AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins 9 of the 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i9-14901E takes 6. The margins, however, are not symmetrical. AMD's victories are often decisive, while Intel's wins in single-threaded workloads are substantial in some cases but narrower in others.

The largest single delta appears in PassMark extended instructions, where the AMD part scores 40888 against Intel's 17249, a 137% advantage. This points to a major difference in SIMD or specialized instruction throughput. Data compression also heavily favors AMD: 506170 versus 288777, a 75.3% lead. Prime number finding shows a 70.9% gap (323 versus 189), and data encryption sees AMD ahead by 40.1% (26027 versus 18571).

Multi-threaded workloads generally favor AMD. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD chip scores 3918 against Intel's 2595, a 51% lead. PassMark multithread shows 42912 versus 30298, a 41.6% advantage. Random string sorting goes 55248 versus 39138, a 41.2% gap. Integer math favors AMD by 31.7% (148508 versus 112736), and floating point math by 16.7% (94666 versus 81089).

Intel's wins are concentrated in single-thread and lightly threaded tests. The largest is Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 3635 versus AMD's 1976, a 45.6% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel ahead by 17.2% (366 versus 303). PassMark single-thread shows a smaller margin of 8.9% (4354 versus 3967). PassMark physics goes to Intel by 8.8% (3041 versus 2773). The most interesting result is Cinebench R23 multicore: despite AMD's 51% lead in R15 multicore, Intel wins R23 multicore by 3.6% (25753 versus 24828). This inversion suggests the two workloads stress different aspects of the chips.

The overall average benchmark score reflects the split. AMD's average is 63765, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Intel's average is 37911, in the 86th percentile. AMD's nearest rivals by average score include the Intel Core i9-13900KS at 64051 (0.4% higher), the AMD EPYC 7343 at 64202 (0.7% higher), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G at 63331 (0.7% lower), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX at 63173 (0.9% lower). Intel's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37904 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X at 37943 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core 5 211E at 37829 (0.2% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 at 37804 (0.3% lower). The data indicates that AMD's overall performance profile sits in a higher tier, while Intel's sits in a distinctly lower one.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. AMD uses the Zen 5 architecture with the codename Strix Halo, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. Intel uses Raptor Lake, codename Raptor Lake-R, on a 10 nm process by Intel. The process node difference alone explains part of the efficiency and multi-threaded performance gap.

Core counts differ significantly. AMD provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 8 cores and 16 threads. This 50% core advantage for AMD directly contributes to its wins in heavily threaded benchmarks. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. L2 differs: AMD has 1 MB per core, Intel has 2 MB per core. L3 cache strongly favors AMD with 64 MB shared, versus Intel's 36 MB shared. The larger shared cache helps AMD in data-heavy workloads such as compression and encryption.

Clock speeds tell a different story. AMD's base clock is 3.20 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz. Intel's base clock is 2.80 GHz with a boost of 5.60 GHz. Intel's higher boost clock, combined with its newer single-thread optimizations, explains its wins in Cinebench single-core tests. The thermal design power also differs: AMD is rated at 55 W, Intel at 65 W.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. AMD supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded in the database. Both support ECC memory. The memory bandwidth difference directly impacts the AMD part's performance in memory-bound tasks.

PCIe support differs as well. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: AMD includes a Radeon 8050S, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 770. AMD's socket is FP11, typically mobile-oriented; Intel's is Socket 1700, a desktop platform. AMD's market segment is listed as Mobile, Intel's as Desktop. AMD's release date is recorded as 2025-01-05, Intel's as 2024-06-30. Both are listed as Active in production status. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

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 i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Why does AMD win most multi-threaded benchmarks despite losing Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: AMD wins 9 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, with large leads in PassMark multithread (41.6%), integer math (31.7%), and floating point math (16.7%). However, in Cinebench R23 multicore, Intel wins by 3.6% (25753 versus 24828). The database shows that different multi-threaded workloads favor different architectures, and Cinebench R23 appears to align more with Intel's design.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark extended instructions. AMD scores 40888, which is 137% higher than Intel's 17249.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: Intel leads in every recorded single-thread test. The largest margin is Cinebench R23 single-core at 45.6% (3635 versus 1976). Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 17.2% lead (366 versus 303). PassMark single-thread shows a 8.9% lead (4354 versus 3967).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth support?

A: AMD supports LPDDR5X with a quad-channel memory bus and a recorded bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. No memory bandwidth figure is recorded for Intel in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: AMD has an average benchmark score of 63765, placing it in the 93rd percentile. Intel has an average of 37911, in the 86th percentile.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation by workload type. For multi-threaded, memory-intensive, or data-processing tasks, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the stronger choice. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth produce decisive wins in compression (75.3%), encryption (40.1%), extended instructions (137%), prime finding (70.9%), and integer math (31.7%). Its overall average score of 63765 sits nearly 70% above Intel's average of 37911.

For single-threaded tasks and applications that depend on high boost clocks, the Intel Core i9-14901E is the better selection. Its 5.60 GHz boost clock and 8.9% to 45.6% leads in single-thread tests make it the preferred part for lightly threaded workloads. Intel also wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 3.6%, so not all multi-threaded scenarios favor AMD.

The percentile ranks support the same conclusion: AMD at the 93rd percentile versus Intel at the 86th. The AMD part also has a lower TDP of 55 W versus Intel's 65 W, which is notable given its higher multi-threaded performance. The choice is therefore workload-dependent. Users prioritizing parallel throughput, data manipulation, or memory bandwidth should select AMD. Users prioritizing raw single-core speed or running software that favors Intel's architecture should select Intel.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | Intel Core i9-14901E |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.60 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Raptor Lake-R |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 257 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 8050S | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2024-06-30 |

| Part Number | 100-000001421 | Q49ESRNJH |

| Average Benchmark Score | 63765 | 37911 |

| Percentile | 93 | 86 |

The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. Both support ECC memory. Both have an Active production status. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.