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 i9-10980XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $979 MSRP, while Ryzen AI Max 385 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌200% higher power demand at 165W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen AI Max 385 moves to FP11 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen AI Max 385 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen AI Max 385

2025

Why buy it

✅+29.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 165W, a 110W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 8050S, while Core i9-10980XE needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i9-10980XE.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,500 vs 24,309).

Core i9-10980XE

2019

Ryzen AI Max 385

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+29.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 165W, a 110W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 8050S, while Core i9-10980XE needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i9-10980XE.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $979 MSRP, while Ryzen AI Max 385 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌200% higher power demand at 165W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen AI Max 385 moves to FP11 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen AI Max 385 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,500 vs 24,309).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10980XE better than Ryzen AI Max 385?

Yes. Core i9-10980XE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 21.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 47.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10980XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.7% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10980XE is the better fit. You are getting 47.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads.

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

Core i9-10980XE is the smarter buy today. Core i9-10980XE is at an unclear MSRP at $979 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 21.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (32.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 385 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 LGA2066, and 29.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB). 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.

Core i9-10980XE Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max 385 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
1080p
low	280 FPS	257 FPS
medium	249 FPS	234 FPS
high	206 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	234 FPS	222 FPS
medium	189 FPS	183 FPS
high	154 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	165 FPS	154 FPS
medium	134 FPS	127 FPS
high	106 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i9-10980XE Open Ryzen AI Max 385

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
1080p
low	550 FPS	592 FPS
medium	457 FPS	500 FPS
high	382 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	346 FPS
1440p
low	456 FPS	508 FPS
medium	394 FPS	452 FPS
high	336 FPS	359 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	299 FPS
4K
low	285 FPS	303 FPS
medium	247 FPS	273 FPS
high	229 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	200 FPS	209 FPS

Open Core i9-10980XE Open Ryzen AI Max 385

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
1080p
low	805 FPS	780 FPS
medium	805 FPS	611 FPS
high	805 FPS	534 FPS
ultra	805 FPS	447 FPS
1440p
low	805 FPS	676 FPS
medium	805 FPS	534 FPS
high	768 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	389 FPS
4K
low	596 FPS	476 FPS
medium	501 FPS	394 FPS
high	444 FPS	350 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	288 FPS

Open Core i9-10980XE Open Ryzen AI Max 385

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
1080p
low	805 FPS	807 FPS
medium	805 FPS	807 FPS
high	787 FPS	779 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	700 FPS
1440p
low	805 FPS	796 FPS
medium	722 FPS	706 FPS
high	630 FPS	619 FPS
ultra	552 FPS	536 FPS
4K
low	574 FPS	554 FPS
medium	510 FPS	499 FPS
high	457 FPS	448 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	389 FPS

Open Core i9-10980XE Open Ryzen AI Max 385

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-10980XE and Ryzen AI Max 385

Core i9-10980XE

The Core i9-10980XE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 32,187 points. Launch price was $979.

Ryzen AI Max 385

The Ryzen AI Max 385 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 32 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: 32,274 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-10980XE packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-10980XE has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10980XE versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max 385 — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max 385 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-10980XE uses the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max 385 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10980XE scores 32,187 against the Ryzen AI Max 385's 32,274 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen AI Max 385. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 24,309 vs 16,500 (38.3% advantage for the Core i9-10980XE). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,242 vs 2,800, a 77.1% lead for the Ryzen AI Max 385 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 16,275 vs 14,000 (15% advantage for the Core i9-10980XE). L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980XE vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max 385.

Feature	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
Cores / Threads	18 / 36+125%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	24.75 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+29%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Cascade Lake-X (2019)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	32,187	32,274
Cinebench R23 Multi	24,309+47%	16,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,242	2,800+125%
Geekbench 6 Multi	16,275+16%	14,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-10980XE uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), 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 Core i9-10980XE 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 Core i9-10980XE supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 4-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 48 (Core i9-10980XE) vs 20 (Ryzen AI Max 385) — the Core i9-10980XE offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-10980XE) and Strix Halo platform (Ryzen AI Max 385).

Feature	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
Socket	LGA2066	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	LPDDR5x-8000+25%
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	4	4
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	48+140%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i9-10980XE) vs AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max 385). The Ryzen AI Max 385 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 8050S), while the Core i9-10980XE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen AI Max 385 targets High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max 385 rivals Core Ultra 9 285H.

Feature	Core i9-10980XE	Ryzen AI Max 385
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-10980XE launched at $979 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max 385 debuted at $0. On MSRP ($979 vs $0), the Ryzen AI Max 385 is $979 cheaper.