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 Ultra 5 245KF

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $306 less on MSRP ($294 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 105.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 147.7 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,174 vs 43,424).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.0 vs 147.7 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).

Core Ultra 5 245KF

2024

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $306 less on MSRP ($294 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 105.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 147.7 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 64 MB).
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,174 vs 43,424).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 72.0 vs 147.7 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245KF better than Ryzen AI Max PRO 390?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 245KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 245KF is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 245KF is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245KF is $306 cheaper on MSRP at $294 MSRP versus $600 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 105.3% better value on MSRP (147.7 vs 72.0 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 390 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024) and 166.7% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 24 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 Ultra 5 245KF Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	282 FPS	286 FPS
medium	264 FPS	253 FPS
high	223 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	185 FPS
1440p
low	233 FPS	266 FPS
medium	195 FPS	211 FPS
high	159 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	147 FPS
4K
low	155 FPS	184 FPS
medium	129 FPS	147 FPS
high	100 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	97 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245KF Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	687 FPS	778 FPS
medium	578 FPS	656 FPS
high	480 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	438 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	596 FPS	654 FPS
medium	522 FPS	572 FPS
high	437 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	353 FPS	368 FPS
medium	315 FPS	326 FPS
high	300 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	264 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245KF Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	851 FPS	1021 FPS
medium	694 FPS	783 FPS
high	617 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	528 FPS	580 FPS
1440p
low	731 FPS	818 FPS
medium	599 FPS	635 FPS
high	521 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	506 FPS	565 FPS
medium	427 FPS	460 FPS
high	384 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245KF Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	1086 FPS	1079 FPS
medium	1015 FPS	1015 FPS
high	889 FPS	912 FPS
ultra	808 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	892 FPS	895 FPS
medium	789 FPS	788 FPS
high	687 FPS	689 FPS
ultra	611 FPS	605 FPS
4K
low	604 FPS	658 FPS
medium	542 FPS	582 FPS
high	489 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 245KF Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245KF and Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Core Ultra 5 245KF

The Core Ultra 5 245KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 43,424 points. Launch price was $294.

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.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 245KF packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 5 245KF has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245KF versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245KF (base: 4.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245KF uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 43,424 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390's 43,174 — a 0.6% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245KF. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245KF vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Cores / Threads	14 / 14+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+4%	5 GHz
Base Clock	4.2 GHz+31%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+200%	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-25%	4 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	43,424	43,174

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245KF uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245KF versus 8000 on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245KF supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 5 245KF) vs 4 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core Ultra 5 245KF) vs 28 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245KF) and Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Socket	LGA1851	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	6400	8000+25%
Max RAM Capacity	192+50%	128
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245KF) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 245KF) and AMD Radeon 8050S (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245KF rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 rivals Apple M4 Max.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245KF	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores)	AMD Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 245KF launched at $294 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 debuted at $600. On MSRP ($294 vs $600), the Core Ultra 5 245KF is $306 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 245KF delivers 147.7 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — making the Core Ultra 5 245KF the 69% better value option.