AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 and Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX are both high-end mobile processors, but the benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is the dominant performer in the vast majority of tests, winning 13 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 secures only 2 wins. However, the AMD chip’s victories are decisive in specific workloads, and its architectural design offers a different set of trade-offs. The data indicates that the Intel part is the general-purpose powerhouse, while the AMD part excels in integer-heavy and extended instruction tasks, making it a specialized choice for particular software environments.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX wins across nearly every major benchmark category, establishing itself as the superior all-around processor. Its largest margins of victory come in single-threaded performance, where it leads by 65.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core and 47.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core. This dominance extends to multi-threaded workloads, with a 38.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 10.6% lead in PassMark multithread. The Intel chip also takes the top spot in memory-sensitive tasks like data encryption (34.1% ahead), floating-point math (41.4% ahead), and random string sorting (11.5% ahead). Its average benchmark score of 63173 sits just 0.9% behind the AMD part but is backed by a much broader set of wins.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins only two head-to-head tests, but these are notable for their specificity. It takes the PassMark extended instructions test by a slim 0.4% margin and the PassMark integer math test by a substantial 17%. These wins indicate that the AMD chip’s Zen 5 architecture is particularly efficient at handling integer-heavy calculations and specialized instruction sets, which could benefit certain scientific, financial, or cryptography applications. However, outside of these two niches, the data shows the AMD part trailing consistently, with its PassMark single-thread score of 3967 falling 11.8% behind the Intel’s 4500.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process node, codenamed Strix Halo. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, running on the AMD Socket FP11. Its cache hierarchy is notable for a massive 64 MB shared L3 cache, with 80 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core. The chip supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 8050S, and the CPU provides Gen 4 PCIe with 16 lanes.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is built on the Arrow Lake architecture on a smaller 3 nm TSMC process node, codenamed Arrow Lake-HX. It has significantly more cores at 20, but with only 20 threads, indicating a design without hyperthreading. It uses the Intel BGA 2114 socket and features a different cache layout: 192 KB of L1 and 3 MB of L2 per core, but a much smaller 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, which yields a lower memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s and lacks ECC support. Its integrated graphics are the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, and it offers more modern connectivity with Gen 5 PCIe and 20 lanes.

A key difference is the physical characteristics: the Intel chip has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the AMD part’s transistor count and die size are not listed. The Intel processor also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD chip is locked. Both share the same 55 W TDP and are classified as mobile processors, with active production status and release dates in January 2025.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive benchmark outcomes highlight the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX’s overwhelming superiority in raw compute. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 40642 against the AMD’s 24828, a 38.9% advantage. This gap is even wider in single-core, where the Intel’s 5737 score dwarfs the AMD’s 1976, representing a 65.6% lead. The PassMark floating-point math test shows a similar story, with Intel at 161605 versus AMD’s 94666, a 41.4% difference. In data encryption, the Intel chip’s 39472 score is 34.1% higher than the AMD’s 26027. These results paint a picture of a processor that simply has more computational headroom in most tasks.

However, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390’s wins are not trivial. In PassMark integer math, the AMD chip scores 148508 against Intel’s 126954, a 17% lead. This is a substantial margin and suggests that for workloads that are integer-bound, the AMD architecture is more efficient. The extended instructions test is closer, with AMD at 40888 and Intel at 40741, a 0.4% margin that falls within noise but still goes to the AMD part. Even in the tests Intel wins, the margins vary: the data compression test is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 1.1% (511817 vs 506170), while the find prime numbers test shows Intel ahead by 20.4% (406 vs 323).

The PassMark multithread and physics tests further demonstrate Intel’s edge. The Intel chip scores 47985 in multithread versus AMD’s 42912, a 10.6% lead, and 2978 in physics versus AMD’s 2773, a 6.9% lead. The random string sorting test also goes to Intel with a 62458 score versus AMD’s 55248, an 11.5% margin. Across the board, the Intel processor’s higher core count and clock speeds translate into better performance in almost every measured category, with the AMD chip only countering in the specific areas where its architecture excels.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX for users who need maximum performance across a wide range of applications. Its wins in single-core, multi-core, floating-point, and encryption benchmarks make it the default choice for general productivity, content creation, and gaming. The 65.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is particularly compelling for lightly-threaded applications, and the 38.9% lead in multi-core ensures it handles heavily threaded workloads with ease. The Intel chip’s average benchmark score of 63173 is nearly identical to the AMD’s 63765, but the distribution of wins is overwhelmingly in Intel’s favor.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the right pick only for workloads that specifically benefit from its integer math and extended instruction performance. The 17% lead in PassMark integer math is significant, and the 0.4% edge in extended instructions suggests it may have a slight advantage in certain specialized compute tasks. However, these two wins do not offset the 13 losses, and the AMD chip’s lower single-threaded scores (3967 vs 4500) and smaller core count (12 vs 20) make it a less versatile option. For most users, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is the superior processor, with the AMD part serving a narrow niche.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is significantly ahead in single-core performance. It scores 5737 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390’s 1976, a 65.6% lead, and 578 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 303, a 47.6% lead.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX wins the multi-core tests. It scores 40642 in Cinebench R23 multi-core against the AMD’s 24828, a 38.9% margin, and 4096 in Cinebench R15 multi-core against 3918, a 4.3% margin.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins?

A: Yes, the AMD chip wins two tests: PassMark integer math with a score of 148508 versus Intel’s 126954, a 17% lead, and PassMark extended instructions with a score of 40888 versus Intel’s 40741, a 0.4% lead.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX has 20 cores and 20 threads. The Intel chip has more physical cores but lacks hyperthreading.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has a significantly larger L3 cache at 64 MB shared, compared to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX’s 30 MB shared.

Q: Do both processors have the same power draw?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX have a TDP of 55 W, according to the data.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX:

• Cores: AMD has 12 cores; Intel has 20 cores.
• Threads: AMD has 24 threads; Intel has 20 threads.
• Base Clock: AMD is 3.20 GHz; Intel is 2.60 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD is 5.00 GHz; Intel is 5.30 GHz.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket FP11; Intel uses Intel BGA 2114.
• Architecture: AMD uses Zen 5; Intel uses Arrow Lake.
• Process Node: AMD uses 4 nm; Intel uses 3 nm.
• Transistors: Intel has 17,800 million; AMD is not listed.
• Die Size: Intel is 243 mm²; AMD is not listed.
• L1 Cache: AMD has 80 KB per core; Intel has 192 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: AMD has 1 MB per core; Intel has 3 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 64 MB shared; Intel has 30 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD uses LPDDR5X; Intel uses DDR5.
• Memory Bus: AMD is quad-channel; Intel is dual-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is 256.0 GB/s; Intel is 102.4 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: AMD supports it; Intel does not.
• PCIe: AMD is Gen 4 with 16 lanes; Intel is Gen 5 with 20 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD has Radeon 8050S; Intel has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.
• Multiplier Unlocked: AMD is locked; Intel is unlocked.
• Part Number: AMD is 100-000001421; Intel is SRVFH.