AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core 5 315 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data divides these two mobile processors cleanly by workload class. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins 13 of 15 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 5 315 taking only the two single-thread PassMark results. The AMD part sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part sits at the 72nd percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD is 63765, versus 18188 for the Intel, a gap of roughly 3.5 times. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900KS (0.4% higher average score), the AMD EPYC 7343 (0.7% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX (0.9% lower). The Intel Core 5 315's nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 9274F (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-9700 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-1365U (0.1% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (0.1% higher). This places the Intel part in the company of older desktop and mobile mid-range chips, while the AMD part competes with flagship-class silicon. The data indicates the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the choice for compute-heavy workloads, while the Intel Core 5 315 offers a much lighter footprint for tasks that do not demand sustained multi-core throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 dominates every multi-core and throughput-oriented benchmark in the recorded set. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 24828 against 12981 for the Intel, a 91.3% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 3918 against 1308, a 199.5% advantage. PassMark multithread shows 42912 versus 15272, a 181% advantage. The pattern holds across integer math, floating point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, and random string sorting. The AMD also wins both Cinebench single-core tests: R15 single-core at 303 versus 184 (64.7% ahead) and R23 single-core at 1976 versus 1832 (7.9% ahead). The Intel Core 5 315 wins only PassMark single-thread, scoring 4021 versus 3967, a 1.3% margin. That single win is narrow, while the AMD's wins range from 7.9% to 368.6%. The Intel part's advantage is limited to a very specific single-threaded PassMark workload, and even there the margin is small.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design lineages. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, with a Strix Halo codename. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, a base clock of 3.20 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache layout is 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on Intel's 3 nm process, with 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 1.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache is 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD part has twice the cores and four times the threads, which explains much of its multi-core dominance. The AMD uses LPDDR5X memory on a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Intel uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support. The AMD has 16 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel has 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). Both have integrated graphics: the AMD uses Radeon 8050S, the Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD part has a TDP of 55 watts, the Intel part 15 watts. The AMD releases on 2025-01-05, the Intel on 2026-04-15. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $340. The AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins both Cinebench single-core tests: R15 at 303 versus 184 (64.7% ahead) and R23 at 1976 versus 1832 (7.9% ahead). The Intel Core 5 315 wins PassMark single-thread at 4021 versus 3967, a 1.3% margin. So the single-core picture depends on the test, but the AMD leads in the Cinebench pair.

Q: How large is the multi-core gap between the two?

A: The AMD leads by 199.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 91.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 181% in PassMark multithread. The largest multi-core margin is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD scores 148508 against 31690, a 368.6% advantage.

Q: What does the average benchmark score comparison show?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has an average benchmark score of 63765 and sits at the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 315 has an average benchmark score of 18188 and sits at the 72nd percentile. The AMD's average score is about 3.5 times higher.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD uses quad-channel LPDDR5X with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD also supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD also has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz for the Intel.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD has 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD also has 1 MB of L2 per core and 80 KB of L1 per core, while the Intel has 2.5 MB L2 total and 192 KB L1 total.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 148508 against 31690, a 368.6% advantage. This is the kind of workload that benefits directly from having 12 cores and 24 threads against 6 cores and 6 threads. Data compression follows closely: the AMD scores 506170 against 146143, a 246.4% advantage. Random string sorting shows a 214.8% margin (55248 versus 17551). Extended instructions favor the AMD at 40888 versus 13143, a 211.1% margin. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 3918 versus 1308, a 199.5% margin. Prime number finding shows 188.4% (323 versus 112). PassMark multithread shows 181% (42912 versus 15272). Data encryption shows 134.1% (26027 versus 11119). Physics shows 138.4% (2773 versus 1163). Floating point math shows 123.1% (94666 versus 42441). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 91.3% (24828 versus 12981). Cinebench R15 single-core shows 64.7% (303 versus 184). Cinebench R23 single-core shows the narrowest AMD win at 7.9% (1976 versus 1832). The Intel Core 5 315 wins PassMark single-thread by 1.3% (4021 versus 3967), and the duplicate PassMark singlethread result matches that exactly. The AMD wins 13 tests, the Intel wins 2. The Intel's sole victory is a single-threaded PassMark measurement, and it is the only test where the Intel exceeds the AMD. The data shows the AMD's advantage grows with thread count and compute intensity, while the Intel's single-thread win is marginal and isolated.

Specification Differences

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 and Intel Core 5 315 differ across nearly every recorded specification field. The AMD has 12 cores and 24 threads; the Intel has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the AMD and 1.50 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 4.40 GHz, respectively. TDP is 55 watts for the AMD and 15 watts for the Intel. The AMD uses AMD Socket FP11, the Intel uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD architecture is Zen 5 with the Strix Halo codename and the Ryzen AI Max PRO (Zen 5) generation. The Intel architecture is listed as null, with the Wildcat Lake codename and Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The process node is 4 nm at TSMC for the AMD, 3 nm at Intel for the Intel part. Cache differs substantially: the AMD has 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB shared L3; the Intel has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR5X for the AMD, DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Intel. Memory bus is quad-channel for the AMD, single-channel for the Intel. Memory bandwidth is 256.0 GB/s for the AMD, 59.7 GB/s for the Intel. ECC memory is supported on the AMD, not on the Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the AMD, Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only) for the Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for the AMD and Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for the Intel. Market segment is mobile for both. Production status is active for both. Release dates are 2025-01-05 for the AMD and 2026-04-15 for the Intel. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $340; the AMD has no launch MSRP recorded. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier. Part numbers are 100-000001421 for the AMD and SAEFC for the Intel.