blows with the Intel Core i9-13900KS, AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G, AMD EPYC 7343, and Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX, all within 0.9% of its average.

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is suited for compute-heavy mobile workloads where parallel throughput matters most. The Intel Core 3 201E, with its lower core count and smaller cache, is positioned for lighter desktop tasks where the single-thread performance gap is smaller and the platform differences may matter more.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 201E boosts to 4.80 GHz.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 3 201E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 1976 versus 1780 for Intel, an 11% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, AMD scores 3967 versus 3482, a 13.9% advantage.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 201E has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports LPDDR5X memory. The Intel Core 3 201E supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a quad-channel bus. The Intel Core 3 201E has 76.8 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single delta in the head-to-head results appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 scores 323 against 57 for Intel, a 466.7% advantage. This test is heavily dependent on integer throughput and cache behavior, and the AMD part's 12 cores, 24 threads, and 64 MB L3 cache produce a result that is over four and a half times higher.

PassMark extended instructions shows a 270.5% delta, with AMD scoring 40888 against 11035. This workload exercises SIMD and specialized instruction paths, and the Zen 5 architecture with its larger core count delivers a commanding lead. PassMark integer math follows closely at 238.3%, with AMD at 148508 versus 43894.

The data compression test shows a 208.3% delta, matching the Cinebench R15 multi-core delta exactly. AMD scores 506170 in compression against 164160, and 3918 against 1271 in R15 multi-core. Random string sorting shows a 210.7% delta, with AMD at 55248 versus 17783.

Cinebench R23 multi-core gives AMD a 96.8% lead, scoring 24828 against 12613. This is the most widely cited rendering benchmark in the database, and the result confirms that the AMD processor delivers nearly double the multi-threaded rendering throughput.

The encryption test shows a 191.4% delta, with AMD at 26027 versus 8931. Floating point math shows 184.6%, with AMD at 94666 versus 33260. PassMark multi-thread shows 189.2%, with AMD at 42912 versus 14839. Physics simulation shows 143%, with AMD at 2773 versus 1141.

The closest results are the two single-thread tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows an 11% delta, and PassMark single-thread shows 13.9%. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a 69.3% delta, with AMD at 303 versus 179. This larger single-core delta in the older R15 test may reflect differences in how the two architectures handle the older benchmark's instruction mix.

Across all 15 recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins every one. The deltas range from 11% to 466.7%, with the largest advantages appearing in integer-heavy, multi-threaded, and instruction-extension workloads.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ substantially: 12 cores and 24 threads for AMD versus 4 cores and 8 threads for Intel. Base clocks are close, with Intel at 3.60 GHz and AMD at 3.20 GHz, but AMD's boost clock of 5.00 GHz edges out Intel's 4.80 GHz.

Thermal design power differs, with AMD rated at 55 and Intel at 60. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP11, while Intel uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD processor is a mobile segment part; the Intel processor is a desktop segment part.

Memory support diverges completely: AMD uses LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The process nodes differ as well: AMD uses 4 nm at TSMC, while Intel uses 10 nm at its own foundry. The Intel die size is recorded at 163 mm².

The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of no recorded value, while the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $134, stated once here for reference.

The AMD processor has an L2 cache of 1 MB per core, while Intel has 1.25 MB per core. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The L3 cache difference is large: 64 MB shared for AMD versus 12 MB shared for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Strix Halo codename, part of the Ryzen AI Max PRO generation. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 3 201E uses the Bartlett Lake codename under the Core 3 generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The Intel architecture field is recorded as null in the database, so no specific microarchitecture name is available for comparison.

The core count difference reflects a fundamental design split: AMD packs 12 Zen 5 cores with simultaneous multithreading for 24 threads, while Intel uses 4 cores with 8 threads. The 64 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD part provides a large pool for multi-threaded data sharing, while the Intel part's 12 MB shared L3 is a fraction of that.

Memory architecture reinforces the separation. The AMD part's quad-channel LPDDR5X support with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is more than three times the Intel part's dual-channel 76.8 GB/s. For workloads that stream large datasets, this bandwidth advantage compounds the core count advantage.

The process node difference of 4 nm versus 10 nm explains part of the efficiency and density gap. The AMD part fits its 12 cores and 64 MB L3 into a mobile socket with a 55 TDP, while the Intel part uses 60 TDP for 4 cores and 12 MB L3 in a desktop socket.

Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking. Both are currently marked as active production parts. The AMD part was released on January 5, 2025, and the Intel part on January 12, 2025, making them near-contemporaries in the database.

The PCIe generation difference is notable: Intel provides Gen 5 connectivity while AMD provides Gen 4, both with 16 CPU lanes. For storage and GPU bandwidth, Intel's Gen 5 support is a forward-looking feature, though the AMD part's much higher memory bandwidth may compensate in many workloads.

The integrated GPU difference is significant. The AMD part uses Radeon 8050S, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part, so the comparison is limited to the recorded CPU tests.

The overall architecture story is one of scale: AMD uses a leading-edge process, a high core count, and a massive cache and memory subsystem to deliver class-leading multi-threaded performance. Intel uses a more modest core count and older process node, with the advantage of PCIe Gen 5 and a lower launch MSRP. The benchmark data shows that for raw compute throughput, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 dominates in every recorded test, while the Intel Core 3 201E remains competitive only in single-threaded workloads.