Ryzen 7 3700X vs Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

12 Cores24 Thrd55 WWMax: 5 GHz2025

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

  • Costs $271 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (22,430 vs 43,174).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
  • 18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 moves to FP11 and DDR5.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +3.9% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
  • Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • 16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • 82.4% HIGHER MSRP
    $600 MSRPvs$329 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 better than Ryzen 7 3700X?
Yes. Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 3.9% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data, 92.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.9% more average FPS across 39 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the better fit. You are getting 92.5% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is 82.4% more expensive on MSRP at $600 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.9% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 5.5% better value on MSRP (72.0 vs 68.2 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 390 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2019), a healthier platform with FP11 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 threads instead of 8/16. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low200 FPS286 FPS
medium163 FPS253 FPS
high137 FPS213 FPS
ultra110 FPS185 FPS
1440p
low156 FPS266 FPS
medium121 FPS211 FPS
high100 FPS165 FPS
ultra80 FPS147 FPS
4K
low84 FPS184 FPS
medium71 FPS147 FPS
high56 FPS108 FPS
ultra44 FPS97 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low561 FPS778 FPS
medium525 FPS656 FPS
high428 FPS517 FPS
ultra383 FPS459 FPS
1440p
low545 FPS654 FPS
medium471 FPS572 FPS
high394 FPS463 FPS
ultra337 FPS378 FPS
4K
low350 FPS368 FPS
medium304 FPS326 FPS
high274 FPS300 FPS
ultra242 FPS264 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low561 FPS1021 FPS
medium561 FPS783 FPS
high561 FPS685 FPS
ultra561 FPS580 FPS
1440p
low561 FPS818 FPS
medium561 FPS635 FPS
high538 FPS551 FPS
ultra470 FPS469 FPS
4K
low499 FPS565 FPS
medium394 FPS460 FPS
high343 FPS409 FPS
ultra275 FPS342 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low561 FPS1079 FPS
medium561 FPS1015 FPS
high561 FPS912 FPS
ultra561 FPS811 FPS
1440p
low561 FPS895 FPS
medium561 FPS788 FPS
high561 FPS689 FPS
ultra555 FPS605 FPS
4K
low561 FPS658 FPS
medium501 FPS582 FPS
high447 FPS514 FPS
ultra396 FPS437 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

AMD

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 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: 43,174 points. Launch price was $499.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 3700X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — a 12.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 3700X scores 22,430 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390's 43,174 — a 63.2% lead for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
12 / 24+50%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
5 GHz+14%
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+12%
3.2 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB
64 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
1 MB (per core)+100%
Process
7 nm, 12 nm
4 nm-43%
Architecture
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark
22,430
43,174+92%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 3700X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X versus 8000 on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports 199.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 3700X) vs 4 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) vs 28 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X) and Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390).

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
Socket
AM4
FP11
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
8000+199900%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB+104857500%
128
RAM Channels
2
4+100%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24
28+17%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X) / VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon 8050S), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 rivals Apple M4 Max.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon 8050S
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 7 3700X launched at $329 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 debuted at $600. On MSRP ($329 vs $600), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $271 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 3700X delivers 68.2 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — making the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 the 5.4% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 7 3700XRyzen AI Max PRO 390
MSRP
$329-45%
$600
Performance per Dollar
68.2
72.0+6%
Release Date
2019
2025