AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core 5 211E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall advantage for the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390. Across 15 head-to-head comparisons, the AMD processor wins 12, while the Intel Core 5 211E takes 3. The average benchmark score gap is substantial: the AMD part records 63765 versus 37829 for Intel, a 68.5% difference in overall average score.

The largest margin of victory comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test. AMD scores 323 against Intel's 43, a 651.2% advantage. This is the most extreme divergence in the dataset and indicates a massive difference in integer-heavy, iterative computation workloads. Similarly, the PassMark physics test shows AMD at 2773 versus 702, a 295% lead. These two tests highlight where the AMD architecture's compute throughput is most dominant.

Multithreaded rendering benchmarks also favor AMD heavily. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 3918 versus 2055, a 90.7% lead. The PassMark multithread test shows 42912 against 23833, an 80.1% gap. Extended instruction workloads follow the same pattern: 40888 for AMD versus 21592 for Intel, an 89.4% difference. Integer math shows AMD at 148508 against 88117, a 68.5% lead. Data compression scores 506170 versus 346757, a 46% advantage, while data encryption shows 26027 versus 17938, a 45.1% gap. Floating point math delivers 94666 versus 66402, a 42.6% margin. Random string sorting rounds out the PassMark suite with 55248 versus 34308, a 61% lead.

The smaller Cinebench R23 multicore result narrows the gap somewhat: AMD scores 24828 versus 20389, a 21.8% win. This is still a clear AMD victory, but far less dramatic than the R15 multicore result or the PassMark multithread score. The single-core picture is different. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel wins decisively: 2878 versus 1976 for AMD, a 31.3% advantage for Intel. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD narrowly edges ahead at 303 versus 289, a 4.8% margin. In the PassMark single-thread test, Intel wins again: 4006 versus 3967, a 1% advantage. The two duplicate PassMark single-thread entries (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread) both report identical scores, confirming this narrow Intel edge.

The overall win count of 12 versus 3 understates the magnitude of AMD's lead in most workloads. While Intel claims the single-core Cinebench R23 crown by a wide margin, AMD's single-core wins in R15 and its near-parity in PassMark single-thread suggest the AMD part is not categorically weaker in lightly threaded tasks, just that the specific R23 test favors Intel's design.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 dominates across nearly every multithreaded and throughput-oriented workload in the database. Its 12 wins span rendering (Cinebench R15 and R23 multicore), physics simulation, integer math, floating point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instruction sets, prime number calculation, random string sorting, and the aggregate PassMark multithread test. The pattern points to a processor designed for sustained parallel compute. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration with 64 MB of shared L3 cache and 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth supports heavy concurrent workloads. The 651.2% lead in prime number finding and the 295% lead in physics are the standout results, indicating exceptional throughput in workloads that scale well with core count and cache bandwidth.

The Intel Core 5 211E wins in three tests, all of which are single-thread oriented. The most significant is Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel's 2878 beats AMD's 1976 by 31.3%. This is the only benchmark where Intel wins by a large margin. The other two wins are narrow: Cinebench R15 single-core (AMD leads by 4.8%) and PassMark single-thread (Intel leads by 1%). The Intel part also shows a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz for AMD, though the AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus 2.70 GHz. The Intel part's L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 1 MB per core for AMD, which may contribute to its single-core strength. Its 10-core, 16-thread configuration with 20 MB of shared L3 cache is sufficient for lighter workloads but falls far behind in parallel tasks.

The use-case split is clear. The AMD part is the choice for compute-heavy parallel workloads: 3D rendering, physics simulations, data compression, encryption, and any workload that utilizes extended instruction sets or large integer math. The Intel part is suited for lightly threaded tasks where raw single-core Cinebench R23 performance matters most, such as legacy single-threaded applications or simple desktop responsiveness. It also holds a narrow edge in PassMark single-thread performance, meaning day-to-day interface interactions may feel marginally snappier on Intel.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a straightforward conclusion: the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the superior processor for multithreaded and throughput-intensive use cases. Its average benchmark score of 63765 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 5 211E sits at the 86th percentile with an average of 37829. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900KS (average score 64051, delta -0.4%) and the AMD EPYC 7343 (average score 64202, delta -0.7%), indicating it performs at a level comparable to high-end desktop and server parts. The Intel Core 5 211E's nearest rivals are lower-tier parts such as the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 (average score 37804, delta 0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (average score 37904, delta -0.2%), confirming its position in a lower performance tier.

For users running parallel workloads, the AMD part is the clear pick. It delivers 90.7% higher Cinebench R15 multicore scores, 80.1% higher PassMark multithread scores, and 68.5% higher integer math scores. The 21.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore, while smaller, still represents a meaningful advantage in modern rendering workloads. For users prioritizing single-core performance, the Intel part offers a 31.3% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core, but this is the only large single-core win. The Intel part's PassMark single-thread lead is only 1%, which is within measurement noise.

The production status for both parts is Active, and both are unlocked in multiplier terms (false for both). The AMD part is a mobile processor using the AMD Socket FP11 and TSMC's 4 nm process. The Intel part is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1700 and Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD part supports LPDDR5X memory with quad-channel access and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel access and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part integrates a Radeon 8050S GPU, while Intel integrates UHD Graphics 730. Both support ECC memory. The AMD part has a 55 TDP, the Intel part has a 65 TDP.

The verdict from the data: the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the stronger processor overall, dominating in 12 of 15 benchmarks and offering a massive lead in parallel compute. The Intel Core 5 211E is only preferable for workloads that depend heavily on Cinebench R23 single-core performance, where its 31.3% advantage cannot be ignored. For any other use case, the AMD part's benchmark results are superior.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins 12 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core 5 211E wins 3.

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

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark find prime numbers test. AMD scores 323 versus 43 for Intel, a 651.2% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel processor beat AMD in any single-core test?

A: Yes. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 2878 versus 1976 for AMD, a 31.3% advantage. Intel also wins the PassMark single-thread test with 4006 versus 3967, a 1% edge.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD processor has an average benchmark score of 63765, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Intel processor averages 37829, placing it in the 86th percentile.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports LPDDR5X memory with quad-channel access and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 211E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel access and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD processor has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel processor has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, under the Strix Halo codename. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory subsystem uses LPDDR5X with quad-channel access and 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The processor supports ECC memory and uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). It integrates a Radeon 8050S GPU. The TDP is 55 W. It uses the AMD Socket FP11 and was released in January 2025.

The Intel Core 5 211E uses the Bartlett Lake codename on a 10 nm Intel process. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory subsystem supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel access and 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The processor supports ECC memory and uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). It integrates UHD Graphics 730. The TDP is 65 W. It uses Intel Socket 1700 and was released in January 2025. Its die size is 257 mm².

The most significant architectural differences are the core count (12 versus 10), thread count (24 versus 16), L3 cache (64 MB versus 20 MB), memory bandwidth (256.0 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s), and process node (4 nm versus 10 nm). The AMD part also has a higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.70 GHz) and a slightly higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz). The Intel part has a larger L2 cache per core (2 MB versus 1 MB) and supports PCIe Gen 5, while AMD uses Gen 4. The Intel part's larger L2 per core likely contributes to its single-core Cinebench R23 advantage. The AMD part's larger L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth support its multithreaded dominance.

Both processors are production-active and have locked multipliers. The AMD part is aimed at the mobile segment with a TDP of 55 W, while the Intel part is a desktop processor with a TDP of 65 W. The AMD part's launch MSRP is not recorded in the database. The Intel part's launch MSRP is $221. The AMD part's part number is 100-000001421, and the Intel part's part number is SRQERQ65F.