Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs Ryzen AI Max 385

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX packs 32 cores / 64 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX has 24 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max 385 — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max 385 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max 385 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX scores 31,945 against the Ryzen AI Max 385's 32,274 — a 1% lead for the Ryzen AI Max 385. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 33,213 vs 16,500 (67.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,206 vs 2,800, a 79.6% lead for the Ryzen AI Max 385 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,612 vs 14,000 (59.1% advantage for the Ryzen AI Max 385). L3 cache: 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max 385.

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses the TR4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen AI Max 385 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX versus LPDDR5x-8000 on the Ryzen AI Max 385 — the Ryzen AI Max 385 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 4-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) vs 20 (Ryzen AI Max 385) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) and Strix Halo platform (Ryzen AI Max 385).

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen AI Max 385 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen AI Max 385 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 8050S), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX targets Extreme Content Creation, Ryzen AI Max 385 targets High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX rivals Core i9-9980XE; Ryzen AI Max 385 rivals Core Ultra 9 285H.

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX launched at $1799 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 debuted at $0. At current prices ($1247 vs $0), the Ryzen AI Max 385 is $1247 cheaper.