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

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 250W, a 195W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 8050S, while Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,500 vs 33,213).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Why buy it

✅+101.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 Ryzen AI Max 385 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,799 MSRP, while Ryzen AI Max 385 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌354.5% higher power demand at 250W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 55W instead of 250W, a 195W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP11 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 8050S, while Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX.

Why buy it

✅+101.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 (16,500 vs 33,213).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max 385 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,799 MSRP, while Ryzen AI Max 385 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌354.5% higher power demand at 250W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 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.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max 385 better than Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX 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 Threadripper 2990WX is the better fit. You are getting 101.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen AI Max 385 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen AI Max 385 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,799 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 101.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds 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 2018), a healthier platform with FP11 and DDR5 instead of TR4, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	257 FPS	198 FPS
medium	234 FPS	177 FPS
high	203 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	160 FPS
medium	183 FPS	134 FPS
high	153 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	73 FPS
medium	127 FPS	64 FPS
high	99 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	41 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	592 FPS	536 FPS
medium	500 FPS	483 FPS
high	391 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	346 FPS	354 FPS
1440p
low	508 FPS	473 FPS
medium	452 FPS	424 FPS
high	359 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	299 FPS
4K
low	303 FPS	295 FPS
medium	273 FPS	265 FPS
high	243 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	213 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	780 FPS	768 FPS
medium	611 FPS	640 FPS
high	534 FPS	577 FPS
ultra	447 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	676 FPS	640 FPS
medium	534 FPS	533 FPS
high	463 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	476 FPS	469 FPS
medium	394 FPS	377 FPS
high	350 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	288 FPS	280 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
1080p
low	807 FPS	799 FPS
medium	807 FPS	799 FPS
high	779 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	700 FPS	616 FPS
1440p
low	796 FPS	728 FPS
medium	706 FPS	644 FPS
high	619 FPS	549 FPS
ultra	536 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	554 FPS	522 FPS
medium	499 FPS	473 FPS
high	448 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	389 FPS	362 FPS

Open Ryzen AI Max 385 Open Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen AI Max 385 and Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 31,945 points. Launch price was $1,799.

⚡

Processing Power

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

Feature	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	32 / 64+300%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+19%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	4 nm-67%	12 nm
Architecture	Strix Halo (2025)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	32,274+1%	31,945
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,500	33,213+101%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,800+132%	1,206
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,000+84%	7,612

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen AI Max 385 uses the FP11 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8000 on the Ryzen AI Max 385 versus DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX — 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: 20 (Ryzen AI Max 385) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Strix Halo platform (Ryzen AI Max 385) and X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX).

Feature	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Socket	FP11	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5x-8000+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	4	4
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

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 AI Max 385 targets High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop, Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX targets Extreme Content Creation. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max 385 rivals Core Ultra 9 285H; Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX rivals Core i9-9980XE.

Feature	Ryzen AI Max 385	Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon 8050S	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	High-performance AI / Gaming Laptop	Extreme Content Creation

💰

Value Analysis

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