AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core 7 253PE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two processors into clearly different roles. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins 12 of the 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with decisive victories in multi-threaded workloads, data processing, and math-heavy tasks. Its average benchmark score of 63765 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, and it lands within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G and within 0.9% of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX. The Intel Core 7 253PE, by contrast, sits at an 87th percentile ranking with an average score of 40557, placing it near the Intel Core 5 223PE, which trails by only 0.1%.

The Intel part does hold a substantial single-core advantage in Cinebench tests. It beats the AMD chip by 14.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 43.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core. However, the AMD processor counters with a 0.3% edge in the PassMark single-thread test, which suggests the Intel lead is workload-specific rather than universal. For users whose primary metric is raw multi-threaded throughput, the database points firmly to the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390. For users prioritizing Cinebench single-core rendering performance, the Intel Core 7 253PE is the stronger pick.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 dominates the multi-threaded and data-centric categories. It leads by 56.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 49.3% in PassMark data compression, 41.6% in data encryption, 87.5% in extended instructions, 134.1% in prime number finding, 17.1% in floating point math, 30.1% in integer math, 46.6% in multithreaded performance, 50.3% in physics, and 68.6% in random string sorting. These are not marginal differences; they indicate a processor that scales strongly across parallel workloads. The PassMark multithread score of 42912 versus 29271 reinforces this pattern, as does the physics score of 2773 versus 1845.

The Intel Core 7 253PE wins in Cinebench R15 single-core by 14.4% and in Cinebench R23 single-core by 43.7%, with a third win in Cinebench R23 multi-core by a razor-thin 0.2% margin. That multi-core result, 24880 versus 24828, is effectively a statistical tie despite the AMD chip's much larger core count advantage in other tests. The Intel processor also posts a higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz compared to 5.00 GHz, which helps explain its single-core Cinebench dominance. In the PassMark single-thread test, the two are nearly identical, with the AMD chip ahead by just 0.3%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and process nodes. AMD uses a 4 nm TSMC process for its Zen 5 architecture, while Intel uses a 10 nm process at its own foundry for the Bartlett Lake design. The AMD chip has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel chip has 10 cores and 20 threads. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD processor has 1 MB of L2 per core compared to 2 MB per core on the Intel part. L3 cache also differs: the AMD chip has 64 MB shared, the Intel chip has 33 MB shared.

Memory architecture separates them further. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports LPDDR5X memory on a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 7 253PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe generation differs as well: AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics are also different. AMD pairs the processor with Radeon 8050S graphics, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part is classified as a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP11, while the Intel part is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a TDP of 55, while the Intel chip has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a TDP of 65. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $384.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has an average benchmark score of 63765, while the Intel Core 7 253PE has an average score of 40557. The AMD chip also ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, compared to 87th for the Intel chip.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PE wins by 0.2%, scoring 24880 versus 24828 for the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390. This is the closest result among the head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded workloads?

A: It depends on the test. The Intel Core 7 253PE leads by 14.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 43.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core. However, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 leads by 0.3% in the PassMark single-thread test.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports LPDDR5X on a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 7 253PE supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 7 253PE has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, the production status for both is listed as Active. The AMD chip was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel chip was released on 2026-03-08.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory belongs to the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 323 against 138, a 134.1% lead. That result is consistent with the AMD chip's 87.5% advantage in extended instructions and its 68.6% lead in random string sorting. Data compression shows a 49.3% gap in favor of AMD, and data encryption shows a 41.6% gap. Floating point math favors AMD by 17.1%, integer math by 30.1%, physics by 50.3%, and multithreaded performance by 46.6%.

Cinebench R15 multi-core strongly favors AMD at 3918 versus 2507, a 56.3% difference. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, however, the Intel chip edges ahead by only 0.2%, which is surprising given the AMD chip's 12-core versus 10-core advantage. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz appears to matter more in this particular rendering workload.

The single-core Cinebench results show the Intel chip's strength. It scores 354 versus 303 in Cinebench R15 single-core, a 14.4% lead, and 3512 versus 1976 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a 43.7% lead. Those are the only two tests where the Intel chip wins by a meaningful margin, alongside the narrow 0.2% multi-core win. In the PassMark single-thread test, the AMD chip wins by 0.3%, scoring 3967 versus 3955. The data shows a split personality: Intel dominates Cinebench single-core while AMD dominates nearly everything else.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 7 253PE uses 10 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for AMD and 5.50 GHz for Intel. TDP is 55 for AMD and 65 for Intel. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP11, the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700.

Process node and foundry differ: AMD uses 4 nm at TSMC, Intel uses 10 nm at Intel. Architecture is Zen 5 for AMD, with the codename Strix Halo. Intel's architecture field is null, but the codename is Bartlett Lake. L2 cache per core is 1 MB for AMD and 2 MB for Intel. L3 cache is 64 MB shared for AMD and 33 MB shared for Intel. Memory support is LPDDR5X for AMD and DDR4/DDR5 for Intel. Memory bus is quad-channel for AMD and dual-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 256.0 GB/s for AMD and 89.6 GB/s for Intel. PCIe is Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD and Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon 8050S for AMD and UHD Graphics 730 for Intel. Market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. Release dates are 2025-01-05 for AMD and 2026-03-08 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $384; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.