AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 366H Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 and Intel Core Ultra 7 366H target different priorities despite both being mobile processors. The AMD part, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, delivers substantially higher throughput in integer-heavy and compression workloads, winning 7 of the 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel part, with 16 cores and 16 threads, counters with superior single-thread performance and wins 8 of the 15 tests, including the heavily weighted Cinebench R23 multicore test. The database shows the AMD processor holds a 93rd percentile ranking against all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits at the 87th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 63765, compared to 41263 for the Intel part. Users who prioritize raw multithreaded integer work and data compression should select the AMD processor. Users who need the fastest possible single-core response and better floating-point throughput should select the Intel processor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses the Zen 5 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, codenamed Strix Halo, and belongs to the Ryzen AI Max PRO generation. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H uses the Panther Lake architecture on Intel's 3 nm process, codenamed Panther Lake, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3 generation. It features 16 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The AMD chip does not use simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count relative to core count, while the Intel chip also has equal core and thread counts, suggesting a different approach to parallelism.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD processor allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor allocates 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and only 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's 64 MB L3 pool is more than three times larger than Intel's shared pool, which helps explain its strong showing in compression and integer tests. The AMD processor uses LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel processor supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus with 115.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not.

The AMD processor uses a Gen 4 PCIe interface with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel processor uses Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part uses Radeon 8050S, and the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The AMD part has a 55 W TDP, while the Intel part has a 25 W TDP. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP11, and the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 2540. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel part was released on 2026-01-04.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins decisively in several compute-heavy tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 3918 against Intel's 2870, a 36.5% advantage. In PassMark data compression, the AMD scores 506170 against 327455, a 54.6% lead. The AMD processor also wins PassMark integer math by a wide margin: 148508 versus 83695, a 77.4% difference. PassMark extended instructions show the AMD part at 40888 versus 26901, a 52% advantage. PassMark multithread favors the AMD part at 42912 versus 33429, a 28.4% lead. PassMark random string sorting goes to the AMD chip at 55248 versus 39814, a 38.8% gain. PassMark data encryption is nearly even, with AMD ahead at 26027 versus 25845, a 0.7% margin.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H counters with strong single-thread and floating-point results. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 4020 against AMD's 1976, a 50.8% advantage. Cinebench R15 singlecore goes to Intel at 405 versus 303, a 25.2% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore also favors Intel at 28477 versus 24828, a 12.8% advantage. PassMark floating point math goes to Intel at 103615 versus 94666, an 8.6% lead. PassMark physics shows Intel ahead at 2880 versus 2773, a 3.7% margin. PassMark single thread and singlethread both show Intel at 4043 versus AMD's 3967, a 1.9% difference. PassMark find prime numbers is nearly identical, with Intel at 326 versus AMD's 323, a 0.9% edge.

The overall win count sits at 8 for Intel and 7 for AMD, but the magnitudes matter. The AMD part's biggest wins are massive: 77.4% in integer math and 54.6% in compression. The Intel part's biggest win is its 50.8% single-core Cinebench R23 advantage, but many of its other wins are much smaller, such as 0.9% in prime numbers and 1.9% in single-thread tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. Core count: 12 for AMD, 16 for Intel. Thread count: 24 for AMD, 16 for Intel. Base clock: 3.20 GHz for AMD, 2.00 GHz for Intel. Boost clock: 5.00 GHz for AMD, 4.80 GHz for Intel. TDP: 55 W for AMD, 25 W for Intel. Socket: AMD Socket FP11 versus Intel BGA 2540. Architecture: Zen 5 versus Panther Lake. Process node: 4 nm versus 3 nm. Foundry: TSMC versus Intel. L1 cache per core: 80 KB versus 192 KB. L2 cache per core: 1 MB versus 2.5 MB. L3 cache shared: 64 MB versus 18 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X only versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bus: quad-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 256.0 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. ECC support: true versus false. PCIe: Gen 4 with 16 lanes versus Gen 5 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics: Radeon 8050S versus Intel Xe3 Graphics. Release date: 2025-01-05 versus 2026-01-04. Part number: 100-000001421 versus SA4R9Q9EL.

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 Ultra 7 366H has an average score of 41263.

Q: Does the Intel processor beat the AMD processor in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: Yes, the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H scores 28477 in Cinebench R23 multicore, versus 24828 for the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390, a 12.8% advantage for Intel.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's lead in data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 scores 506170 in PassMark data compression, compared to 327455 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H, a 54.6% lead.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 64 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 provides 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H provides 115.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X bus.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 366H boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 wins in scenarios that demand heavy integer computation, data compression, and encryption. The 77.4% lead in PassMark integer math indicates strong performance for compile workloads, database operations, and general productivity tasks. The 54.6% advantage in data compression makes it the better choice for archiving, file transfer, and backup utilities. The 52% lead in extended instructions suggests better support for specialized instruction sets used in scientific and engineering software. The 28.4% multithread advantage reinforces its position for heavily threaded workloads that do not depend on floating-point math. The 38.8% lead in random string sorting points to advantages in text processing, log analysis, and data parsing tasks. The 0.7% encryption edge is narrow but still favors the AMD part.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 366H wins in scenarios that require fast single-thread response and floating-point throughput. The 50.8% lead in Cinebench R23 singlecore makes it the better choice for applications with limited parallelism, such as legacy software, UI rendering, and lightly threaded games. The 25.2% advantage in Cinebench R15 singlecore reinforces this pattern. The 12.8% multicore win in Cinebench R23 is notable because that benchmark is widely used as a general productivity reference, so the Intel part may feel faster in mixed workloads despite losing many PassMark tests. The 8.6% floating-point lead helps in scientific simulations, 3D modeling, and audio processing. The 3.7% physics advantage and 1.9% single-thread edge are smaller but consistent with a general-purpose responsiveness advantage. The Intel part's much lower 25 W TDP also makes it the more power-efficient option for thin-and-light laptops, while the AMD part's 55 W TDP suggests it needs a larger cooling solution.