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 i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $15 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 24,613).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 61.5 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
❌72.7% higher power demand at 95W vs 55W.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 64.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.5 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 95W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
3.9% HIGHER MSRP
$400 MSRPvs$385 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $15 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 64.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.5 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 95W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 24,613).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.4 vs 61.5 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
❌72.7% higher power demand at 95W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌
3.9% HIGHER MSRP
$400 MSRPvs$385 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 31.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data, 71% 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 380 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 31.8% more average FPS across 5 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 380 is the better fit. You are getting 71% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 is 3.9% more expensive on MSRP at $400 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 31.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 64.5% better value on MSRP (61.5 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), 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 380 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FP11 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/8. 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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
1080p
low	308 FPS	272 FPS
medium	278 FPS	239 FPS
high	231 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	233 FPS
medium	221 FPS	184 FPS
high	178 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	161 FPS
medium	140 FPS	129 FPS
high	108 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
1080p
low	360 FPS	402 FPS
medium	321 FPS	327 FPS
high	291 FPS	282 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	244 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	341 FPS
medium	282 FPS	287 FPS
high	258 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	216 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	257 FPS
medium	221 FPS	221 FPS
high	208 FPS	201 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	170 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
1080p
low	360 FPS	615 FPS
medium	360 FPS	615 FPS
high	360 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	554 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	615 FPS
medium	360 FPS	588 FPS
high	360 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	429 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	509 FPS
medium	360 FPS	416 FPS
high	360 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	289 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
1080p
low	360 FPS	615 FPS
medium	360 FPS	615 FPS
high	360 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	615 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	615 FPS
medium	360 FPS	615 FPS
high	360 FPS	615 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	589 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	602 FPS
medium	360 FPS	536 FPS
high	360 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 24,613 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380's 24,613 — a 52.4% lead for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	14,397	24,613+71%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
Socket	LGA1151	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (Ryzen AI Max PRO 380). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Ryzen AI Max PRO 380
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 debuted at $400. On MSRP ($385 vs $400), the Core i7-9700K is $15 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 61.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 — making the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 the 48.8% better value option.