AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is heavily lopsided. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 wins 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 7 251TE takes only 2. The AMD part dominates across the full workload spectrum, from Cinebench multi-core rendering to PassMark integer math, floating point, encryption, compression, and physics simulations. Its wins are not marginal either; many come with double-digit or triple-digit percentage deltas.

The Intel Core 7 251TE claims its two victories in Cinebench single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 362 against AMD's 306, a 15.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3602 against AMD's 2012.5, a 44.1% lead. These are the only areas where Intel shows a clear edge, and they point to a specific use case: lightly threaded workloads that depend on a single core's maximum clock speed.

For everything else, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 is the clear winner. The largest gaps appear in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD leads by 206.7%, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where AMD leads by 104%. The AMD part also leads in PassMark single-thread (4078 vs 3568, a 14.3% advantage), which is notable because it means AMD wins even in a single-threaded PassMark test, despite losing both Cinebench single-core tests.

The data suggests a straightforward split: Intel wins in specific single-core rendering benchmarks, AMD wins in essentially everything else including other single-threaded measurements.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with the Strix Halo codename. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core 7 251TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename on Intel's 10 nm process, with 24 cores and 32 threads, a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Intel's die size is recorded at 215 mm².

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. Both parts use 80 KB of L1 per core. AMD uses 1 MB of L2 per core and 64 MB of shared L3. Intel uses 1.25 MB of L2 per core but only 36 MB of shared L3. The AMD part therefore has nearly double the L3 capacity, which helps in workloads with large working sets.

Memory support diverges sharply. AMD supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. That is a 2.86x difference in theoretical memory bandwidth, which directly influences many of the benchmark results below. Both parts support ECC memory.

PCIe generations differ as well. AMD provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses the Radeon 8060S, Intel uses UHD Graphics 770.

The AMD part is classified as a mobile segment processor on AMD Socket FP11, while Intel is a desktop segment processor on Intel Socket 1700. AMD's production status is Active, as is Intel's. AMD released on 2025-01-05, Intel on 2025-01-12. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $384.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show the most dramatic divergence. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 5247 against Intel's 2572, a 104% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 35061 against Intel's 25518, a 37.4% lead. The R15 gap is more than double the R23 gap, which suggests the AMD part scales better in the older benchmark's workload.

Single-core Cinebench flips the result. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 3602 against AMD's 2012.5, a 44.1% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 362 against AMD's 306, a 15.5% lead. Intel's higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus AMD's 5.10 GHz likely contributes to this, though the database does not directly attribute causation.

The PassMark suite shows consistent AMD dominance. PassMark data compression: AMD 639356 vs Intel 334399, a 91.2% lead. PassMark data encryption: AMD 32840 vs Intel 22176, a 48.1% lead. PassMark extended instructions: AMD 52067 vs Intel 16974, a 206.7% lead, the single largest margin in the entire comparison. PassMark find prime numbers: AMD 284 vs Intel 140, a 102.9% lead. PassMark floating point math: AMD 120533 vs Intel 85607, a 40.8% lead. PassMark integer math: AMD 190720 vs Intel 125739, a 51.7% lead. PassMark multithread: AMD 51502 vs Intel 30022, a 71.5% lead. PassMark physics: AMD 3189 vs Intel 1938, a 64.6% lead. PassMark random string sorting: AMD 70150 vs Intel 39643, a 77% lead.

Even PassMark single-thread favors AMD: 4078 vs 3568, a 14.3% lead. This is an important data point because it contradicts the Cinebench single-core results. The PassMark single-thread test and the Cinebench single-core tests measure different things, and the AMD part wins the former while losing the latter.

The average benchmark score reinforces the overall picture. AMD's average is 80762, which places it at the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Intel's average is 41650, at the 88th percentile. AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 638 at 80723 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX at 81103 (-0.4% delta). Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H at 41621 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-14650HX at 41576 (0.2% delta). The two processors sit in completely different performance tiers.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two parts differ.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 | Intel Core 7 251TE |

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

| Cores | 16 | 24 |

| Threads | 32 | 32 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP11 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not listed |

| Codename | Strix Halo | Bartlett Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | Not listed | 215 mm² |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 1.25 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 | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 8060S | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $384 |

| Part number | 100-000001243 | SRQAXQ5ZG |

Both parts share 80 KB of L1 per core, ECC support, Active production status, and locked multipliers. Both have 32 threads, meaning the Intel part uses more cores to reach the same thread count, which implies a different core type arrangement, though the database does not break down hybrid core composition for either part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 has 16 cores. Both have 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 has 256.0 GB/s over a quad-channel LPDDR5X bus. The Intel Core 7 251TE has 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 bus.

Q: Why does Intel win Cinebench single-core but lose PassMark single-thread?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows Intel at 3602 versus AMD at 2012.5, a 44.1% lead. But PassMark single-thread shows AMD at 4078 versus Intel at 3568, a 14.3% lead. The two benchmarks measure different single-threaded workloads, and the results indicate AMD handles the PassMark workload more efficiently while Intel excels in the Cinebench workload.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 35061 versus Intel's 25518, a 37.4% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD leads by 104%. In PassMark multithread, AMD leads by 71.5%.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: PassMark extended instructions shows AMD at 52067 versus Intel at 16974, a 206.7% lead. This is the largest delta in the head-to-head data.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 outclasses the Intel Core 7 251TE in nearly every measured workload. Its 95th percentile ranking versus Intel's 88th percentile places them in different performance tiers entirely. AMD wins multi-core rendering by 37.4% in Cinebench R23 and by 104% in Cinebench R15. It wins every PassMark test, including the single-thread test by 14.3%. The 256.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, quad-channel LPDDR5X support, and 64 MB of L3 cache give it a structural advantage that Intel's higher core count and boost clock cannot overcome in these benchmarks.

The Intel Core 7 251TE has one clear strength: Cinebench single-core performance. A 44.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is substantial, and the 5.40 GHz boost clock supports that result. For workloads that resemble Cinebench's single-core render test, Intel is the better choice. The 45 W TDP also makes it a lower-power part, and its desktop Socket 1700 with PCIe Gen 5 support gives it a different platform fit.

For any mixed workload, the AMD part is the stronger pick. The benchmark results show consistent wins across compression, encryption, integer math, floating point, physics, and extended instructions. The 13-to-2 win split in head-to-head tests, combined with the 80762 versus 41650 average score difference, leaves little room for debate. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 is the higher-performing processor in the database's measurements. The Intel Core 7 251TE is only preferable when the workload is dominated by the specific single-core Cinebench pattern it wins.