PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 5 245K

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $319 MSRP, while Ryzen AI Max 390 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Ryzen AI Max 390

2025

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (41,834 vs 43,417).

Core Ultra 5 245K

2024

Ryzen AI Max 390

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $319 MSRP, while Ryzen AI Max 390 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (41,834 vs 43,417).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245K better than Ryzen AI Max 390?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 3.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 245K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 245K is the better fit. You are getting 3.8% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 5 245K is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245K is at an unclear MSRP at $319 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (136.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen AI Max 390 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024) and 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 5 245K Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max 390 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
1080p
low	281 FPS	265 FPS
medium	264 FPS	241 FPS
high	223 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	178 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	252 FPS
medium	195 FPS	206 FPS
high	159 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	175 FPS
medium	129 FPS	143 FPS
high	100 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen AI Max 390

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
1080p
low	687 FPS	671 FPS
medium	578 FPS	578 FPS
high	480 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	438 FPS	376 FPS
1440p
low	596 FPS	564 FPS
medium	522 FPS	503 FPS
high	437 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	353 FPS	318 FPS
medium	315 FPS	288 FPS
high	300 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	219 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen AI Max 390

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
1080p
low	851 FPS	769 FPS
medium	694 FPS	602 FPS
high	617 FPS	526 FPS
ultra	528 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	731 FPS	668 FPS
medium	599 FPS	527 FPS
high	521 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	387 FPS
4K
low	506 FPS	478 FPS
medium	427 FPS	395 FPS
high	384 FPS	351 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	292 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen AI Max 390

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
1080p
low	1085 FPS	1046 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	953 FPS
high	889 FPS	833 FPS
ultra	808 FPS	751 FPS
1440p
low	892 FPS	838 FPS
medium	789 FPS	746 FPS
high	687 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	611 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	604 FPS	616 FPS
medium	542 FPS	552 FPS
high	489 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	422 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245K Open Ryzen AI Max 390

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245K and Ryzen AI Max 390

Core Ultra 5 245K

The Core Ultra 5 245K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 43,417 points. Launch price was $319.

Ryzen AI Max 390

The Ryzen AI Max 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP11. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 41,834 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245K packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max 390 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 5 245K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245K versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max 390 — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245K (base: 4.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245K uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max 390 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245K scores 43,417 against the Ryzen AI Max 390's 41,834 — a 3.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245K. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245K vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max 390.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
Cores / Threads	14 / 14+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+4%	5 GHz
Base Clock	4.2 GHz+31%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+200%	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-25%	4 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	43,417+4%	41,834

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245K uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen AI Max 390 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245K versus 8000 on the Ryzen AI Max 390 — the Ryzen AI Max 390 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245K supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 5 245K) vs 4 (Ryzen AI Max 390). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245K) vs 28 (Ryzen AI Max 390) — the Ryzen AI Max 390 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245K) and Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max 390).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
Socket	LGA1851	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	6400	8000+25%
Max RAM Capacity	192+50%	128
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen AI Max 390 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245K) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max 390). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 245K) and AMD Radeon 8050S (Ryzen AI Max 390) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245K rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Ryzen AI Max 390 rivals Apple M4 Max.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245K	Ryzen AI Max 390
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores)	AMD Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 245K launched at $319 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max 390 debuted at $0. On MSRP ($319 vs $0), the Ryzen AI Max 390 is $319 cheaper.