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 AI Max 385

2025

Why buy it

✅+6.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+21.9% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 26 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 175W, a 120W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 8050S, while Xeon w5-2445 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Xeon w5-2445.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-2445 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-2445, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Xeon w5-2445

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,500 vs 16,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (26 MB vs 32 MB).
❌218.2% higher power demand at 175W vs 55W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen AI Max 385 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen AI Max 385.

Ryzen AI Max 385

2025

Xeon w5-2445

2023

Why buy it

✅+6.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+21.9% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 26 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 175W, a 120W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 8050S, while Xeon w5-2445 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Xeon w5-2445.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon w5-2445 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon w5-2445, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,500 vs 16,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (26 MB vs 32 MB).
❌218.2% higher power demand at 175W vs 55W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen AI Max 385 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen AI Max 385.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max 385 better than Xeon w5-2445?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon w5-2445 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen AI Max 385 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen AI Max 385 is the better fit. You are getting 6.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 21.9% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 26 MB).

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

Ryzen AI Max 385 still looks like the safer overall buy. Ryzen AI Max 385 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 6.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core.

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 2023), 21.9% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 26 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 10/20. 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.

Ryzen AI Max 385 Benchmark Check

Xeon w5-2445 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	257 FPS	186 FPS
medium	234 FPS	155 FPS
high	203 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	151 FPS
medium	183 FPS	121 FPS
high	153 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	83 FPS
medium	127 FPS	71 FPS
high	99 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	45 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Xeon w5-2445

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	592 FPS	585 FPS
medium	500 FPS	487 FPS
high	391 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	361 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	496 FPS
medium	452 FPS	430 FPS
high	359 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	303 FPS	307 FPS
medium	273 FPS	269 FPS
high	243 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	219 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Xeon w5-2445

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	780 FPS	805 FPS
medium	611 FPS	805 FPS
high	534 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	447 FPS	805 FPS
1440p
low	676 FPS	805 FPS
medium	534 FPS	765 FPS
high	463 FPS	725 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	650 FPS
4K
low	476 FPS	560 FPS
medium	394 FPS	458 FPS
high	350 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	288 FPS	338 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Xeon w5-2445

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
1080p
low	807 FPS	805 FPS
medium	807 FPS	805 FPS
high	779 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	700 FPS	787 FPS
1440p
low	796 FPS	805 FPS
medium	706 FPS	805 FPS
high	619 FPS	726 FPS
ultra	536 FPS	621 FPS
4K
low	554 FPS	681 FPS
medium	499 FPS	594 FPS
high	448 FPS	524 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Xeon w5-2445

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen AI Max 385 and Xeon w5-2445

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.

Xeon w5-2445

The Xeon w5-2445 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 26.25 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 175 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 32,213 points. Launch price was $839.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen AI Max 385 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon w5-2445 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon w5-2445 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max 385 versus 4.6 GHz on the Xeon w5-2445 — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max 385 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the Strix Halo (2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Xeon w5-2445 uses Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen AI Max 385 scores 32,274 against the Xeon w5-2445's 32,213 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen AI Max 385. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,500 vs 15,500 (6.3% advantage for the Ryzen AI Max 385). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,800 vs 1,822, a 42.3% lead for the Ryzen AI Max 385 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 14,000 vs 10,719 (26.5% advantage for the Ryzen AI Max 385). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max 385 vs 26.25 MB on the Xeon w5-2445.

Feature	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	10 / 20+25%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+9%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+16%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+22%	26.25 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	4 nm-43%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Strix Halo (2025)	Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024)
PassMark	32,274	32,213
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,500+6%	15,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,800+54%	1,822
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,000+31%	10,719

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the FP11 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon w5-2445 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5x-8000 memory speed. The Xeon w5-2445 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: 20 (Ryzen AI Max 385) vs 64 (Xeon w5-2445) — the Xeon w5-2445 offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Strix Halo platform (Ryzen AI Max 385) and W790 (Xeon w5-2445).

Feature	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
Socket	FP11	LGA4677
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5x-8000	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	4	4
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen AI Max 385 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max 385) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon w5-2445). The Ryzen AI Max 385 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 8050S), while the Xeon w5-2445 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen AI Max 385 targets High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop, Xeon w5-2445 targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max 385 rivals Core Ultra 9 285H; Xeon w5-2445 rivals Threadripper 7945WX.

Feature	Ryzen AI Max 385	Xeon w5-2445
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon 8050S	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop	Professional Workstation